British Schools Score Championships - Full Entry Details

BSOA Score Championships - Full Entry Details

Sat 7th October 2006

Park Wood, Bradenham, nr High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Before entering this event, please ensure you have read and understood the details below. They are downloadable in Word format by clicking here.

What is a Score event?

An event where competitors score points by visiting as many controls as possible in any order within a pre-specified time limit. Points are deducted if the time limit is exceeded. For this event there will be about 30 controls in the area, with controls 1 to 10 in a loop equivalent to a White course on the BOF Colour Coded system. The remaining controls will give a mixture of yellow, orange, light green and green standard control sites. The time limit will be 45 minutes for pupils in years 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 60 minutes for years 10 & 11, 12 & 13. Competitors do not have to stay out for the whole of this time.

Who can take part?

Schools do not have to be members of the BSOA to enter. The event is for pupils in years 5 - 13 inclusive. Pupils below year 5 may only run if they are experienced (having gained white colour -coded standard). This is a schools event and all entries must be made through your school. It is not necessary for a member of the school staff to accompany the group but the group must be accompanied by an adult (eg, parent) approved by the school. Remember the Headteacher’s signature is required on the entry form.

Park Wood (Grid Reference SU 825975)

Leave the M40 at Junction 5, signed A40 West Wycombe and Stokenchurch. Turn left at the top of the slip road, onto the A40. Go through Stokenchurch and follow the A40 for about 5 miles to West Wycombe village. Continue on the A40, through the village to a roundabout. Turn left onto the A4010, signed to Aylesbury. The event will be signed from here. Follow the A4010 for about 1.5+ miles, going under a railway bridge. The Event and the Car Park field is on the right hand side of the road – the turning will be well signed - take care – it is a sharp turn onto a wide track. The area is typical Chiltern woodlands with runnable woodland, rolling hillsides and many paths.

Parking, Start and Finish

The start and finish are in the same field as the Car Park. There is ample parking for cars, minibuses and buses (if the weather has been very wet, coaches may be parked a short distance away from the Car Parking field). Please let us know your means of transport on the entry form, especially buses and mini buses. There will be a charge for parking - Cars: £1.00 Mini-buses: £3.00 Buses: £7.00.

Map and Control descriptions.

A 1:10,000 five colour map of the area updated in 2006. Maps will be overprinted with the controls and sealed in a polythene bag. Control descriptions will be on the reverse of the map with copies for attaching to the wrist, in the start lanes. Blank copies of the map will be on display in the assembly area.

Cost and Entry Details

BSOA schools - £2.75 per pupil; Non BSOA Schools - £3.75 per pupil. Entries to be submitted on the enclosed form postmarked no later than Thursday 21st September 2006. At this stage, only the numbers of competitors are needed. The Final details will be sent by First Class post to the person in charge by Wednesday 27th September, with a summary list of entries. The names of all competitors must then be submitted to the Entry Secretary, postmarked at the latest by 2nd October 2006, or, preferably, Emailed by 2nd October 2006. There is no entry on the day. Membership of the BSOA costs between £8 and £15 depending upon the size of the school and schools joining for this event will have membership until December 2007. Membership details from 01275-852 961 or www.bsoa.org

Assembly and Spectator Control

The assembly area will provide the opportunity to see some competitors at a spectator control and a good view of the run in and finish. Note: Only competitors will be allowed in the competition area. Teachers, coaches and parents should not enter the competition area. Failure to comply with this request will result in the whole school team being disqualified. The area will be marshalled by members of BKO who will be clearly identifiable. Toilets will be near the car park area and food concessions will be on site, including hot food and ice creams!

Scoring System

Pupils will score 10 points for each control correctly punched. 5 points will be deducted for every minute or part of a minute late. In the event of a tie on points the shortest time will decide the result

Pairs

Pairs may compete in years 5 to 8.

