BC Orienteering Championships 2024

Organizers: Larry Gagnon (Event Director), Ross Burnett (Course Planner), Marie Burgess (Course Planner), Linda Hildebrandt (Course Planner), Leigh Bailey (Organizer), Bruce Rennie (Controller), Robyn Rennie (Controller)

lease join us in the wonderful Sooke Wilderness area of Vancouver Island for challenging and scenic orienteering. We will also have some fast and intricate orienteering amongst the complex campus buildings at the University of Victoria.

Registration

Online Registration is now closed. Thank you all who have registered for this event. We will see you soon!

Cutoff date for registration was midnight on Saturday, August 31st.

To check who is registered for the event please visit: https://zone4.ca/register/WJmzoQ/report/ZxYYLV

Start Lists and Start Information

Start Lists for Sprint, Middle and Long now available here: BCOC 2024 - Start list

We will be using the three box start system. Call up is 3 minutes prior to your start time. If you arrive late you will be reassigned a start time at the discretion of the Chief Starter. The parking/arena area is within 100 meters of all start locations. No clothing or bag drop will be provided. For Camp Thunderbird, whistles are mandatory (we will be checking!).

Event Schedule

The 2024 BC Orienteering Championships will consist of three traditional events, built around the following schedule:

SATURDAY 7 September

Morning: SPRINT RACE - First start at 10AM, University of Victoria (GPS = 48.463141, -123.319584), Course Closure = 12 NOON

Afternoon: MIDDLE DISTANCE - First start at 2:30PM, Camp Thunderbird, Sooke BC (GPS = 48.417217, -123.637154), Course Closure = 5PM

SUNDAY 8 September

Morning: LONG DISTANCE - First start at 10AM, Camp Thunderbird, Sooke BC, Course Closure = 2PM

Courses

Sprint Event (Saturday Morning - 7 September)

Map: UVIC Updated march 2024 Scale: 1:4000

The Sprint will take place at the campus grounds of the University of Victoria, which offers excellent complex urban terrain making for some exciting courses. There are six course options available as described below. The profile of a sprint course is quick decision-making at high speed. Controls are easy with lots of direction changes. Higher level courses offer multiple route choices to challenge orienteers to find the optimum route at high speed. Orienteers with some experience are encouraged to participate in their age class. Novice orienteers or those planning to travel as a group of 2 or more are encouraged to sign up in the Open and Group class options.

Registration / Start Location: Use Gordon Head Road and turn on West Campus Gate to reach Parking Lot 10 on the west side of the campus outside Ring Road. Follow the signs to a location near the Fine Arts Building and Phoenix Theatre where you will find the Registration Tent.

Registration will open at 9 am. First Start: 10 am

Sprint Course Description and Classes:

Course 1: 1.2 km, 5 m climb, 12 Controls, Open 1, Group 1, M10, F10

Course 2: 1.4 km, 5 m climb, 13 Controls, Open 2, Group 2, M11-12, F11-12, M13-14, F13-14

Course 3: 1.6 km, 5 m climb, 13 Controls, Open 3, Group 3, F75+, F80+, M80+, F85+, M85+, F90+, M90+

Course 4: 2.6 km, 10 m climb, 17 Controls, Open 4, Group 4, F45+, F55+, M65+, F65+, M75+

Course 5: 2.6 km, 10 m climb, 16 Controls, Open 5, F15-16, M15-16, F17-18, F19-20, F21, F35+, M55+

Course 6: 2.9 km, 10 m climb, 18 Controls, Open 6, M17-18, M19-20, M21, M35+, M45+

Course Planner Notes:

• the UVic campus consists of numerous buildings with lots of pathways and passages
• open passageways are grey (see map sample) - these can be easily negotiated as part of a route choice
• the opening of a door to shortcut through a building is not permitted
• out- of-bounds areas are clearly noted as olive green and must not be crossed
• lots of controls may be located within proximity of another (within 30 m) requiring careful concentration
• thick black lines show un-crossable areas, such as stone walls and vehicle ramps
• there are some areas of construction or non-permanent structures - marked on the map and are easily avoided
• Course 1 through 3 have all controls that are inside Ring Road and do not require any road crossings
• there is one short flagged route between one set of controls to help participants on Course 1 and 2, this is marked in the description
• Course 4 through 6 will require the orienteer to cross ring road twice - there is usually light traffic on this one-way road, orienteers are to use caution to ensure they cross only when it is safe to do so
• walking time to Start from parking lot is about 3 minutes

Parking - Parking is in Lot 10 on the west side of the campus between Gordon Head Road and West Campus Road. Use this link for Google map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ubZtEA596PMX8c4W6 Cost for parking is $2.50 / hr. There is limited street parking nearby if you don't mind a walk. Please head direct to Lot 10 and avoid any routes going through the campus. There will be signs taking you from Parking Lot 10 to Registration and Start.

