HAVOC/SOS Summer Series - Event 3 - Merrymeade Park

Tue 14th Sep 2021

Type of event: Local, Score
Type of terrain: Urban, Woodland

Information updated: 2nd Mar

Results

Info

HAVOC/SOS Mid-Week-Orienteering Summer Series 2021
Event 3 HAVOC – Merrymeade Park, Brentwood - Tuesday 14th September 

 

Results now posted.

 

Event report:
Everyone got round before it got too dark last night, even if there was quite a bit of mist on the fields of the country park.  Thanks to Paul for planning and organising.  Hope you enjoyed the hybrid nature of the courses, and a repeat of the format from Hanningfield, allowing you to choose your own course round the controls.
I will be putting the even on MapRun, as per Hanningfield, hopefully later today, so you can have another go to try a different route, or people who missed the event last night can still gain points for the league.  That will be available (for the league) until the next event at Sudbury in a couple of weeks.
Ahead of any additional runs, going into the final race we see Veronica Machin leading the way on the short course, but as it is best three of the four races to count, any of the next five on the table could take the series win at the next event.
It is a similar story for the Long course, where there are five possible winners depending on the result at Sudbury.
 

 

 

The event will be run strictly in accordance with published BOF and Government guidance. It is a condition of entry that participants agree to follow the BOF COVID19 Participant Code of Conduct.

Participation is at your own risk. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Bring clothing and footwear appropriate for the weather conditions.  As with any urban orienteering which requires participants to cross roads, you are asked to take due care and pay attention at all times.  High visibility clothing is strongly recommended.  There may be dog walkers, cyclists or residents on pavements and footpaths – be aware and give them priority.  Take extra care on roads without pavements. 

The event will form part of HAVOC/SOS Mid-Week Summer 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 3 results from the series will count.  Full results will be emailed and published on the SOS and HAVOC websites.  

Location

Location map

Nearest town: Brentwood

Directions / Parking

Merrymeade Country Park, Brentwood.  Access via Merrymeade Chase (private road), off Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood CM15 9BG.  OS Grid Ref TQ5591294.  Sawyers Hall Lane is east of the double mini-roundabout at the eastern end of Brentwood High Street.  The start/finish area will be in the open area immediately north of the access road Merrymeade Chase.

On entering Merrymeade Chase, drive past the Brentwood ambulance station, take the right fork and drive on to park in spaces available at the far eastern end of Merrymeade Chase beside the day nursery.  Do not park on Merrymeade Chase itself or near the Merrymeade House residents parking. 

Facilities

There are no toilets available at the start/finish.  Nearest evening toilets are at Brentwood station. 

Terrain Description

The courses are on tracks in the country park and on pavements in the residential areas to the east and west of the country park. 

Registration & Start Times

Start at times between 6.00pm and 7.00pm.  Please arrive and be ready for your agreed start time.  Competitors must report to the finish by 8.00pm.

Note the earlier starts window to allow for earlier sunset (sunset due 7:15pm; twilight until 7:50pm).  Early starts are recommended if you think you might take more than an hour. 

Course Information

Both the Short and Long courses are Score courses – the score format is just to give you more route choice.  It is expected that most competitors will be able to visit all controls, taking between 45 and 75 minutes.  Fastest finisher will win - though if a control is missed/wrong then it will add 5 minutes to your time. 

 

Open Orienteering style Map 1:10,000 scale for Long and 7,500 scale for Short. 

 

Controls are mostly Fire Hydrants sign plates.  Other controls are park furniture and require a number answer to the question posed.  What you need to record for each control is shown on the map.  Please bring a pen or pencil to mark the control card and map bag if it is wet.  

 

The courses are on tracks in the country park and on pavements in the residential areas to the east and west of the country park.  Please wear suitable footwear.  Full leg cover is recommended due to undergrowth in the country park.  You should also bring a torch if you think you will still be out in twilight.

Entry Details

Pre-entry only.

By email to the Series co-ordinator for HAVOC events 

You will need to provide the following information in your email:

Name
Short or Long Course
Gender/Age Category (if unknown your age at your birthday this year)
Club (and BOF no. if applicable)
Preferred time slot, 6:00 – 6:15, 6:15 – 6:30, 6:30 – 6:45, or 6;45 – 7:00 (not guaranteed)
Payment details will be sent with confirmation of entry, or please confirm £5 paid for both HAVOC events
Contact Tel No. – solely for the purpose of the Government’s Track and Trace system

 

 

£3 Seniors, £1.50 under 21 or students for just one event, or £5 paid for both HAVOC events

Electronic Pre-payment is required.  Bank details will be sent with the confirmation of entry.

Contacts / Officials

Organiser/Planner – Paul Beckett   Email:  Tel: 07900 405936.

HAVOC Series Coordinator – David Float   Email: Tel: 07801 216634  

Covid 19 Officer – Graham Batty   Email: Tel: 07985 609719 

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.

Privacy: when entering our events your name may appear in the results section of this website or in newspaper reports.
Read our privacy policy to see how we look after your personal data.

Back to top