Junior Event 26th June Valley Gardens
Claro Junior Orienteering Event in Valley Gardens Harrogate Saturday 26th June 2021
Designed for Juniors and novice adults (but open to all) this event will take place in the delightful location of Valley Gardens. This well know park has a dense path network and good sightlines, making it easy for Juniors to navigate and build their confidence orienteering. There is of course also the opportunity to enjoy the other attractions in the park such as the playpark and ice cream vendors after your run!
The Start and Finish are near the Bandstand in Valley Gardens. Street parking available on surrounding roads.
COVID19: Please read the Covid19 safety measures for this event.
Results.
Registration.
Online via the registration form. Enter by midnight Thursday 24th June.
Registration form here – Registration form for Valley Gardens Junior Event
To conform to BOF Covid safely measures please state which start block you would like (2pm-2.30pm, 2.30pm-3pm, 3pm-3.30pm). Please state if you will need to hire a “dibber” (electronic chip used to record your times). Some entry on the day may be possible, but cannot be guaranteed.
The full name and contact phone number for each competitor is required and may be shared with NHS Test and Trace. Please pay your entry fee by bank transfer to the following account:
Account Name: Claro Orienteering Club
BIA Sort code: 30 93 91
Account No: 00419604
Reference: Surname of lead competitor
Participants will receive a map with the course and an electronic chip to record their times. There will be help available to show newcomers what to do.
Courses.
Four courses will be available, which are colour coded based on the established system used by British Orienteering. In ascending order of difficulty they are:
- White normally between 1 and 1.5 km (for M8 & W8 and under)
- Yellow normally between 1.5 and 2.5 km (for M10 & W10)
- Orange around 2.5km (for M12 & W12)
- Long Orange around 3.5km (for M14 & W14)
- Light Green (for M16 &W16)
Any age group can run any course and some participants may want to start with an easy course to build confidence and then run again on a harder Couse.
British Orienteering classes for 2021 ages, so:
- M8 & W8 for those aged 8 or younger in 2021
- M10 & W10 for those aged 9 or 10 in 2021
- M12 & W12 for those aged 11 or 12 in 2021
- M14 & W14 for those aged 13 or 14 in 2021
Start Times.
From 2.00pm to 3.30pm. Participants start at 1 minute intervals. Please note that courses close at 4.30pm and control points will start to be collected from this time so it is important that people start with enough time to complete their course.
Entries.
All participants enter as individuals, but they are welcome to run with a friend. However, both must register separately and the time for each runner will count, even if they stick together throughout the course.
Cost Fees.
Juniors £3, Adults £4.
(Claro club members get discounted entry £1.50 / £2 – you can join on the day or in advance here)
Individuals can have a second run for £1 (discounted 50p). This includes the hire of an electronic timing chip (or “dibber”).
Equipment.
No specialist equipment is needed for beginners. Wear suitable footwear for running on rough ground and clothing appropriate to being outside whatever the weather – preferably clothes that you don’t mind getting muddy. The electronic timing chips (dibbers) are loaned to participants as part of the entry fee for each event. Please take care to secure these carefully to fingers using the loop as they are small, expensive items and losses will be charged for. Participants on Orange courses may want to use a compass, which can also be borrowed at registration if necessary.
Course details
The White course (normally between 1 and 1.5 km) and the Yellow Course (normally between 1.5 and 2.5 km) both involve straightforward navigation and are designed so that they can be completed without the use of a compass. Children can expect to take between 10 and 40 minutes to complete the White course; between 20 and 40 minutes on the Yellow course.
The Orange course is around 2.5km in length and the Long Orange course is around 3.5km. Both provide a greater navigational challenge. Skilled navigators can risk taking shorter routes away from paths and line features while there will usually be easier, safer but longer routes between controls. Very skilled juniors might complete the course in just over 30 minutes while inexperienced participants can expect to take an hour or more. Inexperienced participants should therefore arrive early so they can take the earlier start slots. A compass, and knowledge of how to use it, is recommended. Youngsters tackling the Orange or Long Orange course with no previous experience of orienteering will find it challenging, and should be prepared to be patient as they develop their skills.
Assistance out on the Course.
Parents, guardians etc are encouraged to accompany beginners on the course. In orienteering this is called “shadowing”. This is different to an adult competing as the adult will have a map but not a timing chip. Anyone shadowing a participant should avoid ‘doing it for them’ with the participant in tow in an attempt to get the participant a fast time. This achieves nothing as the participant gets no sense of achievement and learns very little. Instead, shadowers should stay back and allow the participant to do all the navigation themselves if possible, and only help out where a mistake has been made or the participant asks for help.
Parents’ Competing.
Orienteering is renowned as a family participation sport and other family members are welcome to take part. Adults may run any course on offer.
Safety.
Seriously lost children are a rarity in orienteering. However, anyone getting disorientated should not wander about aimlessly. Instead, get on to the nearest track or path and remain where you are and you will be found! If you see a control marker not on your course, remain with it and ask another passing competitor for help. Carrying a whistle is recommended. Courses will never cross or use public roads.
Timing.
Each participant is given a hired electronic timing chip (commonly called a “dibber”) at registration (included in entry). This is used to record the time taken and to show that each control point has been visited. The chip is downloaded to a computer back at registration after completion of the course.
Results.
Results will be published on the Claro website (www.claro-orienteering.org.uk) after the event, along with detailed ’split times’ for each runner showing the time taken to each control. This makes it possible to work out how much time you might have lost through either getting lost or making a bad route choice.
Coaching.
There will always be a CLARO coach on hand at each event to help you if you are a beginner, or would like more help with orienteering techniques.
Enquiries.
More information can be obtained from:
Claro Schools & Development Officer – Jemima Parker. Email jemimap@claro-orienteering.org.uk or phone (01423) 569121