First Start: 10 am Course Closure: 12 noon

IMPORTANT: Embargo area in effect. No orienteers should be on the UVIC Campus from 1 September to competition day 7 September.

Middle Event (Saturday Afternoon - 7 September)

Camp Thunderbird (located 45-50 minutes west of Victoria on Hwy 14) is the site of the BCOC Medium and Long courses and offers a vast area of trails and complex wilderness terrain. The map area is within the Sooke Wilderness region and consists of a mix of open forest with portions of dense vegetation and open rocky terrain. Map scale will be 1:7500 for Courses 1 to 6, and 1:10,000 for Course 7 and 8.

Registration and Start Location:

From Victoria, take Sooke Road heading west. Turn north onto Glinz Lake Road and follow the road all the way into Camp Thunderbird. Keeping heading north and stay to the right past the Admin buildings until you reach the main parking lot by the Lake. See the map at bottom for directions. Signs from the parking lot will direct to the Registration and Start Area.

Registration will open: 1 pm First Start: 2pm

Middle Distance Description and Classes

Course 1: 1.3 km, 50 m climb, 12 controls, Open 1, Group 1, F10, M10

Course 2: 1.4 km, 60 m climb, 13 controls, Open 2, Group 2, F11-12, M11-12

Course 3: 1.7 km, 115 m climb, 12 controls, Open 3, Group 3, F13-14, M13-14

Course 4: 2.2 km, 120 m climb, 13 controls, Open 4, Group 4, F15-16, M15-16

Course 5: 2 km, 140 m climb, 11 controls, Open 5, F75+, F80+, M80+, F85+, M85+, F90+, M90+

Course 6: 2.7 km, 190 m climb, 14 controls, Open 6, F17-18, F45+, F55+, F65+, M65+, M75+

Course 7: 3.4 km, 220 m climb, 14 controls, F19-20, F21, F35+, M17-18, M45+, M55+

Course 8: 3.6 km, 245 m climb, M19-20, M21, M35+

Course Planner Notes:

Welcome to the new map of our coastal favorite- Camp Thunderbird. This is a wild, wilderness area so please take suitable precautions. Leg coverings and/or gaiters are recommended. There has been some sign of both ground wasps and wildlife. If you have known allergies, please bring an EpiPen. A whistle is, as usual, mandatory for all participants. Bear spray or a bear horn is optional. Courses 1-3 will be in the area around the camp and lake. More advanced courses will be in the wilderness area above the lake. Please use lots of caution navigating your course, especially if it is or has been wet. Walking time from the parking area to the Start is about 2 minutes.

Remote Start/Triangle - After you pick up your map, you must punch the Start punch to start your timer, then follow a marked route to the start triangle, marked in the terrain with a control flag. There is no punch at the Start Triangle. The Start Officials will guide you through the start and can answer any questions you may have.

Small Trails - Look carefully for the small trails leading up into and through the rocky/bluff areas. They can be hard to see on the map especially in areas with cliffs adjacent to them and require care to follow as they are small or indistinct, but make good routes once located.

Water - there will be no water stations on any of the Middle Event courses. Water will be available beforehand at refreshments area and at the Start.

Course Specific Notes -

• Courses 1, 2, and 3 follow a well-defined route suitable for young orienteers and those newer to orienteering.
• Courses 4, 5, and 6 will venture into the hills above the lake. Watch for faint trails in the open areas. There is some old and new flagging tape to help confirm that you are on a trail but careful navigation and route finding will still be needed.
• Courses 7 and 8 will travel into remote wilderness. Some of the faint trails are marked with strategic flagging tape where overgrown but careful navigation and map contact will be needed. Wildlife encounters are possible in this area. Deer were seen while course setting and bear sign was evident.

First Start: 2 pm Course Closure: 5 pm

IMPORTANT: Embargo area in effect. No orienteers should be in the Camp Thunderbird area unless participating in one of the courses on the designated race day. Travel with a map after the Middle distance event has concluded and the Long Event is pending is prohibited.

Long Event (Sunday Morning - 8 September)

The Long Event will take place on the Camp Thunderbird Map, but using new terrain than the Middle Distance. In the Long Distance event, the distance between controls is greater, emphasizing good route choice and endurance. Map Scale will be 1:7500 for Courses 1 to 6, and 1:10000 for Courses 7 and 8.

Registration and Start Location:

Same as for Middle Event, from Victoria take Sooke Road heading west. Turn north onto Glinz Lake Road and follow the road all the way into Camp Thunderbird. Keeping heading north and stay to the right past the Admin buildings until you reach the main parking lot by the Lake. See the map at bottom for directions. Signs from the parking lot will direct to the Registration and Start Area.