• If a pair contains two different age categories then they compete in the older age category

• If a pair contains a boy and a girl then they compete in the Boys category in the age class of the oldest of the pair

Equipment Required

Orienteering kit or a T-shirt or long sleeved shirt, tracksuit bottoms and trainers (or shoes with a good grip). No shorts. It is possible that the area will be muddy - it is a physical area and some of the chalk slopes can be slippery. In addition a watch, which will let pupils know how long they have been out and a compass are recommended. Whistles will be compulsory – NO WHISTLE NO GO

School Categories

• Primary Years 5 and 6.
• Middle, Prep Years 5 - 8.
• Lower Secondary Years 7 - 9
• Upper Secondary Year 10 - 13.

Schools with pupils up to and including year 8 are counted as middle / prep schools. Years 5 - 9 will all compete in separate year classes. Years 10 and 11 will be combined into one age class as will Years 12 and 13. Competitors in Years 5 – 8 may run in pairs.

Team Awards

BSSC is primarily aimed at school team competition. Team trophies Primary Boys (Years 5 & 6) Best 4 scores to count.Primary Girls (Years 5 & 6) Best 4 scores to count. Middle / Prep Boys (Years 5-8) Best 4 scores to count from at least 2 yearsMiddle / Prep Girls (Years 5-8) Best 4 scores to count from at least 2 yearsLower Secondary Boys (Y7-9) Best 6 scores to count from at least 2 yearsLower Secondary Girls (Y7-9) Best 6 scores to count from at least 2 yearsUpper Secondary Boys (Y10-13) Best 6 scores to count.Upper Secondary Girls (Y10-13) Best 6 scores to count. In the event of a tie on points the shortest total time of the scorers will count. Incomplete teams will count after complete teams. Hence all complete teams, with 4 or 6 competitors as appropriate, will be placed higher than an incomplete team even if their total scores are lower.

Individual Awards

Awards will be given to the first three pupils (or pairs) in each age class. In the event of a tie on points the shortest time will count. Certificates will be awarded to all competitors. There may be some extra prizes too.

Start Times

Start times will normally be from 10.30 a.m. depending on entry numbers. Starts will be at minute intervals but pupils from the same school will normally start at least 4 minutes apart. The entry form allows schools to express a preference for their earliest start time but large entries may mean that, in order to maintain a gap between competitors, we cannot start you as late as you may request.

Punching

EMIT Electronic punching will be used and is very simple to use. The EMIT electronic card is in the shape of a small brick and has an elastic strap attached to it so it can be fitted to a finger and held in the palm of the hand. Each electronic card is individually numbered. They are very expensive to replace and any lost cards will be charged at £25 per card. A demonstration control unit will be available by registration. When you visit a control, the card should be placed onto the flat bed of the control, with the yellow label side down – it will only fit onto the control pad one way round. The control unit will flash (but NOT beep); this registers your visit to the site. The EMIT electronic card incorporates a yellow paper back-up label which is automatically marked when punching at the control. So, in the unlikely event of an electronic failure, we will be able to tell whether a control has been visited. If you revisit a site and punch the control again that is not a problem, the EMIT card just records two visits.

Photographs

Written permission must be obtained from the schools to take photographs of competitors that may be used on BSOA/BOF/Club websites - follow BOF guidelines.

British Schools Orienteering Association.

The BSOA exists to provide a link between schools and mainstream Orienteering. It is affiliated to the British Orienteering Federation and currently has approximately 200 schools as members. Teams representing BSOA are sent to the World Schools Orienteering Championships held alternate years. At the Championships in Slovakia in 2006 the teams won 1 Gold and 3 Bronze team medals plus 1 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze individual medals these together with special certificates being awarded to – one - 4th place, five - 5th place and three 6th place competitors – what fantastic results! Further details of the BSOA can be obtained from BOF on 01629-734 042, or from BSOA on 01275-852 961 or www.bsoa.org

Entry and Enquiries

Entry Forms to be returned, postmarked no later than 21st September 2006 to:Simon Moore, 12,Beaufort Place, Old Mill Lane, Bray, Berkshire SL6 2BS Enquiries to Liz Turbin 0118 934 5412 or Entry enquiries only, to 01628 623338 or An entry form can be downloaded (in Word format) by clicking here.