Colour coded and WAGALAmpthill ParkSun 16 September, 2018
Near: Ampthill
Level of event: Local
Type of event:
Race
Results
Report
Planner's Comments
Ongoing land management at Ampthill Park continues to keep mapper and planner on their toes - the courses you ran today were adapted to avoid significant excavations in the central area which had appeared during planning and disappeared again by the time of the event.
Now that so much vegetation has been cleared, it is difficult to find control sites that are technically hard to navigate to, so the focus on the longer courses was to try to provide some non-obvious route choice decisions. This seemed to work, and I really do appreciate your positive comments on the courses.
Thanks to Neil who acted as mapper and controller, and whose comments undoubtedly improved the draft courses. Thanks too to all who helped collect in controls this afternoon, and to all who helped make this event a success.
PS - Planner turns Organiser for our next event: I look forward to seeing you again at High Ash on 28 October.
Peter Woods (WAOC)
Pre Event Info
Location Info
- Postcode: MK45 2GU *
- Lat,Lng: 52.03260,-0.50803
- Grid Ref: TL024382
- Google Map
- Streetmap (OS 50k)
- Bing Map (OS 50k)
- OpenStreetMap
* Postcodes are not very precise in some areas, so don't rely on them for an exact location.
Ampthill Park colour coded event (White to Blue) on historic parkland. Courses suitable for all abilities. Newcomers welcome!
Click here for Final details in PDF format
Directions / Parking
Take the A507 from M1 Jct 13. Ampthill Park is at the Western end of Ampthill next to the junction of the B530 and the A507. It will only be signed from the B530/A507.
Alternatively take the A421 to Bedford, taking the B530 to Ampthill and turning towards the West in the centre of Ampthill keeping to the B530.
SatNav: There is no exact postcode for Ampthill Park, but MK45 2HX will take you to a point about 700m East of the west car park entrance.
The west car park entrance is at TL024382.
By car: Ampthill park has 2 car parks, the central and the west car park. We have been asked to not use the central car park under any circumstances for this event, rather competitors should drive to the west car park where they will be directed to an orienteering specific parking area (not the main body of the west car park itself.)
We thank you greatly in helping us comply with these conditions which will allow us continuing use of Ampthill Park over the coming years.
There will be car parking marshals on hand to direct you - please follow marshal directions.
If you are planning on bringing a coach or minibus, please contact the organiser beforehand.
By bus: Saturday service may operate.
By train or train and bike: Travel to Flitwick Station, which is 2 miles from Ampthill by bike.
Course Information
Colour coded courses from White to Blue. Course details are subject to final planning.
| Course | Difficulty | Distance | Number of controls |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | Very Easy | 1.3 km | 12 |
| Yellow | Easy | 1.9 km | 11 |
| Orange | Moderate | 2.7 km | 15 |
| Light Green | Harder | 3.4 km | 14 |
| Short Green | Hard | 3.3 km | 15 |
| Green | Hard | 4.4 km | 20 |
| Blue | Hard | 6.5 km | 26 |
All courses involve some climb. Longer courses involve more climb.
Course lengths are distances as the crow flies.
All courses will use SI electronic punching.
Entry Details
Entry fees
Individuals:
| Adults (BO member) | £6 |
| Adults (non-members of British Orienteering) | £8 |
| Juniors (aged 20 or younger) and full time Students | £3 |
| SI card hire | £1 |
Groups:
Non-competitive family groups sharing one map are charged at the single adult rate.
Adult full-time students are charged at the Junior rate.
Additional maps are charged at £1 per additional map.
Entry
Entries on the day only - there is no pre-entry for this event.
If you want to prepare your entry slip in advance, follow this link.
Beginners are welcome at this event and help is available to get you started. Just ask at Registration.
Groups If you are bringing a school party, please inform the organiser of the number of entries, and names of participants on each course, in advance. Please use the group entry form.
Registration and Start Times
Registration will be open from 10.00 am to 12.00 noon.
Starts will run from 10:30 to 12:30.
Terrain and map details
The ground is mostly fast open with detailed contour and some patches of runnable forest canopy. Full leg cover is strongly advised, as there are nettles in parts of the wooded areas.
Out of bounds areas on the map are denoted by purple vertical hatching. One fence to the North of the park, indicated by a thick purple line, must only be crossed at Mandatory crossing points:
-)(-
There may be cattle in the field enclosed by this fence. White and Yellow courses do not enter this area.
Map 1:5,000 with pre-printed courses, A4 sized. All maps will be printed on waterproof paper. (Blue course maps are two part, printed as double sided A4).
Dog restrictions
Dogs are welcome but must be kept under control at all times.
Toilets
Public toilets are situated at the Ampthill park Hub, north of the east car park.
Refreshments
Also at the park hub, there is a cafe selling a wide variety of refreshments.
Footwear requirements
You can wear any type of running or walking shoe you prefer. Whatever you choose to wear, please ensure that your shoes are clean and free of mud before arrival at the park. This is now required for any sporting event at Ampthill Park to limit the risk of spreading tree diseases and we appreciate your help with this.
Contacts / Officials
Planner: Peter Woods (WAOC)
Organiser: Helen Hague (WAOC)
Controller and Mapping: Neil Humphries (WAOC)