Type of event: Race, Score, Social
A countryside score race with 60- and 90-minute options using the MapRun app. Starting from the church, the event drew 18 participants and ended with a social at the Half Moon Inn. Write up and photos added!
Write up from planner Adam:
This Thursday we had the first event in our Spunch Series at the Stoke St Mary. There were 12 participants on the 90 minute course and 6 on the 60 minute course.
It was a warm sunny evening that started with a mass start from outside the church at 6pm. Most ran south and completed an anticlockwise loop around Thurlbar Woods. Unfortunately, most of this woods was out of bounds due to forestry work. There were plenty of countryside paths to explore and enjoy despite them being slightly overgrown in some places. Most came back with scratches on their legs to prove how much fun they had out there.
Ollie Rant managed to get one more control than Robin to snatch the win with 480 points on the 90 minute corse while George Rich ran round 14 controls to give him 240 points and take first place on the 60 minute course. We also had four newcomers to the event that took to the challenge very well and enjoyed adding this element of navigation to running. After the event there was a social in the half moon inn where we discusssed our routes and enjoyed a cold drink.
Oli Rant: Organiser spunch@
Spunch is a concept devised by Andy Thornton of MDOC, designed to bridge the gap between runners and orienteers. Studies have shown that one of the biggest blockers to runners participating in an orienteering event is the unfamiliarity with the map, and SPUNCH deals with this by using an Ordnance Survey basemap.
SPUNCH uses the app 'MapRun', which is essentially a GPS treasure hunt app. Turn up your volume and when you run through a checkpoint, you get a satisfying 'ping'. You have 30+ checkpoints to choose from and your goal is to visit as many as possible in your allotted time. The events are based around rural villages with high footpath density and the courses are set over a variety of lanes and public rights of way. SPUNCH allows you to discover lovely paths and tracks with great views. It can be done solo, in a pair or as a group. Walk or run, the choice is yours! Newcomers are welcome and there will be help to hand on the day to get you started. Suitable for all ages and abilities and great for family and friends too.
Both courses use the same map, with the same number of available (checkpoints). The route you take between them is completely up to you!
All checkpoints visited are worth 20 points.
The aim is to get the highest score in your alloted time.
You will lose 10 points for every 1 minute (or part of) you go over the time limit!
On MapRun Select Event: UK/Somerset/Spunch/Stoke St Mary 60 or 90 - do this at home!
Participants take part at their own risk and under 16s must be accompanied. Please stay on the permitted paths and roads. Do not take illegal short cuts. We will check the MapRun traces afterwards and competitors who take deliberate short cuts will be penalized.
Do not climb walls or fences - use only stiles & gates. Some gates on footpaths have been tied shut/locked, so climbing these gates is permitted.
There is a purple hash over Thurlbar woods. This means that it is out of bounds. If you run through this you will be disqualified.
Meeting at the Half Moon Inn afterwards for refreshments and route analysis.
Have fun safely, and enjoy the return of SPunch to Quantock Orienteers!
£3 for students / 16-20yr olds
Under 16s go free when running with an adult. Under 16s cannot run unaccompanied due to the occasional presence of cars in the course area.
Entries close the Sunday before the event.
Limited entry on the day. First come first serve with the spare maps.
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.
Mass start at 6pm.
Registration from 5:30pm to 5:50pm for entry on the day (first come first serve on map availability)
Please arrive with plenty of time to spare if you are new to orienteering. At registration you will need to pick up your map which has the access code for MapRun (see more on this later).
Well behaved dogs are welcome in the car park, as well as on the course (under control & on a lead). Please be aware that there are livestock within the course area.
Parking for ~30 cars at the Thurlbear Primary School
Please come on foot or on a bike if you live locally.
We have use of the school car park, but not the facilities. The nearest public toilets are in Taunton.
Planner: Adam Fieldhouse events@
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.
Ollie coming into the finish
Reviewing route choices afterwards
Linda coming into the finish