SA Champs 2012

• Read Bulletin 1-2, issued 15 June 2012 (PDF, 764KB)
• Read Bulletin 3, issued 15 September 2012 (PDF, 2MB)

Classes and Participation Restrictions

Competitors 20 years & under belong to the age group up to the end of the calendar year in which they reach the given age.  Competitors 21 or over belong to the age group from the beginning of the calendar year in which they will reach the given age.
Competitors on Championship courses must be members of a club affiliated to the SAOF or members of an Orienteering Club outside of South Africa.
Only members of a club affiliated to the SAOF and who have been resident in South Africa for six months will be eligible for Championship trophies/medals (as per SAOF competition rule 4.1).

SA Champs Courses
Eight courses for both Championships with varying distances and technicality will be available. Expected winning times for the Long Distance Championships are indicated in table. Expected winning times for the Middle Distance Championships are all expected to be in the region of 30-35 minutes.

NOTE: Entries on the day can only compete on the Novice (LN and SN) Courses.

SA Relay Championships

Club Relay Championsip: teams of three competitors from the same SAOF affiliated or overseas club (with at least one non-M21A/E); 1 medium leg, 2 short legs.
Ad Hoc relay: teams of any three competitors regardless of affiliation or class; 3 short legs

Training Opportunities
There   are   no   opportunities   for   training   in   Haenertsburg.
However, training opportunities can be made available to overseas competitors in Johannesburg / Pretoria in the week prior to the event.  Please contact the organisers for further details.

Terrain
The terrain is mature open pine forest plantation, with interspersed areas of indigenous forest.  The terrain has mostly gentle to moderate slopes covering most of the map.  Runnability and visibility is very good in most places.

Warnings
September is a HIGH fire risk time so all participants are requested to take extreme care.
There is the possibility of forestry vehicle movements in the plantations during the event.

Competition clothing
There is no restriction on competition clothing.   However, leg protection is advised for all three events.

Visa Requirements Most visitors to South Africa are not required to obtain visas in advance.   For further information visit
http://www.learn4good.com/travel/south_africa_visa.htm

Accommodation:
Haenertsburg has plenty of guest houses and self-catering accommodation.   See:
http://www.wheretostay.co.za/np/cn/accommodation/haenertsburg.php
http://www.safarinow.com/destinations/haenertsburg/hub.aspx
www.mountaingetaways.co.za

Transport:    No official transport will be offered.   Overseas competitors are advised to hire a car from one of the recognised car hire companies:
www.avis.co.za;            www.tempestcarhire.co.za;             www.hertz.co.za;                 www.budget.co.za

Entry to championship courses includes entry into the relay.

The event centre for the SA Orienteeering  Championships will be at Stanford Lake College, Haenertsburg, Limpopo.These event areas, as shown in the map below, are embargoed.  The embargo includes the grounds of the School, which will form part of the relay area.

Description of the Terrain

The terrain is mature open pine forest plantation, with interspersed areas of indigenous forest.  The terrain has mostly gentle to moderate slopes covering most of the map.  Runnability and visibility is very good in most places.

The maps are 1:10 000, 5 m contour, drawn to the ISOM 2000 standard.

The maps have been prepared by: Nicholas Mulder (Rand Orienteering Club)

 Climate:  The average daytime/night time temperatures for September are 22°C / 9°C respectively and the average rainfall is 16mm.  It is therefore likely to be cool and dry for the competitions with the possibility of light showers.

Hazards:  There are no dangerous animals in the competition area, although competitors may encounter various species of buck, jackals and other small animals.
Snakes  (including  venomous  ones)  are  found  in  the  area  but  they  will  usually  get  out  of  the runner’s way. No incidents have been reported due to snakes in similar areas used for orienteering in South Africa.

Event Director
Brian Gardner (AR Club)

Information
Fred Richardson: +27 (0)83 602 6163;
Garry Morrison: +27 (0)82 330 2496
Web:  https://www.orienteering.co.za/event-calendar/sa-champs-2012/

Course planners
Middle Distance –  Nicholas Mulder  (ROC)
Long Distance – Brian Gardiner (AR Club)
Relay – Stijn Laenen (AR Club)

Event Controllers
Middle Distance – Garry Morrison  (IOF Event Adviser, AR Club)
Long Distance – Nicholas Mulder (ROC)
Relay – Lisa de Speville (AR Club