The least child-friendly event of the year?

[binman]

What a wonderful world it could be if only we had a Golgafrinchan Arkship

Need space for rather more than just telephone sanitisers and advertising executives .....

Careful for what you wish for guys; the conclusion of that parable was that all those smart people left on Golgafrincham died from a disease transmitted by dirty telephones...

[HarryO]

Earlier and more detailed would be my standard request

I agree with this. At the last Lakes 5 we had booked our holiday cottage before we found out that there would be no White courses at all! My youngest was so upset. A week's orienteering holiday and no course for her!
It was definitely 'the least child-friendly event of 2010'!

[amanda]

I would like you all to know that the Northern Champs at Castle Carr in June hosted by EPOC will have family parking, kids start close to assembly, white and string courses, a kids tent at the string course with colouring and a gravity fed fountain!! oh and great grown ups courses too

[SeanC]

Good stuff, that's definately influencing which weekend I'm choosing to visit the relatives in Leeds

You might want to get your webmaster to paste that onto the event flier.

Isn't there a giant kids science theme park thingy in Halifax? Can't remember what it's called.

[Homer]

Eureka!

[amanda]

thanks seanc - will do that.
we also have an urban on Saturday evening in Halifax and an official campsite. it's halifax food and wine festival on Saturday too!

[SeanC]

Since EPOC are setting the standard here, any chance of organised transport for non-car owners from Halifax town centre for the Sunday? Eg hire a minibus taxi for those that pre-book. The location doesn't look like it has a bus route. With the first day in Halifax it might appeal to student O clubs etc looking for a post exam weekend away?

I'll be driving though, like most of the other over 45's

[SeanC]

Two events coming up in the South East in the next few weeks look particularly child friendly. Tomorrow CHIG have a level C event in Wormley Woods (Broxborne) with car parking at Paradise Wildlife Park (white, yellow plus typical colour coded courses). On Sunday 17th DFOK have a level C at Chelwood (Ashdown Forest) with parking at the Ashdown Forest Llama Farm (tag, yellow and plus typical colour coded courses). As well as being a good post O attraction for children, siting events at visitor attractions mean that there's a cafe next to the car park, which is good news for sociable club members wanting to meet up after the event.

Pre-entry for the Chelwood event if you can please, though not for the tag course. I think CHIG have a system on their website where you send an email if going.

[EddieH]

On my one visit to Broxbourne Woods they were barely child friendly once you got out there - quite the deepest clay mud I've ever run? in.

And massively parent friendly cleaning the car et al.afterwards.

[AnneH]

Forgive my ignorance SeanC, but what is a tag course? Sounds like an alternative form of a string course?

[AndyC]

Thanks for asking - I was wonderng as well

[SeanC]

Yes, it's similar to a string course. Instead of a string there are streamers hung from trees every few metres.

[AnneH]

Thanks. Sounds easier than reeling out hundreds of metres of string- assuming there are trees!

[SeanC]

Yes, it's generally less effort than a string course, and there's less equipment too.

In theory clubs could do a harder (less streamers) /longer one for older/more advanced juniors or adults who don't want technical O but do want a terrain run.

One thing to watch though is to make sure the streamers aren't too widely spaced, or the kids will get horribly lost. I once overshot the first control on a tag course when leading my son around, and had to relocate by going back to the start

[AerialO]

EddieH: Agree with you on Broxbourne Woods - not too bad for courses where you can avoid paths, but can be unpleasant for easier courses. However, the event on Sunday was at Wormley Woods, just over the road but much better-draining.

For British Schools Champs in Nov 2010, HH organised the schools event in Wormley and CHIG a simultaneous open event in Broxbourne, using the same Paradise Wildlife Park car park. Courses for horses.