Yule Poole - Night O

Welcome to the first Yule Poole!
You’ve heard about the famous Brighton City Race with its night mass start, but it’s always been that bit too far to travel. Well Poole (Wessex Orienteering) have taken over the mantle for 2024 so there’s no excuse!

The running order:
17.00 Event Centre opens
17.50 Map distribution commences (maps not to be opened until the start)
18.10 Leave to make your own way to the start – see map below. Ensure you clear and check as you leave.
18.25 Start Marshall briefing
18.30 Start
18.35 Clothing transfer back to Event Centre. Bring a labelled carrier bag. Space limited.
20.00 Prize giving – Mementoes for top 3 finishers in each class
20.30 Event Centre closes

Safety has always been our number one priority, especially for junior competitors. The town centre roads can be busy. Please do take care at all crossings and wherever the surfaces may be slippery. Please would all competitors take care to avoid bumps with members of the public, especially around blind corners.

On behalf of Wessex Orienteering Club, we wish you an enjoyable and challenging evening.
Bruno Smith - Organiser
Gavin Clegg - Planner

Important things to note:
• All U20s are required to wear a hi-viz top or jacket (free hire if needed). Hi-viz clothing is recommended for all participants
• Competitors will need a torch or head torch
• The streets can be slippery when wet

Travel Directions
The Event Centre is at United Reform Church Hall on Skinner Street, Poole (BH15 1RH). What3words location
It will be open to competitors from 17.00.

If travelling by public transport, aim for Poole Bus Station or Poole Railway Station. The Event Centre is 10 minutes walk from both

Parking
the closest option is the Quay Visitors Car Park (BH15 1SB). Google maps link
Alternative options are the High Street Shops Multi Storey Car Park (on Hill Street, BH15 1NR) Google Maps

Pre-race shopping/sightseeing
Poole town centre is not embargoed and so you are free to wander round the shops and attractions before the race. However please respect the spirit of the competition and do not walk round with an old orienteering map, or go actively searching for controls.

Help and advice on the night
There will be plenty of helpers on the night that are able to give advice etc from 17.00 onwards. So, if anything below is unclear then please don't hesitate to ask. Alternatively, you are welcome to email the organiser Bruno Smith (Bruno.smith@ntlworld.com) beforehand.

The Competition
There will be a mass start at 18:30 for all courses which will take place in Harbourside Park. By 18:10 competitors should leave the Event Centre and make their own way to the start location. This is a distance of 1000m level walk. Someone will lead people to the start at 18.10, but feel free to make your own way there, using the map fragment below or using this Google maps link. Please ensure you clear and check your dibber as you leave for the start.

The aim of the competition is to visit the electronic controls in the order shown on the map and finish within a 1 hour 45 minute time limit. It will be a timed start – i.e. you do not have to punch a control box at the start.

The winning times for courses 1-5 are expected to be 35-40 minutes. The junior course will be run much quicker.

All participants must physically ‘punch’ the Finish and report back to Download at the Event Centre. This is a safety requirement so that we know that there are no lost or injured competitors remaining out on the course.

Map
The maps are printed at a scale of 1:4,000 using the ISSOM symbol set.

In general, a thick black line represents a feature which is impassable, i.e. must not be crossed, whether or not it looks crossable. Sometimes the double tags have been left off the uncrossable fence for clarity.

SportIdent (SI) Electronic Punching System (EPS)
NB. SportIdent recommends that GPS watches are worn on the opposite had to your SIAC hire card.

The control boxes will be enabled for contactless punching. This means that if you have the appropriate card (known as a SIAC) then you don’t have to “dib” it into the hole in the control box but just need to swipe it within 50cm of the box.

Hired SI cards must be returned at the end of the event. Lost cards will be charged at their replacement cost of £35.

