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Orienteering Club

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Summer Evening Event - Alderley Edge

and Champions League Event 7

A summer evening event offering courses that are suitable for novices and for experienced orienteers.

As at Brereton Heath, this year we are offering a 2-part Score course as well as the usual colour-coded courses.

Thu 13th Jul 2023

Type of event: Regional
Type of terrain: Parkland, Woodland
Info updated: 14th Jul

Results

Event Report

Planner's Comments - Clare Griffin

Thanks to all who came along last night! It was fantastic to stand at the finish and hear your comments - it made our efforts worthwhile.

The two part score in particular threw up some really interesting results, with part 2's steep and slippery slopes and more intricate nav thwarting the hopes even of some of the best.

I was originally worried that the Blue and Green courses might have been too easy - I think it's safe to say that I needn't have worried. Apologies to those on Blue and Green who were delayed by a couple of small errors on the map - I should have corrected those in plannning. I think it's also worth mentioning that a solid line round a pond indicates that it is uncrossable, even if there's no water in it (you know who you are ��).

Thank you for visiting the Tea Rooms - the team really enjoyed having you and hope to make it an annual thing.

Finally. huge thanks are due to the event team - John, my patient and calm controller; Tony and David the organisers; Andy and his boundless encouragement of Spunch graduates; the registration and start team and all those of you who volunteered for the myriad of jobs on the night.

We pulled in the final control stake with the last of the daylight (control 214 was found thrown in a bush by persons unknown around 9.30pm ��). A great evening's fun!

Controller's Comments - John Embrey

Many thanks to the whole MDOC team, and to Clare in particular as I worked most closely with her. Clare was a delight to work with. I did not have to make many requests / suggestions, and all were received positively.

There are a few areas where the map could do with an update. I applied a few adjustments close to some of the controls but did not have time for a full area check / update.

Comments received at the finish were almost all positive, with a few constructive observations. I must apologise in particular for :

  1. failing to notice until the day of the event that the path up the hill south of 147 no longer exists.
  2. the imprecise placement of 145, which was entirely my fault / responsibility. The south end of the cliff on the map has become increasingly overgrown. I deliberately placed the control a little north of the end as marked on the map so those appraching from the north did not have to fight through an unmapped holly and then immediately return through it. I made sure the kite could be seen from the farthest point south at which the cliff might be considered to end on the ground. Anyone approaching from above would have had a tough time getting to the base of the cliff, and the map does not indicate how tough the approach is across the valley from the west.

This was my first experience of an MDOC 2-part score at an evening event. Judging by the number of competitors and their smiling faces at the end it seems to be a successful way of encouraging non-established orienteers to attend these events.

Pre Event Info

Pre-entries via SiEntries please.

Location

map

Nearest town: Alderley Edge

Directions / Parking

What3words: ///giving.brings.moon

NT car park on B5087 Alderley Edge to Macclesfield road about 2.5km from centre of Alderley Edge. 

The car park is free to National Trust members - you need to bring and scan your card.  Non members need to pay.  Although it's quite large, we don't have exclusive use of it so please car share if you can. 

If we fill it up, we'll provide details of alternative parking which is about 10 minutes' walk away along the road.  Please don't park on Artist's Lane or other adjacent lanes - they have double yellow lines and are covered in Police notices which suggest you might be towed away!

Registration & Start Times

There is pre-entry limit of 180. We may be able to accept a few EOD in addition, but this cannot be guaranteed. Pay with card or cash.

Registration from 17:00. Start times 17:30-19:00. All courses close at 20:15.

Collect hire SI cards if necessary.

Course Information

Courses suitable for novices and for experienced orienteers.

Course length and approximate climb:

  • Blue: 5.2km and 245m
  • Green: 4.5km and 150m
  • Short Green:  2.3km and 30m
  • Orange: 2.2km and 70m
  • Yellow:  1.7km and 50m
  • White: 1.3km and 30m

plus: 

  • 2 x 30 min score.  17 controls on part 1, 16 on part 2.  All controls are worth 20 points each, with penalties being 1 point per 2 seconds late back

On the score courses, you'll need to factor the ascent into your route planning if you want to reach the finish on time and avoid penalties. 

Explanation of colour courses

  • White are very easy with all controls on paths. They are mainly used by 6-10 year olds and family groups.
  • Yellow use simple linear features like paths, walls and streams. They are mainly used by under 12’s and family groups.
  • Orange progress to basic use of the compass and route choice. They are ideal for novice adults or experienced youngsters.
  • Light Green are ideal for improvers as the navigational difficulty begins to increase and uses simple contours and point features.
  • Green are used mostly by experienced under 18’s and adults wanting a short but challenging course with a very hard navigational difficulty.
  • Blue are a longer, more physically demanding course in comparison to the green. The distances are more varied between controls and the course attracts experienced orienteers.
  • Brown & Black are very physically demanding and have a very hard navigational difficulty. They are for experienced orienteers only.
  • Score means visiting as many controls as possible in any order in a specific time, like 45mins.

Entry Details

Pre-entries via SiEntries please. Closing date: 18:30 on 13/07/2023. Pre-entry limit: 180. 

We may be able to accept a few EOD in addition, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Fees: £5.00 seniors and £2.00 juniors. Free SI-dibber loan (but £30 if not returned)

Terrain Description

Alderley Edge is a fairly compact area of (mainly) runnable forest.  There are many paths and, for those on the longer courses, some short but steep hills to enjoy too.

Hazards:

The paths vary from wide well-maintained trails to smaller rougher tracks with tree roots and other trip hazards.  There will likely be muddy and slippery patches after the recent rain.  Wear trail shoes with good grip - this isn't the right event for that old knackered pair to have one last outing.  'Off piste' areas offer the usual assortment of bramble scratch/nettle sting opportunities; long trousers are a good idea if you're planning to venture off the paths.  The area is fairly sheltered and low lying and the weather forecast currently looks quite reasonable for the evening of the event, but consider bringing a waterproof jacket if the weather looks iffy on the night.   

Finally, there's a shallow flight of steps on the White course which might be difficult with a road-biased pushchair.

The event area contains crags and former mine workings.  The most hazardous of these are permanently fenced off by the National Trust and are additionally marked as out of bounds on your map - pink hashed areas.  The 'colour' courses have been planned to avoid less experienced competitors having to cross crags, but please take care when approaching controls sited at the foot of crags - a few of them are quite tall.

The Blue, Green and Short Green courses cross the B5087 road.  The road crossings will be protected by timed-out controls, giving you two minutes to cross safely (and also get your breath back).  The southern crossing (by the National Trust car park entrance) will additionally be managed by a marshal - please obey the marshal's instructions.

Facilities

Toilets at the visitor centre.

First Aid will be available at Registration.

Dogs allowed?

Under National Trust rules. Preferably not on courses.

Contacts / Officials

Series Co-ordinator: Tony Wagg 0161 445 0902, enquiries to: 

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.

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