Entries are now open for our comeback event at Royal Victoria Country Park on Thursday 27th August starting at 18:00.

This event is closed to Club Members only. The login on the entry system will ask you for a "Passcode". Members can access the passcode here (or email peterjdavis [at] gmail.com (peterjdavis[at]gmail[dot]com) ).

Online entry and payment is at racesignup.co.uk . That page has all the details and information you need.

Entries close on Tuesday 25th August but don't delay - there is a limit on entries.

We are looking for two people to assist at the event, one early, one late. They will be able to run and will get free parking. Interested? Then please contact Pete.

We are excited to announce the return of SOC orienteering on Thursday 27th August - please put the date in your diary.

• What - a Level D closed to SOC members only
• When - 18:00 Thursday 27th August
• Where - Royal Victoria Country Park
• How - by following the latest British Orienteering guidelines on orienteering in a COVID-safe manner 

For this first event we will be putting new processes and procedures in place, hence the low-key feel. Please support the event if you are able to so that we can learn all the lessons and move on to larger events in the Autumn.

Hugh Risebrow is planning a Light Green and an Orange and we'll be using EMIT touch-free and online entry and payment. Pete Davis is the organiser. We will be keeping the requirement for helpers to an absolute minimum, in fact what we would really like is one volunteer to act as reserve planner, reserve organiser, controller and start marshal! Quite a job eh? If you are up for it please let Pete know: peter.davis [at] ymail.com (peter[dot]davis[at]ymail[dot]com)

More details coming soon!

There were lots of entries for the Bramshaw armchair planning competition and, whilst we await the results, I thought we should kick off another competition! This time the venue is an urban location: Fleming Park and its surrounds in Eastleigh. There is another major difference this time: the winning entry will be used as a MapRun course. Permissions willing, we'd like to to have this as an evening event mid-August so you don't have long to get your entries in. The submission deadline is midnight on Monday 10th August.

Once again, we're looking for a Green course. See Section 11 of the British Orienteering course planning guidelines that covers urban events for more details on what this entails. As we're actually planning to use the course, this time there are some limitations to keep in mind when planning:

• The start and finish should be in the vicinity of The Pavilion on the Park.
• As with all MapRun courses, to avoid punching the finish by mistake, the course should not pass near it until the end.
• If your course crosses to the west of the motorway, please make sure competitors will use the pedestrian underpass in the middle of the map, not where Leigh Road passes underneath the motorway at the north of the map. The road junction is very busy and, although there are pedestrian lights, they are often slow to change and we don't want competitors to be tempted to cross without waiting.

The OCAD file can be downloaded from the Members' Area. You're welcome to visit the area but Google Maps and Street View should be sufficient! Note that the map needs further work around the new leisure centre and the new Hendy garage. I'll look to get these updated before the course goes live but don't rely on detail in these areas for controls.