1 Obtain the relevant permissions - the Fixtures Secretary will have the details of the area. Ask the previous organiser for hints/advice. 2 Visit owners and tenants to make yourself known. Note re Wakefield area: we pay an annual fee for areas owned by Wakefield MC - don’t pay separate fee. If any problem contact treasurer.

3 Obtain as soon as possible sufficient maps from Mapping Officer (Mike Pownall) - 100 should be ample. But note: most of our small maps are now on OCAD and can be run off for the event with courses drawn on.

4 Decide what sort of event: sprint-O knockout, race (ie massed start - quickly over), knockout race, score, map memory, Norwegian, cross-country, relay (relays don't tend to pull in the punters) or have a mixture eg cross-country for short & medium, norwegian for long.

5 Decide where the car park is to be.

6 Decide start times. No need to make too long. 1 hour should be OK.

7 Send preliminary details to Informal Events Fixtures Secretary. Also write short publicity leaflet to put in the Epistle as loose leaf sheet. Make sure it is all done in good time to get in the epistle prior to the event by at least 2 weeks - if any doubt on timing make sure it is in the preceding epistle.

Fees: Junior/Senior £1/£2?. Pairs charge as one but add 50p for each extra map. Check fees otech for latest.

8 Decide where registration, start and finish should be. It is much easier if these are in the same place. It gets everyone together for a chat and cuts down on manpower. You don't need more than one on each - if in the same place, one person can just about do the lot.

9 Plan the courses. Use the following guidelines for X country type event, 25 controls should be ample:

SHORT (White): 1.5 to 2.0 km. Very easy, routes entirely on paths and tracks or across parkland. Controls on paths junctions, fences, walls. Controls close together, preferably a control at each decision point, no route choice problems.

MEDIUM (Orange): 3.0 to 3.5 km. Slightly harder. Controls mainly on line features including streams, ditches. Routes possible mainly on paths but giving possibility of quicker alternatives involving cutting through woods. If point features used they should be prominent point features near significant line features.

LONG (Green or Blue): 5.0 to 5.5 km. As technically hard as the area will allow. Try to include some good legs including at least one long leg. Use second master maps if necessary. In some small woods the best way to make good use of the area is to use a Norwegian system - see later.

Do not hide kites. Try to avoid dangerous features or, if unavoidable, approach from a safe angle.

Ask someone experienced to check your courses.

10 Obtain from store or from previous event:

kites - (codes on control and course description list) are preferable. Lollipop controls are very easy to put out, don't get vandalised and are less costly when stolen but they are less friendly for beginners - not so easy to see.

Punches- one per control (you many not need them for the Long Course)

Stakes - lightweight - not needed if lollipop controls used

Map boards - two per course, two for any map corrections, two for 2nd master maps if used

Result envelopes and post box

Orange drinks, O signs, map bags for master maps, control cards, Tape. First Aid Kit.

Digital clock for finish from store, kitchen clock for start

Registration/start/finish signs. Master map rain cover. Portable loo, if thought necessary

11 Attach punches to kites. Fold inside kite to stop strings tangling.

12 Make a master control punched card for each course.

13 Type control descriptions and print about 30 for each course.

14 Master maps and map corrections: Draw up in red biro. Paste on control description lists. Insert in plastic map bags. Mount on boards at least twice as big as map. Control description sheets must be on master maps. Produce two master maps each for medium and long courses - four of short course so master maps can be taken to school minibuses and copied before start. Photocopy map with all controls on to give after the event to control collecting volunteers.

15 Arrange for a couple of experienced orienteers to be on hand at the master maps to help beginners - Keith and Margaret Sykes have offered their services but others would be happy to help.

16 ON THE DAY: Put out the O signs and controls. Set up registration, start, finish and orange - perhaps results display.

Registration. Fill in control card with forename, age, class, surname and club if possible or get competitor to do it. Start-times - best allocated at the start. Make sure you have a small float with change.

Give to competitor, map, control description list and control card.

Short course: Let competitors copy the short course before they start - hand it out at registration if necessary.

Start. Write in start time on card and take in stub. At beginning of event, start people on same course off at 2 minute intervals to avoid queuing at master maps.

Finish. Write competitor finish times on control cards and retain it for checking and calculation. If time, mount stubs with time taken.

Kites and punches: collect (or arrange for collection) all in as soon as all competitors finished.

17 Take all gear dry (particularly tents and kites) and clean back to store and place carefully away.

18 Calculate results and photocopy for competitors. Send copy to Editor and Fixtures Secretary. Acknowledge landowners/tenants in the results.

19. Write thank you to landowners and tenants enclosing copies of results. Update event file, including flyer, preliminary details if any, set of courses and results, and return to Fixtures Secretary.

20 Four weeks after the event ring the Informal Events Fixtures Secretary and volunteer to organise another event! Tell your friends how easy it is.

NORWEGIAN EVENT

The 'Norwegian' system can be used for a single course and is particularly useful in making the most of a small wood for a long course which may need to cross itself several times to get in good legs. The essential feature is that you only give a leg at a time. At the start you give start to control one. At control one you show controls 1 and 2 and so leg 1 to 2. It is not enough just to show control 2. You also put on the map the control description of control 2. You only need the relevant part of the map to show the leg but don't be too miserly. It needs to be stuck onto a small piece of board and covered in clear film and then the small board is hung at the control. The map should be clearly visible to the incoming competitor. There are small special map boards in the store. Make sure each segment of the map used has a north line drawn on it.

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