WAOC 50th Anniversary EventMaulden WoodSun 15 January, 2023
Near: Maulden
Level of event: Regional
Type of event:
Race
Results
Report
Organiser's Comments
I hope you enjoyed your time at Maulden today (even if you had to stand in line with legs crossed waiting for the one loo). The event was the result of much planning - literally in regard to the planned courses, and the inspired combination of old and new maps which Bob and Mike devised - but also in how we would use the event to celebrate our 50th anniversary. I am glad you were able to join us for this, and I am grateful to everybody for their sterling efforts in disposal of the various cakes that had been provided (thanks again to Sue, Helen, Helen and Harry for baking). Thanks also to everyone who helped on the day, and made the event run smoothly.
Regarding the actual orienteering: Control 64 stopped working during the event. We have made this control optional, so runs are valid even if the SI unit was not responding when you visited it.
I have one item of lost property, namely an orange whistle with short loop of black cord attached.
Photos of the event to follow - there are already a few at the bottom of this page if you scroll down. More to come...
We look forward to seeing you all again soon at the Icenian weekend on 18th/19th February!
Pre Event Info
Location Info
- Postcode: MK45 3UZ *
- Lat,Lng: 52.04044,-0.43503
- Grid Ref: TL074393
- 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.
Latest News
13 January: We may be taking photos at this event, for publicity purposes. If you do not wish to appear prominently in any published image, let us know. (We always seek permission before publishing images with a junior as the main focus).
11 January: Final Details revised (v4): Loose control descriptions for all courses will be combined into one list.
10 January: Final Details revised (v3) with updated parking instructions and to correct a course length typo
9 January: On-line entries now closed. Entry on the day will be available, but will be strictly limited by availability of maps.
4 January 2023: Final details published (PDF document).
24 November: Entries are now open on Fabian4.
Summary
This event celebrates 50 years of WAOC, and in particular 50 years since our first event at Maulden Wood, and almost exactly 50 years since our first ever event at Brampton in January 1973. Hally Hardie, one of the club's founding members, tells us that:
"The first WAOC event was held in Brampton Wood on Saturday 13th January 1973. I was the mapper, planner, organiser for the whole thing. Indeed, I was also involved in flying the aerial photography to help me with the map. The Maulden map hadn't even been started by this date. Indeed, I don't think we had actually committed ourselves to this until after Brampton, nor got the necessary permissions. By this time we had got a few more locals interested. We had 4 bodies to put the Maulden map together with me doing the cartography. We had a RE mapper to help. This was Tony Carlyle who is still orienteering. His daughter, Wendy, has been in the British squad, and now takes a lot of O inspired photography."
This event will be the first WAGAL event of 2023. Senior courses will include a taste of 20th century orienteering. All finishers will receive a memento, there will be spot prizes and we will be sharing a celebratory cake!
Directions / Parking
SatNav: All vehicles MUST approach the event from the south, from the roundabout near Clophill - Postcode MK45 4AD. The Postcode for the parking area itself is MK45 3UZ. Grid reference: TL074393
Maulden Wood is situated by the A6 south of Bedford. The event will be signed from the roundabout at the A507/A6 Junction near Clophill. ALL TRAFFIC MUST ENTER THE EVENT FROM THE SOUTH on the A6. DO NOT make a right turn from the A6, even if your SatNav tells you to. Please follow directions below to approach (you must approach from the South).
- If approaching the area on the A507 or A6 Northbound, proceed North on the A6 at the roundabout at the A507/A6 junction near Clophill. Travel north for about 1700m. Turn left into the parking area signed Maulden Wood.
- If heading to the event southbound on the A6, proceed to the roundabout at the A507 and turn 180 degrees to enter the event from the South as above.
Parking will be in the study centre car park (exclusive for orienteers). There is no charge for parking. There If you are planning to bring a minibus, coach or other large vehicle, please park in the layby.
NOTE - Given the relatively high level of entries it is quite possible we will exceed the capacity of the study centre car park. Overflow parking will be in the layby, which should be more than adequate. Car sharing is encouraged. ON NO ACCOUNT PARK ON THE ROADSIDE OF THE A6 beyond the layby.
Course Information
Please also see final details.
There will be a punching start. SIAC (non-contact) punching will be enabled for all course controls. Start and Finish controls will NOT be in beacon mode and must be contact punched by all competitors.
The following range of courses will be provided. Details are subject to final controlling.
| Course | Distance | No. Controls | Technical Difficulty |
| White | 1.3 km | 8 | Very Easy |
| Yellow | 2.3 km | 10 | Easy |
| Orange | 3.1 km | 12 | Moderate |
| Light Green | 3.1 km | 10 | Harder |
| Short Green | 3.7 km | 14 | Hard |
| Green | 5.0 km | 19 | Hard |
| Blue | 6.3 km | 23 | Hard |
| Brown | 7.8 km | 27 | Hard |
Courses Short Green, Green, Blue and Brown each have two parts. The first part is shown on a reproduction of a 1970s Maulden Wood map using features which still exist. The second part continues using the current Maulden Wood map.
Entry Details
On-line pre-entry is now closed. Start times can be viewed on the Fabian4 website. There will be limited entry on the day dependent on availability of maps. We do not intend to recycle maps. Quantities of maps available on each course will be displayed on this web page later in the week preceding the event.
On the day entry fees will be as shown in the table below for "On and after 1st January".
Entry fees:
| On and before 31 December | On and after 1st January | |
| Seniors volunteering to help on the day | £5 | £6 |
| Seniors (BOF members) | £10 | £12 |
| Seniors (non BOF) | £12 | £14 |
| Juniors (Under 21)/Students in full-time education | £3 | £3 |
| SI Card hire | £1 | £1 |
| SIAC hire | £3 | £3 |
Registration and Start Times
Registration for entry on the day, enquiries and hired dibber collection will be open from 10 am to 12 noon. Registration will be adjacent to Parking, in the Greensands Trust's Working Woodland Centre.
If you have pre-entered and have requested a hire dibber, please collect it from enquiries before heading to the start. Remember to return the dibber when you download.
Starts will operate from 10.30am until 12.30pm.
Terrain and map details
Maps will be A4 sized, 1:10,000 scale printed on waterproof paper. All course maps wll be double sided with current map on one side and reproduction of 1970's Maulden map on the reverse.
White, Yellow, Orange and Light Green course maps will show the full course on both versions of the map.
Brown, Blue, Green and Short Green course maps have part 1 shown on the vintage map, then turn over and complete the course with Part 2 printed on the contemporary map.
Dog restrictions
No dogs indoors. On leads in parking and layby areas. The wood is adjacent to a dual carriageway!
Oak Processionary Moth
There is confirmed Oak Processionary Moth at Maulden. The moth caterpillars are a pest that can damage oak trees, and hairs from their nests can be an irritant to pets and people if inhaled. While our event is outside the caterpillar season, courses have been planned to avoid control sites near oaks, to minimise the risk of nests being disturbed and releasing hairs. Further information is available here. Please ensure you clean your kit and especially shoes as soon as possible after the event.
Facilities
Toilet facilities will be available in the Greensands Trust's Working Woodlands Centre.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Forest England for granting permission for us to use this area for orienteering today.
We are grateful to the Greensands Trust for allowing us to use their Working Woodlands Centre for parking, toilet facilities and download.
Contacts / Officials
Organiser: Peter Woods (WAOC) entries@waoc.org.uk
Planner: Bob Hill (RAFO/WAOC)
Controller: Mike Capper (WAOC)
Photo Galleryclick/tap photos for a larger version
