Bridgwater

Directions / Parking

At the Robert Blake and Elmwood Leisure Centre, Hamp Avenue.

Grid Ref ST298361

Course Information

There will be two courses as in previous years, one for seniors and one for juniors.

A junior is as defined by British Orienteering - M/W 18 and younger.

Junior Championship eligibility

Any junior who is a current member of QO who runs the junior course.

All juniors aged under 16 on the day of competition MUST run the junior course.

Senior Championship eligibility

Any current member of QO who is aged 16 or over on the day of competition who runs the senior course.

This means a junior who is 16 or over on the day of competition may run either course.

However, they are only eligible for the championship of the course they run

(If they run the junior course, they are eligible for the junior championship. If they run the senior course, they are eligible for the senior championship but NOT the junior championship).

This rule is to comply with BOF insurance requirements.

Junior Course

All juniors aged under 16 on the day of the competition MUST run this course.

This course uses the areas of The Meads and St. Matthews Field.

This course does not cross any public roads but runs a short distance on a pavement adjacent to a quiet residential road.

1-hour score course with controls of differing values.

The control value is given by the second digit of the code number.

Controls 110 - 114 are worth 10 points
Controls 120 - 124 are worth 20 points
Controls 130 - 134 are worth 30 points
Controls 140 - 144 are worth 40 points

The maximum points available is 400.

The time penalty for taking longer than 1 hour is 10 points per minute over the hour.

Controls of the same value may be taken in any order.

However, once a control of a higher value is taken, a control with a lower value will not count.

For example, as many controls as you want to take worth 10 point can be taken in any order. You may then take a control worth 20 points, but then cannot take any more controls worth 10 points. Once you take a control worth 30 points you cannot take any more controls worth 10 or 20 points. Similarly for 40 point controls.

Normal control flags and SIAC (contactless) punching will be used. You MUST dib at both the start and finish, but all other SI units are contactless.

You will be issued with a SIAC dibber at registration. This must be returned when you download after finishing.

Senior Course

This will be different from previous years in that it will be a Maprun course.

It will still be a 1 hour score course, where the controls can be taken in any order.

The course uses the same areas as the junior course, and in addition, extends north into the town centre and south into Hamp. The course crosses public roads, so great care should be taken when crossing roads and other areas where there is traffic. Please be courteous to members of the public.

There are 30 controls, and all controls have the same value of 20 Points.

The maximum points available is 600.

The time penalty for taking longer than 1 hour is 10 points per minute over the hour.

Please note: THERE WILL BE NO CONTROL DESCRIPTIONS PRINTED ON THE MAP. Loose copies will be available at registration.

If you are new to MapRun, we have a section on the website to help you get started. There are several permanent courses in the Taunton area that you can use to practice.

Please get in touch if you do not have a Smartphone, and are unable to borrow one from family/friends.

Those who do not wish the compete on the Senior course may compete non-competitively on the Junior course. Please contact us if this is the case.

As this is essentially an Urban event, the normal rules regarding clothing for urban events apply (i.e. shorts may be worn and spiked shoes are not recommended).

Map

The map scale is 1:5000 with 5 metre contours, updated spring/summer 2022. It is drawn to the ISSprOM 2019 mapping standards.

The Meads is an open area partitioned by deep water channels. The length of grass varies in the different partitioned areas, but is mostly runnable, even where the grass is fairly long. However, juniors, and more timid runners, may feel more comfortable wearing leg protection.

There are a number of water-filled channels and ponds mapped with the ‘Water course not to be crossed’ symbol. These MUST NOT BE CROSSED other than at marked crossing points (bridges), even if they look as though they can be crossed.

There are also a number of water channels and ponds that are shallow and seasonal which have been mapped with a non-standard symbol (see above). These may be dry on the day and can be crossed whether wet or dry. They should allow faster running when dry than the long grass.

Roads in Bridgwater and the town centre are usually busy on Saturdays, so please take extra care when crossing roads and be considerate to the general public.

In particular, the A38 and A39 are usually very busy, so much of their length has been marked as OUT OF BOUNDS with the purple over-print symbol. Along these sections, the roads must only be crossed via the mapped underpasses, where the OOB symbol has been broken for clarity. It is permitted to run along the pavements on these stretches of road, but you MUST NOT CROSS the road. When running under a canal bridge, take care as many of them have low headroom.

For the juniors, a full legend is printed on the map in addition to those features that are forbidden to be crossed/entered and the non-standard symbol.

For the seniors, the legend only lists those features that are forbidden to be crossed/entered and the non-standard symbol.

All competitors must make themselves familiar with the symbols used, in particular those that prohibit passing across and entering.

Features mapped as 'DO NOT CROSS' and 'DO NOT ENTER' must not be crossed/entered even if they look possible to cross/enter (e.g. If a fence is mapped as 'do not cross', you must not cross it even if you are physically able to do so or there is an open gate not mapped as a crossing point).

Anyone found doing so will be disqualified.

Entry Details

Pre-entry closes on 8 September 2022 (please note that if you plan to attend the social afterwards you need to enter before 5 September 2022 (so we can confirm numbers with the venue).

Please note that if you enter on the day you run the risk that we have run out of maps for your preferred course.

Pre-enter

• Junior - anyone 16 years or younger at the time of the event - must run the junior course

An SI dibber can be hired for £1. Failure to return it will incur the cost of a replacement (£30).

The buffet afterwards at The Boat & Anchor Inn is £10 (£5 for under 10 year olds).

If you are a helper at this event, please contact the organiser for the discount code.

Please consider buying a pack of pre-entry credits in advance. This costs you the same but saves the club a lot in credit card fees.

Buy Credits

Registration & Start Times

Start and Finish will be close to the leisure centre car park entrance. Registration is 1000-1045.

Competitors briefings and a silence for reflection will be held at 1045.

There will be a mass start at 1100.

Download will be in a prominent position in the car park.

After the event, there will be a social, buffet, presentation of trophies, certificates and awards, and the club AGM.

Details of AGM, prize giving & social

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Jim Mallinson

Important Event Information

Safety and Risk: A comprehensive risk assessment will have been carried out by the organiser, but participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety during the event. All participants must report to download whether they finish their course or not.

Privacy: when participating in our events/activities your name may appear in the results section of this website or in newspaper reports. Read our data protection page to see how we look after your personal data.

Photography: QO has an agreed policy on the taking of photographs at events, based on national guidance. This provides a sensible balance between the benefits and risks associated with the taking and use of images. If you are unsure about acceptable practice, please speak to the event organiser.

Safeguarding: QO is aware of it's responsibilities in safeguarding and child protection. To comply with The Child Safeguarding Practice Review and Relevant Agency (England) Regulations 2018, we now provide an email address for individuals to report concerns to the Lead Safeguarding Officer. This address is safeguarding@britishorienteering.org.uk.