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WRNL Netley and Butlocks Heath

By Mark Light, 13 February, 2024

Just a reminder that entries close tomorrow night for the Wessex Region Night League event that we're holding at Netley & Butlocks Heath this Thursday 15th February.   Additional information and final details can be found here https://socweb.org/event/2024/02/15/wrnl-netley-and-butlocks-heath

Entries are via RaceSignup https://racesignup.co.uk/site/event.php?eventid=4069

We're using the Hound Parish Hall as an event centre with a nice pub opposite to decamp to afterwards.   Food is allowed in the hall, but please note that alcohol is not.  

The pub has a small kitchen, so if you want to eat there it is essential to book ahead - however they can provide take-away pizzas (best ordered in groups of up to 6 people) https://www.thecottageinnnetley.co.uk

Hope to see you there!

Micheldever Woods

By Nick Bosbury, 11 February, 2024

Organiser's Comments

Thank you for coming to the SOC event at Micheldever and I hope you had an enjoyable experience. My thanks to David for planning, all the helpers and Mike for controlling, who all made the day possible.

The parking was not ideal but this was the best option after consultation with Forestry England. A special thank you to the parking team who carried out a difficult task without incident.

Some of you may be aware that this is probably the last event SOC will use EMIT. After a long association with EMIT the club are to move to SI which will include this year's November Classic.

Nick Bosbury

Planner's Comments

My thanks to all who helped make my job as planner such a pleasure: Christine for joining me for multiple trips to the forest and generally picking up the slack, Julian for handling permissions, Mike for his gentle guidance as controller, Nick for his years of experience as an organiser, Mark for map updates, and those who hung/collected controls on the day: Duncan, Lisa, Steve, Annika, Doug, and Sarah.

The winning times on the longer courses were undoubtedly too low. I had added 15% to the length of the Brown from the last event on the area but, unfortunately, my desire to avoid the greener parts of the area meant that the winner's min/k were correspondingly faster. I only hope competitors feel this was a fair tradeoff!

I should also apologise that, when I wrote in the terrain description that the area sloped gently down from south to north, I should have realised that this meant that some courses ended with an unnecessarily long uphill slog on the main track. Sorry!

That aside, I hope people enjoyed the beautiful beech woodlands and the occasional sight of the sun!

David Currie

Event
Micheldever Woods

Wessex Night League

By Colin Hicks, 6 February, 2024

The league competition has reached its last month and will culminate with the SOC event and prize giving at The Gregg School at the end of the month on the 29th. Before that there are 4 other events remaining, the next being the SOC event in Butlocks Heath and Netley on the 15th (entry available on Racesignup). After that there are 3 events in 5 days! These are organised by BADO (22nd), WSX (24th) and WIM (26th) Note the WSX event is being run on the Studland sand dunes (which will be fun at night, as it is easy to get lost there during the day!)  The current state of the 2 leagues - open and handicap can be seen in the attachment below.

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WRNL 2023, 2024 Tables after 10 events (382.69 KB) 382.69 KB