Type of event: Race, Social, Urban, Night
This was possibly our first ever event in Wellington, a small attractive town south of Taunton on the Somerset/ Devon border. It featured a brand new map developed by our planner Alasdair Shaw from open source mapping.
Now available as a permanent orienteering course.
Long course results
Miffy- excellent run on Long course
Well done to Miffy Trehere for heading the leaderboard on the Long course. Conspicuous by his absence from that table is our former QOFL champion Chris Philip. Chris' first foray into hi tech orienteering was surprisingly low-tech... because his phone wasn't recording controls from the get-go! Undeterred by the lack of initial response from his borrowed phone (i.e. the emphatic 'bleep' you get at the start), Chris set off on his aim to visit all 38 controls, which of course didn't bleep either.
Back at the event centre at the school sports hall, Chris retraced his route on his paper map, concluding that he'd bagged the lot. Then some scratching of heads before general agreement that he must have done all this within the 50 minute time limit!
Chris retraces his route
Credit: Judy Craddock
Perhaps next time we should take the hint and rewind back to the old format, runners clutching pens to note down the lamp post numbers?
Chris said, "We will always be in the dark about my MapRun route, as I can't remember it as well as I do normal orienteering. Perhaps because it was dark, perhaps because of the mixed terrain, who knows?"
Welcome to the Twilight Zone, Chris.
Kirk and Dawn unwinding, post run
There was less drama on the short course, though a few runners struggled with those phone settings before eventually recording a run. Don't forget MapRunners, there's now a permanent course available at Taunton's Longrun Meadow, set up to help you get used to the format and experiment with your phone settings. More about settings are here (link).
Local boy Martin Lewis took first place from pre-race favourite Graham Hartley, who's lack of arm holster proved crucual, Graham having to extract his phone out his pocket at each control to register a 'beep'.
Excellent to see three others making their MapRun debuts, with Parkrun ambassador Kirk Shepherd registering a very impressive third place.
Results- short course
Showing roughly the route taken by one runner!
Honestly, there was no trespassing! The GPS signal tends to stray from the route actually taken.
MapRun doesn't need kites, control units or dibbers. All users need is the smartphone app.
Immediately after your run, you can upload your score and time to the web and compare how you did with others.
Further information about this and all other events in the current series - please read before competing
New to MapRun or need a refresher? Read our guide.
Series organiser: Jeff Pakes 01823 321900 website@
Other contact: Roger & Judy Craddock 01823 323850 jandr.craddock@gmail.com
Parking - at Wellington School. The event will not be signposted, other than a possibly a sign from South Street. Look out for the club banner.
Please note there will be a large amount of traffic in and out of the car park until around 17.15.
The course files are under the folder MR UK/ MR Quantock Orienteers / Future events. You may not get a WiFi signal at the event, so please pre-load the courses before then.
Two courses are offered, Long and Short, using exactly the same controls.
Both are "Score" courses, meaning there isn't a set order to the controls you visit.
Short Score- the order of the controls you want to visit is entirely up to you.
Long Score- there are two sets of controls, one set tackled after the other. Once you switch to the second set, you cannot go back to the first set.
The optimum routes are roughly 7 to 7.5 km for the short and 8.5 to 9 km for the long.
Each course has a time limit of 50 minutes. There are 38 controls in all (maximum score = 1090).
Points will be deducted at a rate of 30 points per minute for each minute or part minute you're late back.
Points values for controls are variable and denoted by the first number of the control, e.g. 62 scores 60 points.
The control circles on the map are coloured red on one set and blue on the other- the colours are meaningful only for the Long score.
For those who took part in our QOADs series, the Long score uses essentially the same scoring system.
Link: more on the scoring systems
Please print off and fill in our standard registration form in advance (or email it to us) as we are trying to keep the event organisation low key.
Filling out a Registration form (link)
Ignore the boxes about 'SI' unless you are hiring a club phone, in which case fill in the details we usually request off those hiring SI dibbers.
£5 - for both adults and juniors with accompanying adult.
Headtorch hire (if required)- £1
Evening event.
Start times from 17.30 to 19.00.
You effectively have a choice between running in partial daylight or in the dark.
Courses close at 20.00.
Please come prepared for heavy rain. Bring a cagoule, as these may be made compulsory at short notice.
Specific hazards for this event are some small streams and a couple of shallow ponds in the area. Courses will be planned to avoid having to take risky routes. Expect footpaths through fields to be slippery. There should be no need to cross walls or fences.
The toilets in the school's sports centre should be available to use (TBC).
Probably at the Iron Duke (a Weatherspoons about three minutes' walk away). The alternative is the Green Dragon, also nearby.
Planner: Alasdair Shaw chair@
Nath And Graham
MapRun
Alasdair With Angus
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.