Radio Society of Great Britain

Butterwood Sunday 6th April

Summary
The event coincides with an orienteering event hosted by the Basingstoke Andover & District Orienteering Club, but the car parking and administration are entirely separate, though co-ordinated/deconflicted. A primary competition will be held using the 144 MHz band to IARU rules/spirit followed by a less formal, but significant, 3.5 MHz FoxOring competition "with a twist". The area being used is located immediately to the west of M3 Junction 5 Hook.

Location
Butterwood near Hook Click here for a map extract.
Butterwood is a woodland estate owned by the Viscount FitzHarris, Greywell Hill Estate, Greywell, Hook, Hampshire, RG29 1DB. The area is delightful woodland, managed plantation with ongoing forestry work and gamekeeping. There is a good path system but much is runnable. There are many fences (also see under map section below) but these should not be a hindrance to an alert competitor. No dogs on the course please, though they are permitted under control on public footpaths and in the car parking area,

The car park and registration will be in a field entered immediately from the public road at SU723523, just 700m SW of M3 J5.

Format of Event
The 144MHz competition will conform to the general principles of IARU events, but will be less formal than a Championship. There will be five hidden transmitters and a 120 minute time limit will apply. Competitors will be scored according to IARU age classes with IARU transmitter/age assignment; they are nevertheless free to enjoy the course however they wish! The IARU rules for the distance between transmitters and from the start and finish will be relaxed only in that transmitters will be more than 400m from the start rather than the 750m distance specified in the rules. Pin punching will be used.

The 3.5 MHz competition will be FoxOring style having ten hidden transmitters and a 90 minute time limit. Pin punching will be used. The scoring is still TBD (e.g., for those over time).

Map
Map Scale 1:10,000. It is larger than A4 but a landscape A4 section aligned with the bottom of the map is sufficient. The map will be overprinted showing temporarily fenced off areas which are out of bounds.

Timetable
0930 Registration opens
1025 Map issue to first starter in the 144MHz competition
1030-1100 144MHz starts for those also competing on 3.5MHz
1100-1130 144MHz starts for those not competing on 3.5MHz (or who are but don't want lunch/rest)
1330 Mass departure from the car park for escorted walk to 3.5MHz start
1530 Course close

Entries
Entry fee is £5 per entrant payable on the day.
The results will beposted on this web site as soon as possible after the event

Procedures
In accordance with the informality of the event the organisers will not require you to deposit your receiver in a pound before the transmitters start sending. They do expect you to respect the spirit of this concession by refraining from using your receiver until reporting to officials in the start area and then only under their supervision.

Safety
Competitors are responsible for their own safety and take part at their own risk. No smoking in the forest. Whistles are strongly advised (the emergency signal is 6 blasts repeated at 1 minute intervals). Try to avoid crossing fences; if necessary, take care of both yourself and the fence; some are in a poor state of repair and can catch the unwary if not seen until too late.

Enquiries
Telephone Dave Burleigh G4WIZ on 07766 134717