Golden DaggerSun 17 Nov
Devon League 3
Regional level event
What does this mean?
Local events are usually low key and in the 'localised' area, ideal for newcomers to try the sport and Training events are non competitive and used for training and coaching, aimed at members of the club, but they can attract people from neighbouring clubs, and are often ideal for newcomers to try the sport. Regional events attract participants from around the local Region, National events are high quality competitions that will attract people from far away, Major events are Major Events such as a British Championships. Virtual events are where there are no physical controls being used. Your presence at a control is registered using an App on your mobile phone, normally the free MapRun6 App.
Terrain type: Moorland & Forest
Results
Report
For a competitor's view click here.
Mapper's/Planner’s Report
The first time Golden Dagger was used was for a National Event in the 1989 for which I was the Planner. The map was crafted by 2 old stalwarts of the Club, Brian Parker and Erik Peckett, using a photogrammetric plot as the base map. With the advent of Lidar I was tasked with remaking the map and so spent many hours getting to know the area very well and finding that the old map was not quite as accurate as we had thought! Over the years the vegetation has become much thicker and taller and hence Golden Dagger is now one of our most physically and mentally demanding areas we use. As the staff constantly change at Dartmoor National Park (DNP) the restrictions they demand have also changed. At first it was worries about the possible damage to the heather and that we had to keep out of it and so Brian Parker had to spend some considerable time trying to persuade them otherwise. Eventually a compromise was reached which allowed us to join areas without heather with short corridors through the heather. See attached article and related map of OOB. Some years later this problem re-emerged when we were asked to only use the paths but, the next time we wanted to use it, we were asked to not use the paths as they were getting very eroded. For this event we were told we could not enter the marshy areas running North - South across the middle of the map - this appears to be an increasing demand across the country.
This proved to be more limiting than expected when I started the planning. Early attempts to get the longest 3 courses into the complex valleys to the East of the marshes had to be cut back when I discovered the shortest Green course would be far too long and involve too much climbing, and hence the Green course became somewhat convoluted. My philosophy has always been to plan courses with plenty of route choice and, where possible to avoid the worst of the vegetation. Some of you may think that I didn’t do very well but I can assure you that you avoided some very much more demanding ground. I hope that, in the end, you enjoyed some of the mental challenges that Golden Dagger provides in abundance.
Mike Wimpenny
Controller’s Report
It was good to see about 100 competitors (48 from Devon OC) come along to enjoy the challenging courses around Golden Dagger. While checking control sites and courses planned by Mike early in October we were both concerned about bracken covering paths and depth of water in the western leat for the shorter courses, but on the day it wasn’t an issue. The event team were well prepared for all weathers, but competitors enjoyed some sunshine and relatively mild conditions: That said, although we didn’t require cagoules on the day a few competitors will hopefully think again about dressing accordingly for exposed areas like this, in November. The complexity of the navigation led to only 7% of all competitors completing their course in under 60 minutes. Most of you will not have noticed that we had a few small printing issues, and one ‘lost control’. The latter meant we had to void two legs on the Brown course but further analysis showed that this had virtually no impact on the final results.
So, a final thanks and congratulations to Dawn (Organiser), Mike (Controller & mapper), Rich Jackson (Timing lead) and all the helpers for pulling off a successful quality event, and to all competitors who returned no later than the cut off time.
Adrian Taylor
Organiser's Report
The rain held off, we had some sun and although the wind was a little cold it was a great day for orienteering. The start team had the toughest job in a very exposed location while Toria, at the finish was only slightly warmer. I had been concerned about the parking but it worked well in the end thanks to the helpers and only one person got stuck! Fortunately Rich has a land rover and tow rope. The SI team worked well as usual and long into the evening to sort the results of the brown course when a control went missing. Finally thanks to the control collectors who were out on the moor as the sun sank.
With the support from many other helpers and the exhausted runners, there was a great atmosphere.
Thanks also to Forestry England and DNPA for allowing us to use Soussons Forest and the Golden Dagger area. A superb site for technical orienteering.
Dawn Williamson
Overview
Final details as a Word document here
Golden Dagger has typical Dartmoor terrain with tussocky grass and heather, ditches and mine workings. Much of the area has been mined for tin since mediaeval times right up to the 1950s. As a result, there are many small and large gullies and depressions, knolls, crags, leats and complex contours. There are sheep, cows and ponies living on the moor so please give them space if you meet them..
