Blackheath and Farley HeathSun 2 Feb, 2025

SE Long Distance Championships and SE League Event

National level event

Explanation of Event levels

Local events are usually low key and in the 'localised' area, ideal for newcomers to try the sport. Training are non competitive events used for training and coaching, aimed at members of the club, but they can attract people from neighbouring clubs, and are often ideal for newcomers to try the sport. Regional events attract participants from around the local Region, National events are high quality competitions that will attract people from far away, Major events are Major Events such as a British Championships.

Terrain type: Woodland & Forest

Results

Report

Organiser's Report

I can only start by apologising for the difficulties some of you may have faced in reaching our event especially from locations to the East. This time it wasn't down to the weather, but Network Rail's level crossing closure causing the northern route to the event to be blocked (and also the identified short diversion through Little London). It was only in place from the day before the event, and I wish to thank Beryl Pring, from SAX, for her timely email alerting me to the problems with the diversion. There were just over 8% no shows, so sorry if the transport difficulties put some of you off, but at least you knew beforehand and could leave home earlier if you were able to.

For me, I saw a glorious sunrise from the Hogs Back (A31) on my way to the event. And then we had a day of sunshine after so many dull ones. It's my first level B event and I wish to thank Phil Conway for being a very competent planner who just got on with it. Also Gordon Parker, our Controller for being especially proactive and periodically emailing me a "Consolidated Actions List" with all the things I needed to sort out. The most pressing problem in my mind was how to manage the distributed parking (quite a few sleepless nights in the week before the event), but with a team of 7 (8 to start with) we filled all the woodland tracks so well that the main parking field was barely used.

I must especially thank all the volunteers for the event, in the end we had 39, obviously most from team GO, but also sizeable contingents from MV and SLOW plus some from SO, BKO and BADO (plus the 3 jury members). And I can only marvel at Phil's ability to recruit so many Control Hangers and Collectors(19) - at least there were no complaints about placement of controls!

I also received comments appreciating Overbrook as an event centre. Mark Smith, the owner, is a long standing, but occasional orienteer now and very kindly let us use most of it, but it was much more proactive than that. He took time to drive me around all of it saying "you can park here.. and here... and here". But on the day itself he was out but wanted photos of it all; I was so busy I couldn't oblige, but if any of you have any good pictures then please email to:
home (at) fredericksmith.co.uk.

Frederick Smith



Planner's Comments

I have lived near Blackheath Common for 20 years and watched the changing course of nature and human intervention. It is a beautiful and varied landscape, with so many terrain types: runnable pine, open heather, mature oak forest, razed bracken and strangling brambles. I hope you all enjoyed a bit of all of these on your courses!

I tried to plan legs that required holding a steady compass line and careful navigation into the control. Going round the path would often be an option, but my aim was to reward those who took the more courageous route.

The last 500m section of forest on every course was new terrain offered to us by landowner GO member Mark Smith. We owe Mark special thanks not only for use of the forest but also the dry and accessible parking and arena.

I would like to say a big thank you to Controller Gordon Parker, Organiser Frederick Smith, and my two teams of control hangers and collectors. Everyone made my job easier. Thanks to all the volunteer helpers, and to everyone who ran today & enjoyed Blackheath!

Phil Conway


Controller's Report

“Well done to Fred and Phil in organising and planning an excellent National event. Also to all the members of GO who made the event operate smoothly with assistance from some MV and SLOW members. A particular thanks goes to Tom Edelsten who produced an excellent map and dealt with a flurry of amendments in the weeks leading up to the event as forestry works continued in parts and the changing undergrowth.

Hopefully, you enjoyed the challenges Phil produced for you. There are a large proliferation of paths which makes the task harder, particularly when married with the undergrowth. Fortunately, the cold January significantly increased the dieback of the bracken which offered real route choice opportunities which were less evident in December.

Fred did a superb job dealing with all of the organisational aspects and in particular dealing with the logistics arising from the parking conundrums, plans for bad weather parking through to dealing with the significant road closures which appeared in the week before the event. Of course, as a result it was a lovely crisp sunny day – GO could not have asked for better.

Testament to the success of the event was the fact I had a nice relaxing day around assembly, after my early 17km run!

Gordon Parker (SLOW)


Last updated: Sun 09 February, 2025

Overview

A National event on the prime orienteering area of Blackheath and Farley Heath SE of Guildford with an updated map by Tom Edelsten, planned by Phil Conway and controlled by Gordon Parker (SLOW). The area offers a mix of mainly runnable forest and open heathland with fast runnable areas, rough open, patches of dead bracken and heather with an extensive (and confusing) path network well used by walkers and riders.

The FINAL DETAILS are now available here

Location Info

Near: Guildford
Lat,Lng: 51.20109,-0.48564
Postcode: GU5 9DP

Open an interactive map in:
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Directions / Parking


The car parking is off Brook Hill, Farley Green, nearest postcode: GU5 9DN. What3words: ///shoulders.ants.relay

Parking will be tight and limited, so please share/offer transport!

Public transport
By bus: number 32 bus (Guildford – Dorking - Redhill); get off at Park Gates then 1.6 mile walk along road.
By train: (GWR rail replacement bus service); get off at Gomshall station then 3.1 miles (1hr 10m) walk along paths. (Please do not come from Chilworth station as the route passes through the competition area.)

Course Information


Black 39 controls 13.8km 200m climb
M21
Owing to unmarshalled road crossings no-one under M/W18 (born 2009 or later) may enter this course


Brown 30 controls 11.2km 180m climb
M20, M35, M40, W21
Owing to unmarshalled road crossings no-one under M/W18 (born 2009 or later) may enter this course


Short Brown 29 controls 9.1km 170m climb
M18, M45, M50, W20, W35

Blue 22 controls 7.1km 150m climb
M16, M55, M60, W18, W40, W45

Short Blue 21 controls 6.0km 130m climb
M65, M70, W16, W50, W55

Green 20 controls 5.0km 110m climb
M75, W60, W65

Short Green 18 controls 3.9km 80m climb
M80, W70

Very Short Green 14 controls 2.9km 30m climb
M85, M90, W75, W80, W85, W90

Light Green 15 controls 4.0km 70m climb
M14, W14

Orange 17 controls 3.5km 40m climb
M12, W12 (and novice adult)

Yellow 15 controls 2.9km 30m climb
M10, W10 (and novice junior or adult)

White 14 controls 2.2km 25m climb
(Novice junior)

All course lengths etc are provisional.
We regret there will not be a String course.

Entry Details


Full details at Racesignup; entry online there (click here) up until 11am on the day of the event.

When you enter, please select the Age Class that you wish to run in (see Course Info above). Comply with the Eligibility Criteria for the SE Championships (under Event Information on the Racesignup page) if you wish to compete for the medals and podium places.

Registration and Start times

Cash EOD from 9:45 until 12pm at the event. (Online entry available too, see below.)
Start times from 10:30 until 12:30pm

Facilities

Toilets
Tom's Food Wagon
First Aid

Dog restrictions

No dogs please as the car parking and assembly are around residential premises.

Contacts / Officials


Organiser:
Frederick Smith (Blackheath-organiser (at) guildfordorienteers.co.uk)
Entries Sec: Jeremy Wilde (organiser (at) guildfordorienteers.co.uk)

Planner: Phil Conway
Controller:
Gordon Parker (SLOW)

Nearest A&E Hospital

Royal Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XX