Fountainhead Central

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April 23
Sunday

FountainheadPre-registration is required and will open Monday, 17 April at 6pm and close on Saturday, 22 April at 12 noon; there is no day-of registration.

Come out and enjoy a full set of courses during our brief Washington-area spring at Fountainhead Regional Park in Clifton, Virginia--some of our favorite terrain. Course setter Justin Green has designed a full set of classic courses. Check in and map pick-up will be at Shelter 1 next to the main parking lot, and the E-punch team will set up in its customary location in the shack at the end of the parking lot.

A note on parking: although the Fountainhead main parking lot is very large and there is a second lot nearer the waterside with additional space, we do expect that if 23 April turns out to have decent weather, the park is likely to be very heavily used with our event, bikers on the bike trail in FHE and other users competing for parking space. We may adjust the selection of start windows and numbers of runners assigned to them in order to minimize parking issues. Stay tuned.

At this event, we will also be offering an approximately 4-5 km, ten-control "Fox-O" radio-direction-finding orienteering course at Fountainhead Central for those who want a new orienteering experience or a complement to your classic course. Click here for more details.


Volunteer SignUps: If you'd like to help out at this event click here. You can also contact the Event Director.

Any youth or large groups attending, although you will be pre-registering online, for their awareness please let the Event Director know of your plans and participant numbers.

Keep in mind:

  • QOC will continue to use pre-registration as the ONLY method of signing up for our meets. There will be NO day-of, on-site registration. Refunds are paid only in the case of event cancellation.
  • Masks are optional at all locations connected with the event. Please continue to minimize clustering at and around the check-in, e-punch, start and finish areas.
  • As mentioned above, beginner instruction has resumed to provide an overview of orienteering basics for newcomers to the sport or those who just want a refresher.
  • There is no water on the course. Participants are responsible for their own hydration. A very limited supply of bottled water for emergency use will be on hand with the Meet Director; but it is vital to stay well hydrated. Please come prepared!
  • There will be no snacks offered by QOC.
  • For this event the standard eight 15-minute check-in windows followed by two 45-minute windows may be subject to change to alleviate any potential parking shortage.
  • The size of start teams (groups of individuals orienteering together with one e-punch) on a course must be no more than four (4) individuals (juniors and adults combined).
  • The park rest rooms near the main parking lot will be open and there may be some port-a-johns on the edge of the parking lot as well.
  • Pets are permitted in the park but must be leashed at all times.

Location

Fountainhead Regional Park, Main parking area, Fairfax Station, VA (Classic)

RegistrationAdvance registration is required. Registration will open Monday, 17 April at 6pm and close on Saturday, 22 April at 12 noon.
Start TimesStart times will be by windows (to be defined for this event before registration opens).
ScheduleSunday, April 23
10:00 am - 3:00 pmClassic:
Volunteers
Event Director:Matthew Knight
Course Designer:Justin Green
Location Details

Classic
Fountainhead Regional Park
Main parking area
Fairfax Station, VA
Google Map

One route among several: Take I-95 south of the Beltway, exit at Lorton Road (exit 163), go west 2.1 miles (4th stop light) and at the end of the road take a right onto Route 123. Drive 1.3 miles to Hampton Road, then turn left just past the fire station and drive 3 miles to the park entrance on the left.
Google Maps Link
Apple/iPhone Link
Entry FeesIndividual Entries

Note: juniors = under 21

Club Member, adult Club Member, junior Non-Member, adult Non-Member, junior
$10 $5 $20 $5

Group Entries

Participants are welcome to orienteer together as a group (up to the maximum for that event; usually 4). Each member of a group is charged their individual rate as shown above, up to a group total of $30 (maximum), and each receives a map. A group receives one epunch. Individuals or groups desiring to compete on a second course after completing their first can do so for a reduced fee of $2/map subject to approval at the event by the Event Director.

Important Notes
  • If you wish to become a QOC member you should join online in advance via this webpage (which also explains the member benefits). Membership is completely optional.
  • Most of our events use an 'epunch' timing chip for electronic timing. Individuals or groups without their own epunch will be loaned one for that event. Loaned epunches that are lost incur a $40 replacement fee. Epunches (also known as SI-cards or finger sticks) can be purchased from online vendors as described here.
  • Former QOC members who have let their membership lapse pay non-member fees.
  • Compasses are available at no charge, but if lost incur a $15 replacement fee.
  • Please provide collateral (such as car keys) when borrowing a compass or epunch.
  • In addition to free on-site beginner instruction if needed, beginners are encouraged to watch relevant videos such as this one created by QOC's instructional guru David Onkst