November Classic 2023 & Southern Championships

FINAL DETAILS

Welcome to the November Classic & Southern Championships. There is a lot of information in the Final Details and much of it you will be familiar with from other orienteering events. Here is a summary of the key points we'd like you to be aware of:

• The weather forecast is currently for a calmer & drier spell after storm Ciarán has passed over, so let's hope it remains that way. Some parts of the competition area are moderately exposed. If we need to because of extreme weather conditions on the day, we may require all competitors to carry a lightweight waterproof hooded running jacket or similar waterproof clothing and a whistle, Please bring these with you just in case.
• Please come to the event knowing your Course Number, Class and Start Time.
• There have been a handful of changes to start times so please check your allocated start time shown below. Most changes are by just a few minutes.
• Allow yourself plenty of time for the 1.75 km to the Start (at least 20 mins walk). If you miss your allocated start time you may have to wait for a free start slot as some courses are heavily subscribed.
• During your run do not enter the out of bounds areas shown on the map.
• Note that a full legend is provided on the maps for courses 3 and 4. All other course maps show a reduced legend of special symbols only.
• Please take your litter home with you.

We hope you have an enjoyable day in the New Forest.
Southampton Orienteering Club

Courses

• Course 1 16.5km 320m climb
  M21E
  33 controls, Map 1:15,000 A4
      
• Course 2 11.4km 200m climb
  M20E, M18E, M35L, M40L, M21L, W21E
  21 controls, Map 1:15,000 A4
      
• Course 3 9.5km 180m climb
  M45L, M50L
  21 controls, Map 1:10,000 A3
      
• Course 4 8.9km 170m climb
  M55L, M18L, M20L, M21S, W21L
  19 controls, Map 1:10,000 A3
      
• Course 5 7.4km 160m climb
  M60L, M16A
  20 controls, Map 1:10,000 A4
      
• Course 6 7.2km 135m climb
  W20E, W18E, W35L, W40L, M35S, M40S
  20 controls, Map 1:10,000 A4
      
• Course 7 6.7km 130m climb
  M65L, M45S, W45L, W50L
  20 controls, Map 10,000 A4
      
• Course 8 5.9km 125m climb
  M70L, M50S, M55S, M20S, M18S, W55L, W21S, W20L, W18L, W16A, Blue
  16 controls, Map 10,000 A4
      
• Course 9 5.1km 115m climb
  M75L, M60S, W60L, W35S, Short Blue
  16 controls, Map 10,000 A4
      
• Course 10 4.5km 105m climb
  M65S, W65L, W70L, W40S, W45S, W50S, Green
  14 controls, Map 10,000 A4
      
• Course 11 4.1km 75m climb
  M80, M70S, W75, W20S, W18S, W55S W60S, Short Green
  12 controls, Map 10,000 A4
      
• Course 12 3.0km 65m climb
  M85, M90, M75S, W80, W65S, W70S, Very Short Green
  13 controls, Map 10,000 A4
      
• Course 13 1.7km 40m climb
  W85, W90
  8 controls, Map 10,000 A4
      
• Course 14 5.6km 110m climb
  M14A, M16B
  14 controls, Map 10,000 A4
      
• Course 15 3.8km 95m climb
  W14A, W16B, Light Green
  13 controls, Map 10,000 A4
      
• Course 16 3.2km 70m climb
  M12A, M14B, W12A, W14B, Orange
  15 controls, Map 10,000 A4
      
• Course 17 2.8km 55m climb
  M10A, M12B, W10A, W12B, Yellow
  12 controls, Map 10,000 A4
      
• Course 18 1.8km 45m climb
  M10B, W10B, White
  12 controls, Map 10,000 A4
    

Travel Directions
The event centre and parking are at Ocknell Campsite, Janesmoor Plain Road, near Stoney Cross in the New Forest. Nearest Postcode SO43 7HH
Grid ref SU252120 ///juicy.twinkling.woof

Ocknell Campsite is on the north side of the A31 Southampton to Ringwood road, about halfway between the two towns. NB You cannot turn right on to Janesmoor Plain Road from the A31 travelling westbound,

From the M27 westbound

• Leave the M27 at Junction 1 and take the 3rd exit at the roundabout signed Brook, Bramshaw and B3079
• In the village of Brook, take the left turn signed Fordingbridge B3078 with a brown sign for Ocknell Campsite
• Continue for around 1.5 miles and take the left turn to follow brown signs for Ocknell campsite
• Continue on this road for around 2 miles when you will find the entrance to Ocknell campsite on your right.


