Essex Winter Midweek Series No5 Shrub End

Location/Parking
The event start and finish is the Berechurch Arms, 177 Shrub End Road, Colchester CO3 4RG What3Words location ///output.delay.basket
There is a car park at the rear of the pub. Otherwise parking is available on surrounding streets
Registration will be at the rear of the pub, best accessed through the rear door from the car park

Timing
Start times will be between 6.30pm and 7.30pm.
Please ensure you notify the organiser that you have finished, so that safety checks can be completed.
Competitors must report to the finish by 9:00pm.

Event information
This is a line event where you are required to visit controls in the numbered order shown on the Open Orienteering Map provided (1:10,000 printed on waterproof paper).
The courses start at the post box opposite the pub and finish in the pub driveway. All the controls are fire hydrants
The printed map has been updated to show more detail than is available on the electronic version, (especially footpaths)
The course is on roads & footpaths, including some well-lit alleyways. Dependant on your route chosen, you may pass controls en-route to your destination, however, you must still visit all of the controls in the correct order.

Maprun
This event uses MapRun software. Please use a smartphone or Garmin watch and ensure you have the latest version of MapRun installed on your phone. Information about Maprun is available at www.stragglers.info/info/virtual-orienteering-courses. There is also a user guide on the HAVOC website
It is useful to download the course you need before you arrive by clicking on ‘Select Event’ in the app, and following the menu path UK > Essex > Shrub End 2025 and click on the course you want:
Shrub End 2025 Long, or
Shrub End 2025 Short
The course map will not be visible on your phone until you receive the PIN number at
Registration on the night. You do not need the PIN number to run using a Garmin watch.
Your result will be automatically downloaded when you finish. The full procedure will be explained at Registration. If the app fails to register your visit to a control, you need to note the lower number on the H sign. If a control is missed then the software will show your result as Mispunch, but in the results we will add the usual penalty for a missed or incorrect control.
If you are unable to use MapRun, you are still very welcome to take part by completing the control card with pen or pencil, but be aware that this is a slower method. You will be timed by clock, and written answers will be checked. Please bring a pen to mark the control card and a map bag if wet.

Safety
Participation is at your own risk. Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult.
Bring clothing and footwear appropriate for the weather conditions.
This is a night event. A head or hand torch are compulsory. High visibility clothing is strongly recommended.
Some paths are unlit and have uneven and slippery surfaces. The paving slabs on the eastern side of the map are in a very poor state. There is also a wooded area which has additional trip hazards and overhanging branches. TAKE CARE!
As with any urban orienteering which requires participants to cross the road, you are asked to take due care and pay attention at all times. The busy main road on the east edge of the map has no footpath and is strictly out of bounds as marked.
There may be dog walkers, cyclists, scooters or residents on pavements and footpaths. Please be aware and give them priority.

Facilities
There are toilet facilities in the pub.
Why not stay behind afterwards for a drink and to discuss your run and route choice. Food will be available, although the menu may be limited.

Scoring
The event will form part of Essex Mid-Week Winter 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 6 results from the 10 event series will count. On-the-night bonus of 15 points per event for those running on the night, as opposed to MapRun catchup. 7 min penalty for Anytime. A second run on any particular course will not count for scoring purposes.
Anytime catch-up for events hopefully available for 2 weeks after the event, on MapRun.
See series website for maps and instructions.
You are welcome to run together as a group, but in order to be fair we ask that you keep together, as when running as a group the least advantageous handicap is applied.
100 points will be allocated to the course organiser/planner for each event planned.
Full results will be emailed and published on the SOS and HAVOC websites.