DVOA’s BIG WOODS Orienteering Event
Download the latest meet notes here.
A 2 Day total time NRE (National Ranking Event)
sanctioned by Orienteering USA, the national governing body for Orienteering in the U.S.
March 19th & 20th, 2022
(Event was originally scheduled for March 21-22, 2020)
DAY 1 - French Creek State Park - North Map
Revised 2019 and updated Winter 2021-2022, 1:10,000
DAY 2 – Coventry Woods - Newly Mapped Area
New map 2019 and updated Winter 2021-2022, 1:10,000.
Orienteering has never been done at this site.IMPORTANT DEADLINES
Registration Opens Monday January 10th, 2022
Early Registration - Closes Sunday February 6, 2022 Midnight ET
Regular Registration - Closes Sunday February 27, 2022 Midnight ET
Late Fees added to entries after midnight Sunday February 27, 2022
Late Registration - Closes Saturday March 12, 2022 Midnight ET
Registrations accepted after March 12, 2022 only with approval from event registrar.Event Hotel Fairfield Inn & Suites
Last day to book rooms at special event rates, Friday February 18, 2022
See details, pricing and link to registration below under Accommodations
Pre-registration is required for all courses (competitive and recreational).
No day of event registrations will be accepted.
> Click here to register for the Competitive event <> Find out who's registered <
Pre-register for all Recreational Couses Required.
No day of event registrations will be accepted.
> Click here to register for the Recreational Courses <> Find out who's registered on the recreationsl courses <
Please note: Because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the risk of virus exposure, all participants and volunteers are asked to wear masks in common areas where groups may gather, such as check-in, finish, download, and results. We know this is an inconvenience for some, but to be fair to everyone, vaccinated or not, we ask for your cooperation. Please wear a mask to show this simple common courtesy to those in your orienteering community who may be at risk from or have someone at home who is at risk from contracting COVID. Boxes of masks will be available at the event for those who need one.
Please Note: there will be no paper registration packets for this event - all necessary information will be available on the event web site.
Event Officials
Event Director: Mark Frank
Registrar: Janet Tryson registrar@dvoa.org
OUSA Registration system: Janet Tryson
OUSA Course Consultant: Eric Weyman
DAY 1 French Creek North Course Setter: Glen Tryson
DAY 2 Coventry Woods Course Setter: Petr Hartman
Map Printing Coordinator: Fred Kruesi
Vetting: Ralph Tolbert
Model Event: Dave Morgan
Recreational Course Start/Finish: Corinne Mayland
Parking: Bob Fink
Starts: Tim Walsh
Digital Start Clock: Ed Niemann
Equipment: Ron Bortz
Finish: Bob Agosta
Results: Vadim Masalkov
Clothing Return: Rob Frank
DVOA webpage/logo design: Bob Gross
Emergency Services: Mary Frank
Park and County Liaison: Mary Frank
Awards: Mary Frank
Event Photographers: Julie Keim
DVOA Treasurer: John Ort
Schedule
Friday, March 18, 2022
Model Course Open: Noon to 4pm
French Creek State Park Group Campground. A small section of applicable map with controls will be available to familiarize yourself with the terrain and map for this event. Download and Print map hereSaturday March 19, 2022
French Creek North, French Creek State Park8:00am – 11.00am: Check-in at the event site for those who have rented SI cards
10 am – 1pm: Competitive starts
Noon – 1pm – Recreational Starts (pre-registration is required)
– Beginner(WHITE), Adv Beginner(YELLOW), Intermediate(ORANGE)Sunday, March 20, 2022
Coventry Woods, North Coventry, PA7:30am – 10.00am: Check-in at the event site for those who have rented SI cards
9:00am: First competitive starts
10:30am – Noon: Recreational starts (pre-registration is required)
– Beginner(WHITE), Adv Beginner(YELLOW), Intermediate(ORANGE)
2pm or as soon as possible Award Ceremony - Two Day Total Time at Day 2 event site.
Registration
Early Registration - Monday January 10, 2022 thru midnight ET Sunday February 6, 2022
Regular Registration - Monday February 7, 2022 thru midnight ET Sunday February 27, 2022
Late Registration - Monday February 28, 2022 thru midnight ET Saturday March 12, 2022.
* Late entries for all competitors after March 12, 2022 will be accepted only subject to map availability and registrar approval.
Late fees will be added to entries after midnight, Sunday, March 12, 2022
Event Refunds:Refunds requested by email to registrar on or prior to midnight ET February 27, 2022 will be a full refund less 10% of the total entry fee for processing. There is no refund after midnight ET February 27th, 2022.