From the A31 eastbound


• There are two large dips in the road as you travel across the forest from Ringwood. The turning for Ocknell campsite is on the left as you reach the top of the hill coming up out of the second dip, marked with a brown 'Ocknell' campsite sign.
  
• The campsite entrance is a short distance on the left down the road from the A31.
  

Parking
Please do not arrive at the Ocknell Campsite entrance before 08.00
The Ocknell Campsite entrance will be signed with Orienteering signs. Please proceed down the campsite driveway around the one way section and follow the main thoroughfare as it curves round to the right where marshals will direct you towards the parking areas on hard-standing.
Cars will be parked in bays on the left. campervans, motorhomes and other larger vehicles will be parked along the right hand side of the main thoroughfare.
There is ample parking provision. Please park only on hard standing areas and do not drive over the grass.

Take care as there will be a large number of competitors walking to and from the Event Centre.
The assembly area and route to the start will be at the northern end of the parking area furthest from the vehicle entrance.

Timings
Parking 0800-1600
Enquiries: 0830 - 1430
Hired EMIT card collection: 0830 - 1215
November Classic start times: 0930 - 1230
Courses close: 1430
Southern Championships Prizegiving: Approx 1400
All competitors to be clear of Ocknell Campsite (Event Centre) by 1600.

There is one start for all courses with call-up at -4 minutes.
The Event Centre is within the Ocknell Campsite parking area. The supervised Clothing Dump is 1.25 km NW from the Event Centre along a marked route, and the Start is a further 500m beyond the Clothing Dump,.
Allow at least 20 minutes to walk from the Event Centre to the Start.

Facilities
Facilities at the Event Centre include


• Enquiries
  • Hire card issue
  • Key drop
  • EMIT backup cards
  • Limited course changes to colour classes only, subject to map availability
• Download
• First Aid - from 08:00-09:30 at the event centre and thereafter at the Finish.
• Traders – Compass Point, Podium Catering and G&J Catering (burgers etc)
• Toilets*


*There will be 8 toilets plus urinal at the event centre, plus 2 toilets at the start. Please try to use the toilets at the event centre before heading for the start where possible

Litter
There will be litter bags at the Event Centre, but we would appreciate it if you could take your own litter home with you.



Start and Finish Location
The Start call-up is 1.75km from the event centre at Ocknell Campsite via the supervised clothing dump, and at least 20 mins walking.

The route to the start crosses a minor road. Competitors should use the flagged crossing point.
Please take care crossing the minor road en-route to and from the Start/Finish. Anyone bringing children to the event is expected to take responsibility for them at the road crossing.

The run-in and Finish are some 500m from the Clothing Dump, and 1.75km from the Event Centre. Please follow the marked route back to Download at the Event Centre via the Clothing Dump.

Clothing and equipment
Full leg and torso cover and footwear suitable for the terrain must be worn. Trail shoes or sturdy walking boots are recommended. You are strongly recommended to carry a Whistle for use in case of emergency. Whistles will be available at eTag Issue along with a charity box for The Army Benevolent Fund. Suggested donation £1.
Some parts of the area are moderately exposed and it is possible that competitors will be required to wear a cagoule or similar waterproof top, however these would certainly be recommended in the case of extreme weather conditions on the day. Please make sure you have a waterproof top with you just in case.

The Start Procedure
Start Call-up will be 4 minutes before your start time
The Start is a flat 1.75km from the Event Centre via the clothing dump, so please leave in good time for your call-up.
You may warm up outside the forest gate leading to the start call-up area.

Start times are allocated and you should make every effort to be on time. If you are late, report to a start official. You may have to wait for a start slot on your course.
As you enter the start area your card will be read by an official with a hand-held reader and you will be asked to punch an “Activate control” to register that you are about to start. Please make sure the light on the control flashes. If not, please seek help from a start official.

Competitors on courses 17 and 18 (Yellow and White) will be issued their maps after passing through call-up. An adult may accompany them through the boxes to the start line.

Loose, waterproof control descriptions will be available at -3 mins.
Blank maps will be available at -2 mins.
As you leave the start you must punch one of the START controls. Proceed to the labelled map boxes to pick up your map. Odd courses will be on the left, even on the right. Make sure you pick up the correct map for your course number.

