The Bay Area Orienteering Club is Proud to Announce...

The 3rd Annual Golden Goat, Briones, Orinda
(Long Run/Orienteering Event, & Regular Beginner's Orienteering Courses)
Saturday, May 9, 1998

Important Note

Pre registration is required for the Golden Goat, however, as of 5/7, it's too late for normal pre registration.  You can still show up (by 9:30 am) and beg to run the course, and pay excessive late fees, and risk having to copy your map after the start.

5/7/98 Update: Golden Goat 98 Meet Details, Saturday May 9, 1998

Welcome to the Third Annual Golden Goat, the premier long distance orienteering event in the Western United States (and only second to the Billy Goat, father of 'Goldie').

I tried to make the courses use the best of the terrain and the map. For me, the best thing about running at Briones is the wide open meadows and the great views. You will get lots of both. The worst thing (for me) has always been the woods. Very steep, poorly mapped, and covered in poison oak. You should spend a relatively small fraction of your time in these areas, and even then in the relatively more benign areas. Be advised, however, that you will still cross large numbers of brown lines (at 10m of climb each!), that the brown lines are frequently in the wrong places (one or two even end!), and that poison oak is definitely out there. Take precautions as necessary (I would recommend Gookinade, Prozac, and Tecnu, respectively).

The Course

The full course length is 11 km, 550 m climb, with 18 controls. You should know the following:

• The usual rules of orienteering apply, EXCEPT where noted below
• The map is very old and of poor quality. Map corrections would be futile.
• The area around the archery range is OUT OF BOUNDS
• While there is no forked control this year, YOU MAY SKIP ONE CONTROL of your choice.
• The map was of very poor quality when new, and has deteriorated further
• Following IS allowed. Follow at your own risk
• Everyone finishing under his or her age-based time wins a specially designed T-shirt (thanks Penny!). The time limit for men is 180 minutes plus 2 minutes for each year under 20 or over 40. For women the time limit is 200 minutes plus 2 minutes for each year under 20 or over 40. Your time limit is printed on your punch card.
• The map sucks. But the course doesn't.
• Course closes at 3:30pm.
• Control codes are 2 letters printed on blue index cards. Who do they honor?
• There is water on the course at the 4km point. At the 7km point are liquid and energy food refreshments. You can also bail out at this point. If it's a warm day, and you move slowly, consider carrying additional water
• There will be an honorary award for the club or club chapter, showing the best combination of turnout, results, good sports-person like behavior, volunteerism, brown nosing, non-complaining and spectacular over (or under) achieving. The exact methodology is still being worked out.
• Did I mention the map quality? Not good.

Directions to Briones

Bear Creek Road entrance, SW portion of the park: From Route 24 in the  East Bay, take the Orinda exit and head north towards Richmond. Approximately 2 miles later, turn right at the signal onto Bear Creek Road. Continue 3.7 miles to the park entrance on the right. Pay a $3.50 per car fee at the kiosk.

On the day logistics

At registration, please complete the following:

• Pay any outstanding fees
• Sign the release form
• Pick up this announcement
• Pick up your punch card
• Pick up the clue sheet (also included with the map)

Schedule

• 9:30-10:30 Registration
• 10:40 Walk to start
• 10:50 Final instructions
• 11:00 (prompt) Start
• 12:30 First finisher anticipated
• 15:30 Courses close

Recreational Courses

Two recreational courses are offered today:

White 2.5 km, 120m climb, Easiest

Yellow 3.0 km, 120m climb, Easy

Please note that setting appropriate beginners courses at Briones is something of a challenge! The terrain, the lack of appropriate trail loops, and the old and inaccurate map makes are far from ideal. Please bear in mind the following:

• White Course: Part of the course will follow an indistinct trail. This will be streamered where necessary to make it easier to follow. You will also encounter an unmarked knoll. Be sure to complete the map corrections
• Yellow Course: Part of the course will go cross-country. You will always have either a linear feature (such as a vegetation boundary) to follow, or be able to see the next control from a long distance. A compass may help.

Again, be sure to complete the map corrections.

Courses close at 2:00pm.

We will have beginner's instruction between 9:30 and 10:30, or ask one of the friendly club members who look like they know what they ought to be doing.

Warning:

Please be careful of the steep slopes. The poison oak crop is going to beat all records this year. While the courses largely avoid it, be on the lookout.

Event Volunteers

Great thanks go to the following for their help, and to anyone who I have forgotten, or who hasn't shown themselves a hero quite yet.

• Bob Cooley - Course Vetter
• Evan Custer - Results
• Gary Kraght - Recreational meet
• Jean and Ev Beuerman
• Tony Pinkham - Publicity
• Steve Beuerman - Publicity
• Penny DeMoss - T-shirt design
• Harold DeMoss - Finish
• Josh Friederichs - Registration

Enjoy!