Event Fees:
Competition Courses
Early Reg.
closes Sunday Feb. 6, 2022 at midnight ETRegular Reg.
closes Sunday Feb. 27, 2022 at midnight ETLate Reg.
closes Saturday March 12, 2022 at midnight ETOUSA Discount (Competition Courses Only)
ADULT: Day 1
FC North$34
$38
$50
-$4
Day 2
Coventry Woods$34
$38
$50
-$4
JUNIOR: (under 21)* Day 1
FC North$14
$14
$20
-$2
Day 2
Coventry Woods$14
$14
$20
-$2
Recreational Courses Registration closes midnight ET Saturday March 12, 2022 .
No OUSA discount for recreational coursesADULT: JUNIOR: (under 21) Day 1
FC North$12/map $7/map Day 2
Coventry Woods$12/map $7/map E-punch Rental: $3 per day for competitors; For Recreational participants the rental fee is built into the per map fee. Replacement fee of $60 if not returned
Recreational Courses
Contact the registrar if you plan to bring a group of five or more needing multiple maps.
Pre-registration is required by midnight ET on Saturday, March 12th, 2022.
Saturday March 19. 2022
Start times are Noon – 1pm.
Courses – WHITE-REC, YELLOW-REC, ORANGE-RECSunday March 20, 2022
Start times are 10:30am – Noon
Courses – WHITE-REC, YELLOW-REC, ORANGE-REC
Awards
The awards for the combined total time Saturday and Sunday will be presented at the Coventry Woods Event site at 2pm (or sooner, if possible).
Class/Course Structures
Classes are assigned according to the following table:
Competitive Courses
White
Yellow
Orange
BrownY
BrownX
GreenY
GreenX
Red
Blue
F-10
M-10
F-12
M-12
M/F-WhiteF-14
M-14
F-Yellow
M-YellowF-16
M-16
F-Orange
M-OrangeF70+
F75+
F80+
F85+
M80+
M85+
F-Brown
M-BrownF-18
F55+
F60+
F65+
M65+
M70+
M75+
F-20
F35+
F40+
F45+
F50+
F-GreenM-18
M50+
M55+
M60+
M-GreenF-21+
M-20
M35+
M40+
M45+
M-RedM-21+
Non-Competitive Courses/Classes
White Yellow Orange
White-REC Yellow-REC Orange-REC
Your age is defined as the actual age you will be as of 12 /31 / 2022
F-10 = female 10 years of age and under
M75+ = Male 75 years or older
F-Orange = Female of any age
Map & Course Notes
French Creek North and Coventry Woods
French Creek North and Coventry Woods are similar terrains, both being classic examples of “French Creek” terrain. This means large hill masses, with few strong contour shapes, but numerous small point features. These two areas are selected because they have the nicest forest in the region, remaining unaffected by multiple invasive species that have plagued other nearby areas.
CONTOURS - generally smooth shapes but with numerous subtle spurs and reentrants, and some dry ditches, related to drainage or abandoned cart tracks.
VEGETATION - Mostly hardwoods, with some light sapling understory in places, a few touches of mountain laurel, some thorny vegetation, but mostly outside the area of courses.
TRAIL NETWORKS - For FCN medium to light, for CW medium and a few more.
WATER FEATURES - almost nothing at higher elevations, but at lower elevations, more streams and a few marshes, including a few dense stream networks.
ROCK FEATURES - Some stony ground, but usually with recognizable edges, numerous small boulders, but few large boulders, and almost no cliffs.
OTHER POINT FEATURES - Both areas feature complete networks of charcoal terraces. Rootstocks are also prominent, with a few small depressions and pits as well.
Walk to Start
Day 1 - No more than a 500m, 7 minute flat walk to start from general event parking.
