Bluenose Classic

Organizers: Mark Sypher (Course Planner), Jim Blanchard (Controller), Pam James (Event Director)

Location: Camelot Ravine Park, near Kentville NS

The Bluenose Classic serves as our Provincial Championship event - but still offers courses at all levels, including a course for beginners. This year the Bluenose Classic will also be used as a stepping stone for both participants and officials for the Canadian Orienteering Championships to be held in NS July 31 - August 2 2026 and has been sanctioned as a Canada Cup Event. The Canadian Championships are open for anyone to attend.

We will be using age classes this year; typically there are 11 courses at Canadian championships. Due to our numbers here in NS we have divided the age classes into just 7 courses but hope it will give you an idea of what to expect next year. Another difference at this event is that we will have assigned start times which will be posted the evening of Friday Oct 17th.

The Day of Schedule:

10:00 On SIte Registration Opens

10:15 Beginner Clinic (if required)

10:45 Safety Brief

11:00 (staggered starts begin);

14:00 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.

Mappers Notes

October 2015

The area of Camelot Ravine has been updated especially in the area of the course design location.

The forest is very open in much of the area to be used for the Middle Distance event. Generally there is a mixture of hardwood and softwood with the majority of the course area being softwood with a mixture of Pine, Spruce and Hemlock. The areas marked with intermittent streams are mostly dry so cannot be used as navigational features. There are springs and a couple of wells which have water and the springs can be still a bit wet underfoot.

The trail network on all trails is covered with leaves and this makes some of them very difficult to follow so be careful following the smaller trails.

The area being used is quite hilly with a number of contours ( 5 m contours) but all courses take participants safely through the hilly sections.

One of the biggest changes is the power line and the area along this feature. This power line is very noticable as it crosses across the middle of the map. The small trees / bushes in this area have all been cut and left lying on the ground making it very slow to cross at right angles. The original section with the trail along the middle is still open and very runnable. Visibility along the power line is now excellent.

A few additional root stocks have been added due to fallen trees and trees that have large stumps, all broken from a fallen tree have been identified with the traditional Green X. There are a few fallen trees where the root stock (Green X) is not showing. Instead it is a mound of earth like a small knoll. These have been marked with the brown triangle.

The Courses:

Please ensure you check the technical difficulty descriptions for your age class; you may run either your age class or any Open course if your age class is not suitable. Teams must run in an Open course.

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.

Categories (for point to point courses):

(Note - gender diverse participants are welcome to register in open categories or the gender class in which they identify. All identifications of gender identity or expression by participants are believed to be made in good faith and do not require further disclosure or documentation.)

Course 1: 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)

Course 2: TD 2. Typically follows trails or distinct line features. Some simple route choices may be required. Slightly more challenging than the Beginner course, with some longer legs. (Approximately 2km)

Course 3: 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)

Course 4: 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 2 km)

Courses 5,6&7 : TD5. Complex route choices, detailed terrain. Requires good rough and precision navigation, as well as physical stamina. (Approximately 3.5 - 4km) Difference is just in the distance.

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, start, registration, control pickup).

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 the registration process.

Once membership and waiver are completed, register for courses by completing the process at the registration site or via the link here

https://2mev.com/#!/events/bluenose-classic-octobe...

Please ensure you register via this link by midnight THURSDAY, Oct 16, 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

Wheelhouse Coffee

…or refuel at any of the many other eateries or coffee shops between Kentville Canning and Wolfville.

Questions (some may be answered below):

To Pam at pamsjames@hotmail.com

Entry Fees:

The following are the fees for this event* (pre-registered), add $5 for day-of registrations:

$15 per adult (21+) participating as an individual

$7 per youth (7-20) participating as an individual

$10 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_2025 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_2025 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_2025 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 washrooms at the New Minas Big Stop near Exit 12 or 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:

The 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, turn Right at the bottom of the exit ramp (towards Kentville/ New Minas), and then quickly turn Left at the first set of lights onto Prospect Road. In 2km, turn Right on Elizabeth Drive, and then Left on Poplar Drive. Follow signs to parking.

Location