1. If you are not familiar with the use of contactless punching equipment then please note the following:
2. Cards should be cleared as with older SI Cards.
3. Cards are enabled for contactless punching when they are dibbed in a check unit. It is therefore crucial that you turn your card on using a check box.
4. When the cards are activated you will see a faint green flash in the tip every 10 seconds or so.
5. A successful ‘punch’ is indicated by your card flashing and beeping.
6. When you ‘punch’ at the finish your card is turned off. You should therefore avoid running too close to the finish during the course.
7. If for whatever reason your card does not work in contactless mode you can still use it in traditional dibbing mode.

Controls
The control boxes will be positioned so that they are visible as soon as you have navigated to the correct side of the feature. They will be attached to the feature using metal cable ties. The control site will be highlighted with a small orienteering kite 15cm by 15cm.
If you have a version 8 SI card (numbers 2,000,000 - 2,999,999) your card can only hold 30 control punches. So, if you are on courses 1 or 2, you need to use a SIAC dibber or hire one of the 15 x v9 WSX dibbers, which will be allocated to the first 15 hirers on Courses 1 and 2. Also, please note that if you have a SI-card5, then you can not use it on Course 1 and on Course 2 you will only get splits {from a recorded timestamp) for 30 out of the 33 controls. For definitive information about SI Card Versions use this link

Finish
The Finish is close to the Event Centre and common to all courses

Download
Download will be in the Event Centre. Please make sure that you download even if you didn’t complete the course – that way we know that you have returned safely.

Start Arrangements
The start is 1000m from the event centre. There will be a mass start for everyone at 18:30. The start is in the middle of an open park. All six courses will start off in a different direction. Please listen carefully to the start marshal(s) who will attempt to line you up facing in approximately the right direction. Theoretically you will all be encircling the start control with your back to it.
All administration prior to the start will take place at the Event Centre. This includes the distribution of sealed maps and timing chips and the clearing and checking of these SportIdent chips. By 18:10 all competitors should have left the Event Centre to make their way to the start location. We will operate a clothing transfer back to the Event Centre but space is limited so please do not bring large coats or bags to the start.

An air horn will signal that maps can be opened and that the competition is underway. Do not open your map until the air horn or you risk disqualification. The location of the event Start is marked on the map by a red triangle.

Facilities
During the event we will be serving teas, coffee and mince pies etc at the Event Centre, for which there will be a small charge (cash or card).
The Event Centre only has 4 toilets. There is a distinct lack of public toilets in Poole, so please bear this in mind.

What to wear
Please wear appropriate clothing for the weather conditions. It is highly recommended to wear a hi-viz jacket on top. (Compulsory for juniors U20). Courses are mainly on hard surfaces with 10-15% on grass in a park. Dob spikes are inappropriate for this race. If it has been raining the start area and the first few controls will be ankle deep in water/mud, you will get wet feet. If wearing racing flats you will have no traction. Trail shoes are the best option. If during the competition the water is up to your knees (or higher) you have strayed into the harbour. Please return to the shore!

Torches and headtorches
You will need a torch or headtorch. As well as lighting up the map, there are other benefits including security and the reduction of potential collisions in less well-lit areas.

Health and Safety
People run in Poole every day without incident. However, the risks that all competitors should be aware of are those of road traffic accidents and collisions with members of the public and other runners.

Competitors can mitigate the risks to a great extent by following the guidance:
• Hi-viz jackets/waistcoats highly recommended
• Cross roads only after having checked that it is safe to do so
• Take care when running around corners
• Take extra care when emerging from alleyways
• Adjust speed to take in to account the various urban conditions

Results
Full results will be published on the event website within 24 hours of the event.


Prize giving & course closing
Prize giving will take place at Event Centre. The Yule Poole prize giving will take place at 20:00 and there are mince pies for the top three finishers in each of the 12 classes.

Controls will be collected in from 20:15, so please report back to the Event Centre by that time even if you haven't finished. The number of controls successfully visited will be recorded even if you were unable to complete the whole course.

Officials
Planner: Gavin Clegg (WSX)
Controller: Chris Branford (WIM)
Organiser: Bruno Smith (WSX)