Location Info
/-3.87703,50.59359,12/500x400?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGF1bGZyb3N0IiwiYSI6ImNsZTZ6cjhiaDAwcTczeXF4cm42c293cnIifQ.GaQX1WYv6yGRcz_eEwmevQ)
Near: Postbridge Lat,Lng: 50.59359,-3.87703 OS Grid Ref: SX671788 Postcode: PL20 6TE What3Words: ///financial.aware.drumbeat
Open an interactive map in: GoogleMap - OpenStreetMap - AppleMaps - BingMap
Directions / Parking
Parking will be at Soussons Forest. Enter from road along the southern edge of the forest SX671 788, This is south of the B3212 Moretonhampstead to Postbridge road. You will go through a gate.
Please close the gate behind you as you arrive and as you depart if no cars are immediately following. This is to prevent ponies entering the forest.
The forest track will be slippery if wet. It is uphill on the track to parking. There are some potholes and rough sections so please drive slowly.
Please follow direction signs. Campervans might need to park near the gate which will entail a longer walk to the start. If the weather is poor please don’t bring campervans unless you need to.
When leaving you will need to go further up the track to a turning circle to return back down the track.
Pre-event Details
Map / Terrain
Mapper's comments:
A large disused leat crosses the area, it looks like a large ditch on the ground, but is marked with blue dashes on the map. Normally it is dry and runnable but the heavy rain this autumn has left stretches with standing water.
Significant areas of almost impenetrable bracken are marked as double green stripes. Courses are planned to avoid these areas. Fortunately, any other areas of bracken are dying back rapidly this year.
Only significant individual
trees are marked.
Course Information
This is the third event of the Devon League Series.
Course Lengths/Climb/Controls/Map scale
Brown 6.8km. 280m. 23 controls. A3 map. 1:7500
Blue 4.7km. 175m. 17 controls. A3 map. 1:7500
Green 3.3km. 115m. 14 controls. A4 map. 1:7500
Short Green 2.8km. 90m. 12 controls. A4 map. 1:7500
Light Green 2.4km. 85m. 11 controls. A4 map. 1:5000
Orange 2.3km. 65m. 11 controls. A4 map. 1:5000
Yellow 1.9km. 30m. 11 controls. A4 map
No White course - unsuitable area
Yellow course participants will need to be able to follow paths, old dry disused leat (large ditch on ground, blue dashes on map), small gullies (brown dots on map), low but obvious earth walls. Some stretches marked with tape towards end of course and smiley/glum faces where necessary.
Brown and Blue courses will have a marked route through an Out of Bounds area (Marsh). You must keep SOUTH of the tape used to mark the route.
Read more about Course lengths and Difficulty here
Entry Details
This event will use the SportIdent electronic system. Control
stations will be enabled for touch free punching (SIAC) but competitors will
need to punch the start and finish control. All control sites will have a
backup system in the event of control failure.
BOF members fees: £10 seniors, £5 novice, £3 juniors and students. Novice £5. Group £6 (2 maps). Dibber charge £1.Entry fee for non BOF members plus £1.
Entry fee after 10th November: plus £1 - whilst maps are available.
Registration and Start times
First start 10.30,
Last start 12.20
Course closes 14.30
Distance from Registration to Start is 450m (almost flat footpath), distance from Finish back to Registration is 350m with 35m climb on a footpath. Distance from parking to registration is an additional 300m – 800m.
This event will use the SportIdent electronic system. Control stations will be enabled for touch free punching (SIAC) but competitors will need to punch the start and finish control. All control sites will have a backup system in the event of control failure.
Dog restrictions
No dogs are allowed on the courses. Dogs on leads are permitted in car parking area and registration.
Contacts / Officials
Organiser: Dawn Williamson email hidden; JavaScript is required
Nearest A&E Hospital
Safety Notes
Golden Dagger is an exposed location, so be prepared, particularly if the forecast is poor. Cagoules may be advised or required. Whistles are obligatory
Miscellaneous
Thanks to Forestry England and Dartmoor National Park for giving us permission to use the area.