Essex Winter Midweek Series No10 Highwoods

Location
The event Start and Finish is at Newcomen Way, Highwoods, Colchester CO4 9RA
What3Words: ///lotteries.bypasses.pausing
There is plenty of parking on Newcomen Way

Timing
Start times will be between 6.30pm and 7.30pm.
Please ensure you notify the organiser that you have finished, so that safety checks can be completed.
Competitors must report to the finish by 8:45pm.

Event information
Open Orienteering Map 1:7500
Long course: 24 controls
Short course: 10 controls
The printed map has been updated to show more detail than is available on the electronic version, (especially footpaths)
Controls are all fire hydrant signs.
The course is on roads, pavements, urban footpaths and avoidable unlit woodland paths.

Maprun
This event uses MapRun software. Please use a smartphone or Garmin watch and ensure you have the latest version of MapRun installed on your phone. Information about Maprun is available at www.stragglers.info/info/virtual-orienteering-courses. There is also a user guide on the HAVOC website
It is useful to download the course you need before you arrive, download the course onto the app by clicking on ‘Select Event' in the app, and following the menu path UK > Essex>Highwoods 2025
The courses are:
Highwoods 2025 Short
Highwoods 2025 Long
This is a line event. You must visit the controls in the correct order.
The course map will not be visible on your phone until you receive the PIN number at Registration on the night. You do not need the PIN number to run using a Garmin watch.
Your result will be automatically downloaded when you finish. The full procedure will be explained at Registration. If the app fails to register your visit to a control, you need to note the lower number on the H sign, or lamp post number. If a control is missed then the software will show your result as Mispunch, but in the results we will add the usual penalty for a missed or incorrect control.
If you are unable to use MapRun, you are still very welcome to take part by completing the control card with pen or pencil, but be aware that this is a slower method. You will be timed by clock, and written answers will be checked. Please bring a pen to mark the control card and a map bag if wet.

Safety
Participation is at your own risk. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Bring clothing and footwear appropriate for the weather conditions.
This is a night event. A head or hand torch are compulsory.
As with any street orienteering participants will be required to cross roads and you are asked to take due care and attention at all times. N.B. There is a an option for using an offroad track which may be slippery and has trip hazards and overhanging branches.
High visibility clothing is strongly recommended.
It is a condition of entry that participants agree to follow the British Orienteering Participant Code of Conduct
There may be dog walkers, cyclists, scooters or residents on pavements and footpaths – be aware and give them priority.

Facilities
Public toilets available in the Tesco Superstore.
Newcomers are welcome. Help and guidance will be available.
Participants are warmly invited to join us afterwards at the The Dog & Pheasant Pub for post run rehydration and discussion. Food until 9pm.
Dog & Pheasant PH, 24 Nayland Road, Mile End, CO4 5EG. Far end of Mile End Road approx. 1.6 miles to west of event.

Scoring
The event is the last in Essex Winter Midweek O League. Points will be awarded
based on finishing times adjusted using an age/gender handicap system.
Each missed or incorrect control will incur a 5 minutes penalty. Best 6 results from the 10 event series will count. On-the-night bonus of 15 points per event for those running on the night, as opposed to MapRun catchup. 7 min penalty for Anytime. A second run on any particular course will not count for scoring purposes.
Anytime catch-up for events hopefully available for 2 weeks after the event, on MapRun.
See series website for maps and instructions.
You are welcome to run together as a group, but in order to be fair we ask that you keep together, as when running as a group the least advantageous handicap is applied.
100 points will be allocated to the course organiser/planner for each event planned.
Full results will be emailed and published on the SOS and HAVOC websites.