WCH Brindley Heath event

[Peter B]

I'm sorry that this post is going to be a negative one but it's a fairly cruicial issue.

Today, I was looking forward to running at the aforementioned event, but after an hours driving to Rugeley and then south on the A460, hark, I do not see any of the 'O' signs that were promised. In the end, after circling an industrial estate twice which was signed as the 'Fives' Garage which was aparently, according to the event details close to the event, up and down that stretch of the A460 twice and then up and down the Slitting Mill Road, there was absolutely no activity to be seen. Was it cancelled? There was nothing on the WCH website suggesting so this morning.

This, to be honest is unacceptable. It's not just annoying and inconviencing for us regulars but what kind of impression do you think this gives newcomers if they can't find the event? In the end after hunting for 15 - 30 minutes I gave up and went home. It seems now that the event was supposed to be accessed through Hednesford and not directly off the A460, not that there were any signs to tell us this, even at the junction of the A460 with one of the roads going into Hednesford.

So, some direction next time please

[Crispy]

Peter, the event was not cancelled and was indeed well signposted from the A34 north of Cannock. I can't comment on the signage from Rugeley, but from Cannock it was exactly as described in the pre-event details.

Chris

[Jenny E]

indeed i was not driving but as a passenger i'm pretty sure i saw a sign out of rugeley on the left
Once there the event was superb
Well done WCH

[Jeff]

Have to admit I didn't notice any signs until I got to the turning into the car park! But then I have been there before...I think all too often clubs assume regulars know where car parks are by name, and often they do.

I did hear a couple of comments today of people searching around for 10-15 minutes though. But still a very good turnout!

[Peter B]

Was coming from this junction and the one to the south east (A513/A51)

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi? ... 000&addr1=

Looking at the event location it seems to be closer to the A460 than anywhere else, one could (I did) assume that the entrance was from this road. Could it not have been signed from the centre of Rugeley to help people coming from the east and south east instead of out of Rugeley town centre?

[guest]

Doesn't look very good does it peter if someone who's supposed to be an orienteer can't find a simple car park. Ever heard of a grid refrence and a map

[Dave]

even if you don't have a map you can get a free print out from the OS website...

[badger]

You gave up and went home?! Not heard of a telephone?

Many times people have had phone calls off me asking for directions when i haven't got a clue where i am going.

[Stodgetta]

From Chasers website:

Signposted from: A34 N of Cannock & A51 traffic lights NW of Rugeley centre

Sorry, Peter B, don't see "close to A460" mentioned in the pre-event info.

[old lough]

It was sign posted from Rugeley at the traffic lights just after the park ( football pitches)
The Grid reference on the WCH web site was spot on and you could even see the exact area on Google earth !!!

[Stodgetta]

Haven't looked at it from Google Earth, but I'm sure its images won't be up to date with all the ongoing and very recent felling!

[Adventure Racer]

I actually went via the A460 coming from the South from the M6, as since they built the new bit of road alongside the M6T, that's a much better route for getting to that bit of the Chase than through the middle of Cannock, which appears to be the way we were expected to go. No signs until the one for the car park coming from that way. I think it would have been sensible to sign from here for those of us coming that way, as whether or not it said so, it was close to the A460. Then again I had used a map and GR to find it without signs without any problems - it's pretty much habit to check the GR of an event before I go. In this case that wasn't helped by the GR on the official fixtures list (as opposed to th WCH site) being wrong until late yesterday, and therefore the direct map links on AH's site not working correctly.

[HOCOLITE]

AR. We never go through Cannock to the Chase we always go up to A5 junction through(around) Penkridge and down long straight road to A51. Pretty quick and all events seem to be signed from the roundabout with the 'trophy' in the middle

[tokoloshe]

Never mind about getting there. Once there were the courses up to scratch. I thought the Blue was a good test of orienteering skills. I could have done without the climb at the end but then if I will insist on a self handicapping paunch who can I blame.
The forest is not the best on the Chase but The planner seemed to make it look better than I remember it.

[ryeland of doom]

Gave up and went home on a night event at Wyrley once (or was that an act of self preservation?)

Reason, could find no O signs to an unfamiliar car park, they were up, but it was the first time I had ever encountered the new type, with "orienteering" on them, I ignored them as they looked like building developers signs. Still find them hard to spot compared with the traditional control flag design.

Had a great run the following morning in the day event and it did not hurt.