Bluenose Classic
October 19th 2024 11:00am
Organizers: Paul Bottomley (Event Director), Pam James (Course Planner), Jim Blanchard (Controller)
The Bluenose Classic serves as our Provincial Championship event - but still offers courses at all levels, including a course for beginners. Please read the technical difficulty descriptions to choose an appropriate course.
It will be a Barebones style event, meaning the approach will be casual in order to minimize the amount of volunteer capacity required, while still providing an enjoyable event for orienteers.
The Schedule:
10:00 Registration Opens
10:15 Beginner Clinic (if required)
10:45 Safety Brief
11:00 (staggered starts begin);
13:30 Course Time Limit
Start will be nearby the registration table.
The Venue:
Camelot Park is a natural wooded park and former campground located in the town of Kentville. Located on private land, and recently re-mapped, Camelot Park has been used for orienteering events as far back as 1979.
The Courses:
Point to Point
To complete any of the courses participants visit a series of control points in the order shown on the map provided at the start. Starts will be staggered to space competitors and limit following.
As was done last year, five skill-based courses will be available, with awards for the top junior (<21) and senior (21+) aged competitors. Participants may self-select the age/gender category they feel is most appropriate.
For convenience, these category descriptions are repeated on the registration page.
Beginner course: Technical Difficulty (TD) 1. Typically follows marked and easy to follow trails to controls on or near trail for the easiest navigation and shortest distance to cover. Basic map following required. (Approximately 2km)
Novice course: TD 2. Typically follows trails or distinct line features. Some simple route choices may be required. Slightly more challenge than Beginner course, with some longer legs. (Approximately 2km)
Intermediate course: TD3. Requires route choice along trails while also using map features and basic compass skills to find controls located on or just off trails with typically clear features nearby that ease navigation. (Approximately 3km)
Advanced course: TD4. Will tackle the entire map on trail and off, using route choices through more difficult terrain, streams forests and all; good navigation skills required. (Similar to TD5 but shorter and less physically challenging). (Approximately 3.5km)
Expert/Elite course: TD5. Complex route choices, detailed terrain. Requires good rough and precision navigation, as well as physical stamina. (Approximately 4km)
A beginner’s clinic may be offered. Let us know via a message to the email address below if you are interested, and we can provide some form of instruction, if not a formal clinic. Please check in at 10am if you require instruction.
VOLUNTEERS would be appreciated for a few tasks associated with the event (e.g. Beginner clinic, registration, control pickup). Please see HERE to sign up.
Registration:
Prior to participating in an event, all participants must have completed the one time Orienteering NS registration form and the Orienteering Canada waiver as part of registration process.
Once membership and waiver are completed, register for courses by completing the process at the registration site at the green button above or via the link here...
Please ensure you register via this link by midnight THURSDAY, Oct 17, 2024 to ensure a map is printed for you. On-site check-in will take place on site from 10:00 to 10:45 am.
Last minute registration: This can be done on site, but we typically only have a few extra maps; because we didn’t know you were coming. Also, pre-registration allows the on-site details to move more quickly.
Need Orienteering Kit before the event? Visit the O-Store!
Extracurricular:
The Gorge Mountain Bike Trails Kentville, Nova Scotia – Mountain Bike Atlantic (mtbatlantic.com)
Cape Split | Nova Scotia Parks
…or refuel at any of the hundred other eateries or coffee shops between Kentville Canning and Wolfville.
Questions (some may be answered below):
To Paul at nsorienteering@gmail.com
Entry Fees:
The following are the fees for this event* (pre-registered), add $5 for day-of registrations:
$10 per adult (21+) participating as an individual
$5 per youth (7-20) participating as an individual
$7 per group/team member if participating as part of a team
Children under 7 participate free
*If you are registering four or more family/household members at the same time (including at least one adult), please use the discount code FAMILY_2024 at checkout to receive a discount.
How to Pay:
In advance (preferred):
- By credit card as part of the registration process
- Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to the following email: nsorienteering@gmail.com
- If you choose this method, complete the online registration process. At checkout, please enter the following coupon code: PAY_EFT_2024 so that you appear on our registration list.
In person:
- In cash; a payment container will be available. Please bring correct change.
- If you choose this method, complete the online registration process. At checkout, please enter the following coupon code: PAY_CASH_2024 so that you appear on our registration list.
Note: all of the above is restated in the registration process.
Snacks: A small post race treat will be available, but participants should bring their own water if needed.
Parking:
Parking will be in a gravel lot on site, or on the adjacent streets.
Washrooms:
There are public washroom nearby in the town of Kentville.
Weather:
We run rain, snow or shine. Local thunder will typically be accommodated by a short delay. That said any weather involving a Hurricane or Tropical Storm coming straight over will result in a reschedule.
Directions:
Event is in Kentville NS. Registration and Start Finish will be at or near the location shown in the map below.
Take Exit 12 off the 101, head towards Kentville/ New Minas. Turn Left on Prospect Road, Right on Elizabeth Drive, Left on Poplar Drive. Follow signs to parking.