Day 2 - No more than a 400m, 7 minute walk with a slight (max 15m) climb from general event parking.Port-O-Johns:
Port-O-Johns will be located near Registration/Finish and one will be located near Start on both days
Clothing Drop-Off:
Warm up clothing can be dropped off at designated site approximately 100 meters from call-up line for both days. Clothing will be moved to the Finish area on both days.Course Water Stops / Refreshments:
We recommend all competitors carry their own liquids required for each day's course. Each competitor should also bring food and refreshments for after their course. At present water stops are not planned for the courses, nor food and refreshments at the Finish/Results area for either day. We will be monitoring conditions leading up to the event and may add water to the courses should COVID conditions improve and guidelines change.Courses Day 1
French Creek NorthCourse Setter: Glen Tryson
Course Length (km) Climb (m) Controls White 2.1 35 10 Yellow 3.6 110 13 Orange 4.7 140 11 Brown X 4.6 100 12 Brown Y 3.5 80 9 Green X 6.2 170 15 Green Y 5.3 150 11 Red 8.3 265 17 Blue 11.5 330 21
Courses Day 2
Coventry WoodsCourse Setter: Petr Hartman
Course Length (km) Climb (m) Controls White 2.5 110 9 Yellow 3.7 165 10 Orange 4.5 175 9 Brown X 4.0 135 9 Brown Y 3.3 95 8 Green X 5.9 230 15 Green Y 4.7 180 13 Red 8.1 265 19 Blue 11.3 350 24
Accommodations
The Event Hotel is the NEW Fairfield Inn & Suites (by Marriott), 99 Robinson Street, Pottstown, PA 19464 (610) 326-5000
There is a discounted group booking rate of $118 + taxes for King and Double bed rooms. Use the link above, or call the hotel directly, no later than Friday, February 18, 2022. When calling, mention Delaware Valley Orienteering Association group rate.
- These rates include a free breakfast (both hot and cold options are offered).
- The hotel reserves the right to sell off unused group booking rooms if they are not taken by February 18, 2022
- Please use the link provided above to register directly with the Fairfield Inn & Suites for the special orienteering rates.
- Food very nearby: Friendly's; Red Lobster; Los Aztecas; King Buffet; Arby's; Boston Market; Wendy's; McDonald's. Look on the web for Restaurants near Pottstown for other specialty eateries and brew houses within short driving distances of hotel.
- Nearby attractions:
- Philadelphia (Open Air) Premium Outlets (Limerick, PA);
- Manatawny Creek Winery (Douglasville, PA)
- Colebrookdale Railroad (Boyertown, PA)
- Taylor Backes Stained Glass Factory (Boyertown, PA)
- Dancing Tree Studios (Boyertown, PA)
- Longacres Homemade Ice Cream (Bally, PA)
- Sly Fox Brewery (Pottstown, PA)
- Limerick Bowl (Limerick, PA)
SI-Card Rental
- All controls will be set for use by SI-Air cards.
- The start boxes will not be set for use by SI-Air cards.
- All participants will be required to manually punch the start box.
SI card rental is available for $3 per day with a $60 replacement fee if not returned. These rentals are not SI-Air cards and no SI-Air cards will be available for rental at the event.
Other
Alcoholic beverages
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited at the event sites. Please respect our parks' requirements.Dogs
OUSA Rule A.33.9 (March 2018 update) currently reads as follows: “Competitors shall not have any animals accompanying them on the course, with the exception of verified service animals.” To ensure the safety of the competitors, and to avoid any possible distractions, dogs are prohibited from the Start and Finish areas, and from the arena. Dogs must be on leashes while in the park.
Walk to Start
Day 1 - No more than a 500m, 7 minute flat walk to start from general event parking.
Day 2 - No more than a 400m, 7 minute walk with a slight (max 15m) climb from general event parking.Port-O-Johns:
Day 1 - Port-O-Johns will be located near Registration/Finish and one will be located near Start
Day 2 - Port-O-Johns will be located near Registration/Finish and one will be located near Start
Directions to Event Parking
Friday Model Event /Saturday Day 1::
From Fairfield Inn take PA Route 100 South for approximately 6.5miles to Route 23. Turn right at light taking PA Route 23 West to PA Route 345 North. Turn right onto PA Route 345 North to Park entrance and follow Orienteering road signs to model event area or Day 1 parking. On Day 1 following Parking personnel instructions for parking. It is about 18 miles. Please allow 35 min from hotel to Day 1 event site.Sunday Day 2:
From Fairfield Inn take PA Route 100 South to Route 724 west. Follow Route 724 West proceeding past Coventry Mall on right and watch for Orienteering signs to turn left off Route 724 onto Sheep Hill Road. Follow Sheep Hill Road and bear right onto Temple Road then after a short piece turn left onto St Peter's Road. Continue to follow St Peter's Road. It will make a 90 degree left just after the intersection with Coventryville Road on the left. Turn left onto St Peter's Road and then watch for a left turn onto Fernbrook Lane/Coventry Woods. Follow parking personnel instructions to event parking. Note: There will be orienteering road signs from the turn off of Route 724 to the event site. It is about 6 miles. Please allow about 15 minutes from hotel to Day 2 event site.