Long Distance Courses and Details:

Course 1: 1.9 km, 60 m climb, 9 controls, Open 1, Group 1, F10, M10

Course 2: 1.8 km, 65 m climb, 8 controls, Open 2, Group 2, F11-12, M11-12

Course 3: 1.8 km, 85 m climb, 8 controls, Open 3, Group 3, F13-14, M13-14

Course 4: 2.4 km, 160 m climb, 10 controls, Open 4, Group 4, F15-16, M15-16

Course 5: 2.2 km, 150 m climb, 10 controls, Open 5, F75+, F80+, M80+, F85+, M85+, F90+, M90+

Course 6: 3.7 km, 235 m climb, 13 controls, Open 6, F17-18, F45+, F55+, F65+, M65+, M75+

Course 7: 5.5 km, 325 m climb, 14 controls, F19-20, F21, F35+, M17-18, M45+, M55+

Course 8: 7.4 km, 430 m climb, M19-20, M21, M35+

Long Course: Planner Notes:

You will be somewhat familiar with the area from having competed in the Middle event. This is a reminder that this is a rugged, wilderness area. There are lots of cliffs and generally ‘rough, thick’ country. Please use lots of caution navigating your course, especially if it is or has been wet. TPKs will be slow – take some comfort knowing that everyone is experiencing the same conditions. Make use of the trail system.

Walking time to the Start from the Parking area is about 1 minute! After you pick up your map, you must punch the Start punch then follow a marked route to the start triangle flag, marked in the terrain with a control flag. You do not punch in here. There are TWO different start triangle flags. Courses 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8 follow a marked 80 metre route to their flag. Courses 4, 5, and 6 have a different, very short, marked route to their start triangle flag (visible from the map pick up/start punch). Officials will direct participants accordingly.

Look carefully for the small trails leading up into and through the rocky/bluff areas. They can be hard to see on the map especially in areas with cliffs adjacent to them (and require care to follow as they are small or indistinct) but can offer legitimate alternate route choices.

Courses 1 and 2 have a marked route to follow between two of the controls (from the 4 th to the 5 th control for both courses). It is included in the control description. It is marked in the terrain with orange streamers. Courses 4, 5, and 6 have a marked route through a green section. It leads from one control part way to the next control. It is identified in the course description and marked on the map with a purple line and the text “Marked Route”. It is marked in the terrain with orange streamers. Courses 7 and 8 have an optional flagged route through a green section. It is NOT identified in the course description but is marked on the map with a purple line and the text “Marked Route”. It is marked in the terrain with orange streamers.

Water is provided on Courses 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 – at certain controls; as marked on the control descriptions.

Accommodation

For less expensive accommodation there are camping facilities are available at Sooke River Campground or Goldstream Campground .

Pub Gathering: Saturday evening: 6:30PM

If you signed up for the pub gathering during registration but have since changed your mind please inform the Event Director ASAP so we can give more accurate numbers to the pub staff. We will book a room at the historic 6 Mile Pub for those interested in joining us for good times, beer and pub food. (GPS = 48.457037, -123.459366, 494 Island Hwy)

Parking and Toilets

Parking for the Saturday morning sprint event at UVic will be in Lot 10 off of Gordon Head Road. Parking fees by the University are in effect and are currently $2.25 per hour on Saturdays. There is free street parking on Gordon Head and Cedar Hill Cross Road. However, please do not enter the campus inside Ring Road when walking towards Lot 10 and the Visual Arts Building where Registration is located.

Parking for the Middle and Long events at Camp Thunderbird will be free but car pooling is recommended as parking room may be tight depending on number of entrants.

Toilets at the Sprint event are located in the Visual Arts Building about 100m east of the Registration area. Toilets at Camp Thunderbird are outdoor porta-potties in 3 locations near the Parking area.

Safety and Rules

At Camp Thunderbird:

1) all orienteers must have a whistle and a compass

2) the safety bearing there is SOUTH and

3) youth participants must have an adult shadowing them within visual range

Embargoed Areas

UVIC - the campus is off-limits to orienteers from Sept 1 until early Sept 7

Camp Thunderbird - areas of the map area will be under embargo between the Middle and Long events.

T-Shirts: orders closed: pickup details...

Orders are no closed for T-Shirts. They can be picked up and paid for at Registration. If you have prepaid great, if not we will require exact cash only, please.

Updates

Listed below are the updates we have made to this page:

1) Tues, July 16th: registration opened

2) Thurs, July 18th: first start times for each event posted.

3) Sun, July 21st: added controller names, registrants link, pub GPS coords.

4) Tues, Aug 20th: extended registration deadline by one week to Aug 31st.

5) Fri, Aug 23rd: Safety section added above.

6) Tues, Aug 27th: added Camp Thunderbird embargo notice and T-Shirt availability

7) Wed, Aug 28, race info for the Sprint Event at UVIC added

8) Sat, Aug 31, added Middle and Long event course info and notes. New T-shirt link. Sponsor info.

9) Sun, Sep 1 and 2, closed registration, some start details, pub event details added.

10) Tuesm Sep 3: added Course Closure times

Our Sponsors

Thank you to the generous contribution from Country Grocer for offering to supply refreshments for the event. Please support them.

Location