Type of event: Race
With the lead changing hands frequently on most courses and where a race-changing error was seemingly only a heartbeat away, it was like the Wacky Races
Adam dibbing at the Start
After the disappointing attendance at Cothelstone Hill and the cancelled event at St Audries, it was third time lucky for our Saturday morning QOFL experiment! There were an unprecedented (in recent times, anyway) 58 individual runs from QO members. Is Saturday now the more popular day on which to have our forest league events?
Hamish Sprinting In
tip: click on the course names in green below to see the race 'splits'
Another question is, will the series be won at our next QOFL in January? Back-to-back wins for Devon's Ben Chesters on Blue have given him a commanding lead, which could be unassailable should he add a third win at Orchard Portman.
Yet again the Green course was the most competitive, with its intriguing mixture of up and coming orienteers and very capable super veterans. Matt Carter won his first Green course since joining the club earlier this year. Trailing a University of Bristol (UBOC) student by seven minutes after just a few controls, a series of strong legs saw Matt almost level with a quarter of the race to run. A mistake costing the UBOC lad 10 minutes then set up a straight fight between Matt and Devon's highly experienced Chris Virgo. The lead exchanged hands with Matt getting ahead again only at the penultimate control.
Now How Do I Get To The Control
Chris Hasler made a victorious comeback on Short Green with what might be a record long winning time, albeit a comfortable one! Taking 95 minutes, Chris traded the lead with runner-up Steve Williams before finishing nearly 20 minutes ahead.
By halfway round the Light Green, Sarah Maynard and JOG's Martin Lewis were practically neck and neck. After that, Sarah's experience told. Eight minutes adrift of Sarah and runner-up was last season's Orange course champion Heather Green.
Erin Chats With Mum After Her Run
The runner-up to Heather then was Andrew Page. He now has back-to-back QOFL wins on Orange, finishing a clear five minutes ahead of a cluster of runners, one being the 2016 SW League champion on Light Green, Luke Shopland. Luke led, then Andrew, then QOFL debutant Nick Ryles with just two controls to go, before an error from Nick let Andrew in again.
Tate Modica led from the start to the end on Yellow and had a clear three minutes over Will Toomer. Impressive was the large amount of members coping very well on their first season on this course.
No surprise on White where Jacob Shirvington was fastest but new boy Ethan Ryles gave him a run for his money.
- Jeff Pakes
Organiser Ray T
Many thanks to you all for your great contribution at Wind Down today – excellent team work!
- Ray Toomer
Well done too to Ray for very efficiently organising the event. He ticked all the boxes, from giving the local horse riders plenty of warning to clearing the site by 3.30pm
| Organiser | Ray Toomer |
| Planners | Mark Maynard (with Rosie Wych) |
| Equipment | Roger & Judy Craddock |
| Computers | Andy Rimes, Spencer Modica, Chris Philip, Sam Shirvington |
| Registration | Angela & Tate Modica, Judy Craddock, Elaine & Heather Green |
| Parking | Bob Lloyd, John Fisher, John Trayler, Tony Hext |
| Start | Julia Robertson, Robert Green |
| Finish | Jenny Tennant, Mike Crockett |
| Control collection | Tony Hext, Pete & Sam Shirvington |
| Photography / captions | Jim Pearson / Judy Craddock |
| Also helped | Stephen Lysaczenko, John Carter, Brian Pearson, Steve Williams...& a few others! |
A local event open to all, beginner or experienced orienteer, young or old and there are colour-coded courses suitable for all.
We have six of these events a year and together they form the Forest League (QOFL). The series starts in the Autumn and continues at approximately one event per month until the spring.
Link to QOFL team lists - members, please check which events you are down to help at
Free parking on forest roads.
Those approaching from the north or east use Enmore Road, from Bridgwater. Those from west and south go via Taunton & Kingston St Mary using Buncombe Road. Then follow the signs E from the Pines Café crossroads.
Signed from Pines Café crossroads (ST 207 329) and from entrance to woods (ST 221 343).
Courses suitable for all ages and abilities.
Explanation of courses (by Berkshire OC)
There is a road crossing over a quiet road on the Blue and Green. Please take care. Because of this crossing, only runners older than 15 years of age can run on these two courses.
| Course | Length | Climb |
| Blue | 6.0 km | 210m |
| Green | 4.7 km | 170m |
| Short Green | 3.0 km | 140m |
| Light Green | 3.2 km | 150m |
| Orange | 2.8 km | 110m |
| Yellow | 1.9 km | 60m |
| White | 1.4 km | 10m |
Scale - is normally 1:10,000 for courses running onto Broomfield Common i.e. Blue and Green. Shorter courses tend to be at either 1:5,000 or 1:7,500.
Routegadget from last event, New Year's Day 2016
| Category of entry | Orienteering | Beat the Trail |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 8 | 10 |
| Junior | 3 | 5 |
| Family*- separate runs | 16 | n/a |
| Group (1 dibber and up to 2 maps) | 8 | n/a |
*The family rate is a concessionary rates. Maximum two adults per family.
SI card (dibber) Hire - standard is £1, contact-less is £2 (only if contact-less mode is activated)
Additional runs (for all)- £1 each
Charge for lost dibber - £40 (SI), £65 (SIAC)
Filling out a Registration form (link) in advance will quicken up the entry process on the day.
The non-member premium has been dropped for 2019/20.
The Sportident (SI) timing system will be used but contact-less punching (SIAC) will not be enabled, unless stated otherwise.
Those of you who have your own SI card please bring it to registration to speed up the registration process.
Registration from: 10:30 (helpers from 10.00)
Start times from: 11.00 to 13.00 (helpers can start from 10.30)
Courses close: 14:30
| From - to | Distance |
| Car park - Registration | 0 to 400m |
| Registration - Start | 150m |
| Finish - Download | 300m |
Steep sided mainly coniferous wood used by all courses. An adjoining open hilltop with semi-open parts is used by Blue and Green only. Stout footwear advised: paths can get muddy and churned up by horses. Parents with young children: robust buggies will cope with the forest roads and hence the White course only.
Dogs allowed but must be under control at all times.
In nearby Bridgwater: Penel Orlieu TA6 3PF and Blake Garden TA6 3LF, both open 08.00-16.00.
The Pines cafe at the main crossroads 2.5km to the W of the venue along Enmore Road is open 09.30-16.30 for snacks & hot drinks. Toilet facilities for customers.
Team 3 will be running this event
We've ordered a selection of jackets and hope that they will be delivered in time for those interested to try on at this event.
Planner: Mark Maynard 01823 251262 mayn8599@btinternet.com
Planner (on the day): Rosie Wych 01823 400744 secretary@
Organiser: Ray & Sue Toomer 01458 272848 ray@stertdrove.co.uk
Alan At The Start
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.