Ellenbrook GLOSS

This event is also part of the GLOSS series of summer events around London. To be competitive in the GLOSS series, run the Light Green course or the Blue, which is an extension of Light Green. See flyer for other events in the GLOSS series.

Terrain Open land with some woodland and contour detail. Little remains of the old airfield.  The open areas are becoming overgrown with grass and scattered trees.

In the southern part of the area, there are sections of very long grass with some occasional patches of nettles and brambles. Courses have been planned to avoid the worst of these but in the early parts of the longer courses, the going will nonetheless be relatively slow and leg cover is mandatory.

Cattle may be grazing in some areas. Junior courses avoid these where possible.

Parking Main car park of the de Havilland site of the University of Hertfordshire.  Enter Mosquito Way from the roundabout / traffic lights on the A1057, turn left at the first roundabout and follow the signs.  Please note the carpark is shared with leisure centre users and is likely to be particularly busy until Parkrunners leave c. 0930-1000.

Registration will be off Albatross Way directly opposite Club de Havilland (postcode AL10 9EU) at the western end of the carpark.

Public Transport Hatfield railway station ~2km away, bus station 900m, several buses between Hatfield and St Albans pass within 300m of assembly: search on http://www.intalink.org.uk/timetables/ for Ellenbrook, either stop S or T.
Courses Courses for everybody from beginners of any age to experienced orienteers.  Juniors and families please note: navigation in this area is a little more challenging than open parkland.

Course Distance Difficulty
White 1.8 km Easy – all along paths, control flags whenever you need to decide to turn.
Yellow 2.5 km Fairly easy – navigate along line features such as paths, walls, streams. Some turns with no control flags.
Orange 2.7 km Moderate – start cutting across country, some controls a bit away from line features.
Light Green
GLOSS
3.6 km Harder – a range of navigational skills needed to find controls on any mapped feature.
Blue
GLOSS + Extension
6.2 km As hard as we can make it on the area.

You may enter any course and will automatically be entered in the club’s Saturday League unless you ask not to. Please note that you will run significantly farther than the straight-line distances quoted above.

Starts Register from 10:00 to 12:15 (later than normal to avoid clashing with Parkrun)
Regulars can save time by reserving a map/dibber at http://sat.maptypes.org
Starts from 10:30 – 12:30. Courses close at 14:00
Fees Non-BO members: Adults £6, Juniors £3
British Orienteering members: Adults £4, Juniors £2, HH juniors £FREE.
Adults accompanying juniors are free. Extra maps, if available, £1.
Punching Sportident punching will be used.
Dibber hire £1.00. Charge for lost dibbers £30.
Map 1:7500 with 5m contours, courses preprinted on waterproof paper. For map of a previous event see Routegadget.

PLEASE NOTE: The GLOSS and the extension course maps will be printed back-to-back. Competitors continuing onto the extension need to punch at control 150 and not the Finish at the end of the GLOSS course then turn over the map. Competitors just running the GLOSS course should ignore control 150 and punch the Finish instead before going to Download.

Facilities Toilets and light refreshments in Hertfordshire Sports Village and (from 11:00 am) in Club de Havilland – no spiked or muddy shoes allowed in the buildings.

Please note there will be very limited water available at the Finish. Please bring your own.

Parkrun Ellenbrook Fields parkrun starts at 9.00 a.m. from close to the orienteering registration. Feel free to do a warm-up 5km: this will not make you non-competitive on the GLOSS course.
Dogs Please keep dogs on leads in the restricted areas and clear up behind you.   Beware of cattle!
Safety Orienteering is an adventure sport. You take part at your own risk and are responsible for your own safety.

Courses are planned to avoid ponds, some of which are deep, and to cross the main stream by bridges.

Avoid cattle.

Please be considerate of other park users.

Officials
Planner David Frampton
Organiser Helen Errington
Controlling Dave Tookey