Essex Winter Midweek Series 2024/25

12th Nov 24

Series summary

Overall, we had ten events in the series, spread across Essex, and mainly based at pubs for post race refreshment and discussion.  These were line events, with a Long and Short option, and based on streets, with the odd route choice along footpaths.  As you know, the overall tables are handicapped by age class and sex, and the top six event scores count for the table. There was also a 15 point bonus for every run that took place on the night of the event as opposed to Anytime.  Anytime runs were available for two weeks after each event to allow people who couldn’t make it on the night to catch up, but these were subject to a penalty of 7 minutes as you could see the map, plan your route in advance, and run in the daylight.

The series couldn’t take place without volunteer planners for each event of course, so massive thanks go to: Jackie Sibthorp, Simon Fowler, Lyn & Colin West, Chloe Fowler, Graham Batty, Dean Pepper, Seb Parris, David Game, Paul Beckett and Chris Childs.  As usual they received the full 100 points for organising their events (plus the on the night bonus obviously).

Thanks also to Dean Pepper who co-ordinated the series for SOS.

We had 49 people running at least one short course, and an equal number on the Long.  David Game, Colin Jackson and Chloe Fowler ran at all 10 events and bagged the full complement of on the night bonuses as a result.  Jackie Sibthorp, Alan Sibthorp, Lorna Pettifer and John Pettifer all scored in each event by doing an Anytime catch up for the events they missed on the night.  In total (including Anytime) we recorded 142 runs on the short, and 189 on the Long.  298 runs were on the night, so we had 33 Anytime runs over the series.  We had representation from 10 different orienteering or running clubs.

As for previous series, all races were based on MapRun, which generally performed well and allowed runners to compare routes immediately after the race, check mistakes and shortcuts they missed.  For next winter we expect to introduce some additional features which will make using MapRun mandatory.  As so few people used manual scorecards this series, I don’t see that as an issue.  Please do make sure you have upgraded to the latest version of MapRun though, as it improves GPS accuracy, allows us to use new features, and reduces the prospect of issues.

All the runs were held in the full dark, apart from the last one.  We held runners at the start of the penultimate event to ensure everyone ran in the dark, but the evening was a little light for that on the last one, so some of the early runners got a bit of an advantage.  We will look to wrap the series up a couple of weeks ahead of the clocks going forward next season so that we don’t face this issue again.

So, on to the winners for this year!  Both courses went down to the final event, with the on-the-night bonuses playing a critical role in determining the outcomes. 

In the Short course table, it had been an early lead for David Game, but Marc Owen finished strongly winning 7 of the last 8 events.  However, missing those first two events proved costly, and with two wins of his own, an organised event, and a full set of bonuses, David Game took the title, by 12 points.  It was close for third as well with Colin Jackson just pipping MEC runners Melanie Sirett and Rachel Read.

In the Long course, Sebastian Parris scored five wins, organised an event and got nine bonuses, to hold of Chloe Fowler who had been to all of the events and organised one herself.  She took a win as well, at Ongar, but fell just 13 points short in the final table.  Even closer was the battle for third place, just one point separating Roy Read from Lyn West, with Simon Fowler another 10 points behind.

Short course

Long Course

Well done to the winners, and to everyone who ran in the series, and made it such a success.

Winter Series 2024/25

The Essex Winter Midweek Series will again be run over the winter of 2024/25.  This will consist of 10 night street O events.

Series flyer.

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 series will count.   On-the-night bonus of 15 points per event for those running on the night, opposed to MapRun catchup.  7 min penalty for Anytime.  A second run on any particular course will not count for scoring purposes.

Full results will be emailed and published on the SOS and HAVOC websites. 

Entry fees, per event Senior (member) £4, Senior (non-member) £5, junior £2

Golden Ticket (entry to all events in the series) - Senior (member) £30, Senior (non-member) £40,  junior £15

Note:  There have been several problems with the MapRun software recording blank or 15 min default leg times.  MapRun have issued a new version v7.5.6 to address this.  Please update your version of MapRun to this latest one to avoid any issues in the future.

Links to details/results for the events are shown in the table below.

Essex Winter Midweek Series 2024/25

Guidelines for each event:

- Short (c3-3.5km straight line) and Long (c5-6km straight line) or another format if it works better for an area (e.g. Short and Long Score)
- Starts from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, courses close 9pm
- Start location should be a pub or similar
- If possible, events are set up on MapRun to allow for on the night analysis, as well as Anytime Catch up for thise not able to attend on the night
- Mainly street based, although can offer off road route choice, if considered safe in the dark
- Usual format of fire hydrants, supplemented by other road furniture, and/or homemade hydrant signs where courses would benefit from not only using hydrants (to increase route choice for example).

Defending champions from 2023/24 are:

Short Course

Long Course