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So what is this? Basically, this set of courses is technically known as a motala. Named after the city of Motala, Sweden, a motala consists of several short orienteering course loops all starting and finishing at one point. Think of it as a one-person relay, where each relay leg is actually one (short - like, 1 km) orienteering course and you run 4 or 5 legs. We're calling this a Cowboy Relay for two reasons: Morven Park is well known as an equestrian center (and you just might wind up leaping off some horse jumps), and, it's a tip of the Stetson to orienteer Mikell Platt, who uses the term annually for one of his fine Laramie Daze events.
This event offers two three main distance options., and a third option if enough people beg for it. The three distances are:
- The Cowpoke Relay (by popular demand!): 4 loops totaling 4.3km
- The Shawnee Trail Relay: 5 loops totaling 6.5km, with 115m of climb and 20 controls
- The Chisholm Trail Relay: 5 loops totaling 8.8km, with 155m of climb and 28 controls
Update 1Nov: This course has now been added - see the Cowpoke, above. Want to beg for a shorter relay? If we get enough folks requesting in advance (i.e. before Friday) a shorter relay, we'll let them run just the 4 loops (totaling 4.3km), but we'll need to know this in advance so we can set up the epunch software correctly. Remember, this is pretty flat terrain, and you're encouraged to run either the Shawnee or Chisholm (or a regular/classic course, white through green), so 4.3km might be just too darn short to be worth your while, no?
Pre-Register Now! To minimize confusion as the High Noon mass start time approaches, we are only guaranteeing map packets (i.e. the stack of 5 maps, one per loop) to those who pre-register. No payment is required. All you need to do is to email Valerie Meyer no later than Saturday at 10pm, saying which Cowboy Relay (Cowpoke, Shawnee or Chisholm) you want to do and your name, plus (1) if you are a current QOC member, and (2) if you will need to borrow an epunch or a compass. That's it!
For additional information about Morven Park, please see the event page describing the classic-courses event. And don't forget: set your clocks back one hour late Saturday night.
Questions? Just use our Contact Form!
| Location | Morven Park, Equestrian Parking Area, Leesburg, Virginia | ||||||||||||||||
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| Start Times | All relays start at exactly High Noon. Reminder - Set your clocks back one hour late Saturday night, or your High Noon won't match ours! | ||||||||||||||||
| Registration | Email Valerie Meyer telling her your name, which relay you will run (Shawnee or Chisholm), if you are a current QOC member, and if you'll need to borrow an epunch or compass. That will guarantee you a map packet, and you can pay at the event. If you have not emailed Valerie by Saturday 10pm, we can not guarantee you a map packet, but we will try to accommodate all walk-ups at the event. | ||||||||||||||||
| Schedule |
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| Location Details |
Morven Park, Equestrian Parking Area, Leesburg, Virginia
From the south via the Dulles VA-267 Toll Road, following VA 267 until it terminates, at which point turn onto the US 15 Leesburg Bypass in the direction of US 15 North; if you are coming via VA 7, turn right onto the US 15 Leesburg Bypass and follow it to US 15 North. 300 meters after merging onto US 15 North, turn left onto Tutt Lane, following QOC signage to the parking area.
NOTE: as of June 2021, White's Ferry has been closed.
From the north, follow US 15 South; look for signs for US 15 Bypass and Business 15; 300 m before the junction of US 15 with Business 15 and the US 15 Bypass, turn right onto Tutt Lane, following QOC signage to the parking area. |
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| Course Details |
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| Course Notes |
Overall, the courses are in open flat terrain with almost all of the climb located between the last control in any one loop and the Start/Finish.