Map
Map to ISOM 2017-2 standard. Area completely re-surveyed by Mark Light 2023 with assistance from Steve Sutch and Terry Smith. All maps are printed on waterproof paper by BML.


• Course 1&2 maps are 1:15,000 scale A4 size
• Course 3&4 maps are 1:10,000 scale A3 size
• All other course maps are 1:10,000 scale A4 size
• A full legend is provided on the maps for courses 3 and 4. All other course maps show a reduced legend of special symbols only.
• Control descriptions are printed on the map for courses 15,16,17 and 18 only.
• Loose control descriptions available for all courses in start lanes.
• IOF Pictorial descriptions have been used for courses 1 to 16 (Technical Difficulty 3, 4 and 5). Text descriptions have been used for courses 17 and 18 (Technical Difficulty 1 and 2).

Planner's Notes
The area is used by the general public for leisure, horse-riding, dog walking and cycling - please be respectful of other forest users and their animals.

The area is a mix of open heathland and mostly mature woodland. The majority of the woodland comprises deciduous trees, predominately oak and beech. Some areas include an understory of scattered holly that should not significantly impede navigation or progress. There are many areas of bracken of variable extent. The bracken is now mostly dying back but may hinder progress in some areas. There are some areas of conifer plantation, mostly near the finish, south of the Fritham settlement.

Competitors should be aware that they may encounter fellow orienteers approaching them in the opposite direction. While counter-flow has been avoided on all legs, competitor route choices between pairs of closely located controls may require competitors to look out for and avoid approaching runners.

Hazards

Riders & dog-walkers The area is popular with cyclists, walkers, dog walkers and horse riders so please be respectful of the general public and their animals, Some courses either cross or follow cycle routes, take care as cyclists may be travelling at speed.

Water Courses There are two stream crossings that may become deep after significant rainfall - these will be roped, should significant rainfall occur.

M21E competitors on Course 1 are advised that the northern-most stream that they need to cross twice is, in places, deeply (2 – 3m) incised with near-vertical banks. The course is designed to provide safe crossing points on the direct routes. Most of this stream is marked OOB. For those taking an indirect route, there is a crossing point over this stream where a bridge has been swept away. There is a significant rootstock a few meters west of the bridge site that could be used to cross the stream and avoid the steep stream banks at this point.

Road Crossings All competitors must cross a minor road en-route to the Start and return from the Finish. Some courses will also cross a minor road that carries occasional light vehicle traffic between Fritham and the Eyeworth Pond car park and adjacent houses. It is a no through road. Competitors are asked to take care when crossing these roads.

Ticks & livestock Please be aware of the risk of ticks and Lyme disease.
The area is frequented by ponies, deer and livestock and the usual precautions to avoid infection apply. Please avoid disturbing or frightening the livestock as best you can. Be aware of the risk of kicks and bites.
You must not feed or pet the ponies and donkeys - this is both dangerous for you and dangerous for them. Unfortunately, some ponies that have been fed previously can be persistent and unpredictable.

Out of Bounds Areas
There are a number of Out Of Bounds (OOB) areas marked on the map, but not on the ground, including many ditches, streams and marshes. These are environmentally sensitive areas that must be avoided, as stipulated by the conditions of our permit from Forestry England. Courses have been designed so that optimum routes avoid the OOB areas. Please respect these OOB areas, and do not stray into nor cross them so that we protect these sensitive areas of environmental importance and may be allowed to return for future competitions in the New Forest.

Other - Please do not pick up litter or unidentified objects in the competition area.

Timing System
EMIT eCard (Brikke) The charge for a lost hire card is £50.
Backup cards will be available from the Ecard issue point and start.

NB It is the competitor's responsibility to check that their emit card has been correctly activated at the start and a correct punch obtained at each control including a backup pin prick on the yellow backup card. There will only be reinstatement for a missing electronic record of visiting a control if there is visible evidence of punching on the backup card."

On the Course
Give way at controls, be patient.

Safety Bearing

• From the Southern part of the area, head SE until you come to a minor road road, then head SSE towards the Event Centre.
• From the Northern part of the area, head East until you come to open heath and a minor road and then head SSE along the road to the Event Centre.
• Competitors who become injured in the Northern section and do not feel able to make it back to the Event Centre should head to one of the car parks on the minor road and ask a member of the public to phone the emergency number on the map to request assistance.