Ian Tidswell, Head Goat (Western Region)

News 4/30/98

The Golden Goat is now so close you can almost smell his/her breath! Saturday May 9 is the big day at Briones Park. The courses are set, and make full use of the fast, open terrain and the great views. We have about 40 entries so far, but over half of last years finishers have still not registered. TIME IS RUNNING OUT!

To encourage more participation, the Head Goat (Western Division) has had permission from the Golden Goat to waive the late payment fee for entries received by Monday May 4. Get yourself registered (by email/mail/fax/phone) and the check sent in as fast as possible. Only a few days left.

To get all the details, check out the new BAOC bulletin (arriving in your mailbox this week), your old e-mail file, or the BAOC Website (that's here!)

One last note. While there IS going to be a bumper Posion Oak crop, so far the plants are only about knee high AND (most important), the courses avoid the bad areas.

Original Announcement:
Background

The Golden Goat is the premier distance orienteering event in the Western United States! Based on the Billygoat Race held for the last 20 years in the North Eastern US, the Golden Goat is a distance orienteering race appropriate to ALL moderately athletic runners with minimal navigational skills.

Participants will enjoy:

• Fast, open running through beautiful meadows strewn with wild flowers
• Stunning views of the East Bay Hills and surrounding mountains
• Quality orienteering course set by the 'Head Goat" for the 1997 Billygoat
• Specially designed (by Penny DeMoss) award T-shirt for all participants completing the course within age/gender based time limits (other competitors will receive other orienteering T-shirt)
• Power refreshments on the course. Ample refreshments afterwards
• Fun for non-runners: Beginner courses (register on the day) and excellent spectator controls

The Course

Length will be approximately 10-12k, with substantial climb (estimated winning time 90 minutes). The navigational difficulty will be moderate (similar to orange course), but see 'Rules' to make it easier! There will be the opportunity to retire approximately 2/3 through the course for those worrying about "running out of gas".

The Rules

• Mass start at 11am
• BEGINNERS NOTE: Following IS allowed (Pick your "guide" and hang on)!
• You may skip any one control of your choice
• There may be a forked control (i.e. two controls with the same number). You must visit only one of these controls (unless you choose to skip the forked control, in which case you would visit all other controls)
• Highly coveted Prize T-shirts will be awarded to ALL participants who finish within their age/gender based time limits. Calculate your time limit below:

MEN Aged 20-40: 180 minutes
MEN Aged 40+: 180 minutes plus 2 minutes for each year over 40
MEN Aged -20: 180 minutes plus 2 minutes for each year under 20

WOMEN Aged 20-40: 200 minutes
WOMEN Aged 40+: 200 minutes plus 2 minutes for each year over 40
WOMEN Aged -10: 200 minutes plus 2 minutes for each year under 20

Examples

Man, 55: 180+2x(55-40)=210
Man, 17: 180+2x(20-17)=186
Man, 37: 180
Woman, 48: 200+2x(48-40)=216
Woman, 15: 200+2x(20-15)=210
Woman, 22, 200

Other information

• Map is 1:15,000, 10m contours.
• Poison oak is present in wooded areas. If affected, take precautions.
• Meet workers needed, especially non-runners (who can do a beginners course). Please call Ian Tidswell at 510-644-0788 to volunteer. Thanks!
• Beginners courses (White and yellow only) will be available using standard BAOC times/fees etc. Register on the day. Bring the whole family!

Directions to Briones

Bear Creek Road entrance, SW portion of the park: From Route 24 in the East Bay, take the Orinda exit and head north towards Richmond. Approximately 2 miles later, turn right at the signal onto Bear Creek Road. Continue 3.7 miles to the park entrance on the right. Pay a $3 per car fee at the kiosk.

Schedule

Golden Goat:

• ASAP - Notify Meet Director by e-mail (preferred), telephone, or mail of intention to run, age, etc.
• April 30 - Last postmark date for payment to avoid late-payment fee
• Thursday May 7 - Last date to notify meet director to avoid additional late-registration fee and guarantee premarked map
• Saturday May 9
  • 9-10:15 Golden Goat Check-in
  • 10:30 Walk to start and competitor announcements
  • 11:00 Start
  • 12:30 First finisher expected.
  • 4:00 Courses close

Beginner Courses:

• As usual for BAOC events, available 10-12:30 (and pre-registration is not required).

Fees

• Golden Goat registration: $18
• Golden Goat registration (under 21): $12
• Late-payment fee (postmark after April 30 extended to May 4): $5
• Additional late-registration fee (notify meet director after May 7): $5
• (Additional parking fee of $3-4 payable directly to park at entrance)

Application (cut, paste, and edit, or provide information)

Name:____________________

Club:____________________

Address:______________________

______________________

______________________

Telephone:______________________

Gender:_________

Year of birth:______

Register ASAP by e-mail (preferred), telephone or mail

Email: GoldGoat98aol.com

Telephone: 510-644-0788

Mail:

Ian Tidswell
48 Shattuck Square #25
Berkeley CA 94704