Jug Bay

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly versionPDF versionPDF versionShareThis

June 1
Sunday

Jug Bay The Chase, aka the longest continually running orienteering race in the USA, + Annual Meeting + Potluck Picnic + lots more, as QOC's 2013-2014 Sept - June season comes to a close! Newcomers are welcome - we'll have plenty of challenges, suited for all levels from beginner to advanced.

As is the tradition of this event, there will be a common mass start for all courses at 12:01 PM. Those missing The Chase mass start may still go out but must return by 3:00 PM. Courses are made up of loops; all of the courses are setup for running 2 to 3 loops, except for the White course which only runs one. An additional twist, by popular demand, is the inclusion of a semi-silly obstacle at the end of each course loop. Course stats are posted below.

Advance online pre-registration (FREE for all members; discounted for others) is now closed open via this link. Register before Friday May 30 at midnight. If you register at the meet, you'll pay the regular event fee. Want to see the list of folks registered? Click here.

So here's how the event will run, at least in theory:

  • Everyone needs to be registered well in advance.
  • Each color course includes different loops. NEW INFO! All of the loops are on just one piece of paper, front and back (half legal size, and half letter size). This means there will not be any map exchanges. Everyone will just need to get the right course color map at the start, and then hold onto it through the race.
  • Everyone on a given course does their loops in the same order.
  • Maps will be handed out at the starting line; don't look at the side with the squiggly brown lines until the starters gun goes off.
  • You will need to have a cup filled with your "race beverage" of choice in hand; we'll have water, soda, and beer (adults only).
  • When the race starts, empty your cup, throw it with style to the ground, turn over and look at your map (that means turn the map over, not, turn your body over), and figure out where to go. Or, just follow someone and hope for the best. Every orienteer does that now and then, so why not here and now?
  • In contrast to most orienteering races, following someone is OK in this race.
  • After finding your controls/checkpoints in the correct order, you'll wind up back at the start area. New Twist! You'll then need to pass through an obstacle while on the clock. These obstacles are ones that competitors of all ages should be able to complete. Competitors will need to complete a single different obstacle at the end of each loop. Anyone skipping an obstacle will be assessed a 3 minute penalty and may just be roundly booed.
  • After that, quaff another cup of your beverage of choice before heading out with your next map.
  • The finish of each loop is just a short way away from the start triangle of the next loop, but all loops start and finish in the same place. The start is just up the hill from the finish. Repeat this process until you’ve completed all your required loops.
  • Time stops when you've quaffed the last drop from your beverage of choice after your last run in to the start/finish area.

Loop Details:
A: 3.4km, 40m climb, 7 controls.
B: 2.9km, 40m climb, 7 controls.
C: 2.6km, 60m climb, 5 controls.
D: 1.5km, 15m climb, 7 controls.
E: 1.7km, 15m climb, 9 controls.
F: 2.1km, 15m climb, 9 controls.

Which courses have which loops?
White: F
Yellow: D + E
Orange: C + F
Brown: B + D
Green: B + D + E
Red: A + D + F
Blue: A + B + E

Silly Course Sorry, but dogs are not allowed at Jug Bay, for their sake and the sake of numerous traps and food caches used in ongoing studies by the Univ. of MD and the Smithsonian.

A few more event details may be posted later, but feel free to use our Contact Us form with questions in the meantime. But even if we knew, we won't spill the beans and tell you what those obstacles are. Take that, wanna-be Olympic sport obstacle racing!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

10:30 am Registration opens
11:30 am Registration closes
11:30 am Annual Meeting
12:01 Mass Start for ‘The Chase’
Beverages for your selection: Beer, Soda, or Water

Post Chase: Annual PICNIC and AWARDS CEREMONY

Recognition of Course Setters/Meet Directors
Volunteer of the Year Award

QOC will provide beverages, desserts and paper goods. People should bring picnic foods to share at this potluck. Grills will be available and BBQing is encouraged! Please bring water shoes if you want to go into the water because of broken glass on the river bottom. And bring your family, chairs to sit on, sun block and bug spray. Feel free to bring kayaks or canoes if you would like to enjoy the waters of Jug Bay.

Other notes:

  • Yes, this event is FREE for pre-registered QOC members! Non-members get the member discount if they pre-register (and pay online). Anyone who pays and/or registers at the event pays full price.
  • We've been asked to repeat this, so here goes: No pets are allowed in the park. No exceptions.
  • Convenient parking is a bit limited so carpooling is encouraged (and in some cases, so are designated drivers!)
  • Please don't wait until the last moment to show up since everyone needs to be registered in advance of the mass start.

Location

Jug Bay, Caretaker's House Area, