Alberta Championships 2016 and recreational orienteering
Saturday May 28 and Sunday May 29
UPDATE: Everyone please check in at the shelter (next to the parking lot) at the Waskehegan Trailhead of Cooking Lake/Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area to sign a waiver. Bring your driver’s licence is you don’t have your own SPORTident timing card and/or whistle and/or compass.
On line Registration now closed (registrations accepted on-the-day!)
Lots of VOLUNTEERS needed for this event; opportunities for non-orienteers and participants. Please check it out to see if you can help.
The Sprint, Middle and Long distance championships will all be held at the Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area, about 40 minutes east of Edmonton, south of Elk Island Park. The Saturday event also includes the finale for the kids in our Kids Run Wild spring series and their families.
The format for the weekend is as follows:
- 1,600m walk to start of Sprint event in Field 7 Saturday morning, finishing at the far side of the field.
- Five minute walk to the download station and BBQ area on the west side of Field 6.
- Lunch time BBQ, included in the price of the Sprint event.
- 12:00noon Albert Orienteering Association Special Meeting at the BBQ site.
- Saturday afternoon Middle distance event in Field 6, starting & finishing near the BBQ, and with shuttle vans available to take competitors back to the parking lot afterwards.
- Sunday morning Long distance event in Field 6, with shuttle vans between the parking lot and the Start/Finish area.
TERRAIN
All of the Sprint and Middle courses and most of the Long courses will be entirely inside large fenced fields which are about 70% open pasture with interesting contour detail and 30% wilder areas with woods ponds and marshes. The Field 6 map has only been used for one event, the Navigation Adventure Weekend at the end of May last year. Copies of some of the courses from that event can be found HERE.
COURSES
The championship events will have a full range of courses with SPORTident timing, but with a punching start and no pre-assigned start times.
Competitive age-based categories for men and women, from 12-and-under to 85 plus will be assigned to appropriate courses.
There will be one or two Open categories for individuals who want to try an advanced course without going in their age category.
Beginner, advanced beginner and intermediate courses will be available on-the-day for recreational orienteers.
Pairs/groups may enter only on the recreational courses.
Maximum time allowed to complete the courses will be: Sprint – 1 hour; Middle distance – 2 hours; and Long distance – 3 hours.
FEES
Online registration prices, available until 23:59 Wednesday May 25, are:
- Adult $20 per event or $50 for all three events.
- Junior (20 and under) $10 per event or $25 for all three events.
The barbeque is included in the registration for the Sprint event (because that is where you end up)
On-the-day registration is cash or cheque only.
Championship or Open category prices are as follows:
- Adult $25 per event or $60 for all three events.
- Junior (20 and under) $15 per event or $30 for all three events.
On-the-day recreational prices are as follows:
- Sprint individual, $10 (BBQ included in fee)
- Sprint group, $10 for first person plus $5 for each additional person plus $5 for any additional map. (BBQ included in fee)
- Middle or Long events $10 for individual or group plus $5 for each additional map.
Fees include the BBQ if you are entering the sprint. SPORTident timing card and compass & whistle are included if you don’t have your own (driver’s license required as deposit).
SCHEDULE
Saturday May 28:
- Registration/check-in and waiver signing at Waskehegan Trailhead 9:00 am to 11:00 am
- Sprint Starts 10:30 am to 11:30 am (1.6 km walk to start)
- Barbeque 11:30 am to 1:30 pm (Sprint finish is at the far side of Field 7 and 300m from the barbeque area, and close to Middle distance area.)
- 12:00 noon Special Meeting of Alberta Orienteering Association to update some bylaws – at the BBQ location.
- Registration/check-in and waiver signing for late-comers at Waskehegan Trailhead 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm (shuttle van* to Middle distance area)
- Middle distance Starts 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm (500 m from shuttle* drop-off)
- Course Closing 4:30 pm
- Awards at Middle Finish asap.
- *Shuttle van available all day for passengers or to send your chair, bag etc. to the BBQ.
Sunday May 29:
- Registration/check-in and waiver signing at Waskehegan trailhead 9:00 am to 10:30 am (shuttle van, or ride your bike 5 km on gravel road to Long Finish)
- Long distance Starts 10:00 am to 11:00 am (500 m from shuttle drop-off)
- Course Closing 2:00 pm
- Awards at Long Finish approx 1:00 pm
- Shuttle bus back to parking lot or ride your bike.
Location map and driving directions
Lots of VOLUNTEERS needed for this event; opportunities for non-orienteers and participants. Please check it out to see if you can help.
Organizers: Geraint Edmunds, Einar Viddal.
For more information, contact Marilyn or by phone 780 455 1916