The park consists of open fields separated by tree lines. Running is generally very fast and easy, climb is minimal and control locations may be a bit tricky, but not overly technical. Please respect any areas marked on the map as out of bounds. These generally tend to be fenced horse corrals. DO NOT CLIMB THE FENCES SURROUNDING THESE CORRALS, PLEASE TREAT THESE FENCES AS UNCROSSABLE AND DO NOT ENTER THE CORRALS. If a route is indicated that crosses these fences, it is intended as a route choice option to make the runner go around the fences using a route that they feel is the most efficient. There are numerous black X’s marked on the map (i.e. man-made objects), which are, in almost all cases, horse jumps or obstacles. Only the permanent ones are mapped. However, you, as a runner, will encounter other unmapped temporary jumps scattered throughout the park. The park changes the location of these other temporary jumps on a frequent basis and subsequently they are not mapped. You will have to just ignore their existence. The trails mapped through the green vegetation areas do exist and will offer route choice options. |
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| Entry Fees | Individual Entries
Note: juniors = under 21
Team or Group Entries Although we think most participants will run all legs, we will allow groups to run the relay as a team. Teams containing one or more nonmembers are charged the nonmember individual rate. Teams containing one or more adults are charged the adult individual rate. For teams to receive member or junior rates, all members of the team must be members or juniors, respectively. For this (relay) event, each team must use a single epunch - make sure to tell Valerie which one it will be! Important Notes
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Location
Start Times
All relays start at exactly High Noon. Reminder - Set your clocks back one hour late Saturday night, or your High Noon won't match ours!
Registration
Email Valerie Meyer telling her your name, which relay you will run (Shawnee or Chisholm), if you are a current QOC member, and if you'll need to borrow an epunch or compass. That will guarantee you a map packet, and you can pay at the event. If you have not emailed Valerie by Saturday 10pm, we can not guarantee you a map packet, but we will try to accommodate all walk-ups at the event.
Schedule
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Sunday, November 3
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Location Details
NOTE: as of June 2021, White's Ferry has been closed.
From the north, follow US 15 South; look for signs for US 15 Bypass and Business 15; 300 m before the junction of US 15 with Business 15 and the US 15 Bypass, turn right onto Tutt Lane, following QOC signage to the parking area.
Course Details
| Course Name | Length (km) | Climb (m) | No. Controls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Advanced | 4.3 | 90 | 14 |
| Medium Advanced | 6.5 | 115 | 20 |
| Long Advanced | 8.8 | 155 | 28 |
Course Notes
The park consists of open fields separated by tree lines. Running is generally very fast and easy, climb is minimal and control locations may be a bit tricky, but not overly technical. Please respect any areas marked on the map as out of bounds. These generally tend to be fenced horse corrals. DO NOT CLIMB THE FENCES SURROUNDING THESE CORRALS, PLEASE TREAT THESE FENCES AS UNCROSSABLE AND DO NOT ENTER THE CORRALS. If a route is indicated that crosses these fences, it is intended as a route choice option to make the runner go around the fences using a route that they feel is the most efficient. There are numerous black X’s marked on the map (i.e. man-made objects), which are, in almost all cases, horse jumps or obstacles. Only the permanent ones are mapped. However, you, as a runner, will encounter other unmapped temporary jumps scattered throughout the park. The park changes the location of these other temporary jumps on a frequent basis and subsequently they are not mapped. You will have to just ignore their existence. The trails mapped through the green vegetation areas do exist and will offer route choice options.
Entry Fees
Individual Entries
Note: juniors = under 21
| Club Member, adult | Club Member, junior | Non-Member, adult | Non-Member, junior | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epunch Owner | $5 | $5 | $10 | $5 |
| Epunch Borrower | $10 | $5 | $15 | $10 |
Team or Group Entries
Although we think most participants will run all legs, we will allow groups to run the relay as a team. Teams containing one or more nonmembers are charged the nonmember individual rate. Teams containing one or more adults are charged the adult individual rate. For teams to receive member or junior rates, all members of the team must be members or juniors, respectively. For this (relay) event, each team must use a single epunch - make sure to tell Valerie which one it will be!
Important Notes- At the event, we can only accept payment in cash or check; online, you may use a credit card or PayPal account.
- You may become a member at the event or by joining online 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 pay a higher entry fee (see above), which includes the loan of an epunch for that event. Loaned epunches that are lost incur a $40 replacement fee. Epunches (also known as SI-cards or finger sticks) are usually available for sale at each event as described here.
- Compasses are available at no charge, but if lost incur a $15 replacement fee.
- Please provide collateral (driver's license or car keys) when borrowing a compass or epunch.
- For additional safety, whistles are available for sale at $1/each.