Download
Download is at the Event Centre, some 1.75km from the Finish. If you have a concern about your result, please raise it immediately with the download team. Please return hired cards to the download team after you have downloaded.

If you retire from the event you MUST report to Download so that we know you are back safely.

Results
Results will not be displayed at the Event Centre. Live results will be posted online at race-results.info

Southern Championships Prize Giving
We hope that as many of you as possible will stay to congratulate your fellow orienteers who have finished in the top 3 of their (E/A/L) class.
We are using the green Brooklyn show trailer near to the traders for the presentation, with space on the top step for class winners to stand and have photos taken. Second and third place runners will stand either side to receive their mementos. Prizes will be presented by SCOA Chair Jon Wheatcroft.
There are trophies for each premium class winner. Some trophies have storage boxes and will have a label on them to remind you. Where relevant, please go to the back of the trailer to collect the box after your presentation. If you are unable to collect your trophy, please arrange for someone to collect it on your behalf: they should report to the back of the trailer and leave their contact details before collecting the trophy.

Southern Championships Trophies will be awarded for premier class winners i.e.
Elite classes for M/W 18-21
A Classes for M/W 10-16
L Classes for M/W 35-70 and M75L
W75, M80 & W80

A unique memento of the event will be awarded to the first 3 in each of the above classes plus M/W 85 and 90

Note that only members of clubs affiliated to SEOA, SCOA or SWOA qualify in the Southern Championships.

First Aid
First Aid is provided by The Response Group, initially at Event Centre from 8:30 - 9:30, then at the Finish from 9:45 to the end of the event.

The nearest hospitals are:
Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD Tel 02380777222
Distance 12 miles. Journey time 22 minutes.
Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Castle Lane E, Bournemouth 01202 303626, BH7 7DW (22 miles, 28 mins)
Salisbury District Hospital, Odstock Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 8BJ Tel: 01722 336262
Distance 15 miles. Journey time 32 minutes
Lymington Hospital, Wellworthy Rd, Lymington SO41 8QD – minor injuries unit
(17 Miles, 35 mins)

The Environment
Please come to the event with clean and dry shoes and clothing. After your run please follow the guidance that helps us protect our precious environment: Check - Clean - Dry.

Please read and follow The New Forest Code. Smoking is not allowed in the Event Centre, on the walk to and from the Start & Finish or in the competition area.

Risk
Orienteering is a physically challenging sport. Competitors take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety.

Medical Conditions
If you have a high risk medical condition you want the organisers to be aware of please download and complete this form and place it in a sealed envelope with your name on it. This can be left at registration. Envelopes will only be opened if required for a medical emergency. Unopened envelopes should be collected after the event. Any unclaimed envelopes will be destroyed after the event.

COVID-19
Before attending any sporting activity you should self-assess for symptoms of COVID-19. You should follow any NHS guidance on testing and self-isolation.
Hand sanitisers will be provided at the toilets and enquiries.

Photography and Safeguarding
Photography is not allowed in the toilets or any "changing area" including the car park. Any concerns with photography or the behaviour of anyone toward any child or young adult must be reported to the event organiser or other official. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, play your part, report any concerns and follow good practice.
(For details see British Orienteering O-Safe Policy)

Dogs
Dogs are allowed in the event centre and must be kept under control at all times on the Ocknell Campsite due to the number of people and vehicles in the area.
Dogs may be exercised in the surrounding area away from the event centre itself and away from the competition area.
Dogs are not allowed on the courses.

Please be aware of the New Forest Dog Walking Code

Event Officials
Planners: Hugh Risebrow / Terry Smith SOC
Controller: Charles Daniel BOK
Organiser: Alastair Moir SOC (Email) / Bob Norley

Personal information
The personal data you provide will be used by the event organisers and their agents only for the purpose of processing and publishing entries and results and as required by our insurers to validate our cover.

Refunds
Entry fees will only be refunded, minus an admin fee of 3%+30p, if cancelled at least 7 days before the event when map numbers are decided and printed.
Please contact entries@socweb.org if you have or need to withdraw from the event and would like to request a refund.

Event Cancellation or Postponement
If the event is cancelled, SOC reserve the right to retain part or all of the entry fee to cover committed costs. If the event is postponed your entry will be transferred to the rearranged event. For a limited period you will be allowed to withdraw your entry from the rearranged event and receive a partial refund of your entry fee.

This event takes place with the kind permission of Forestry England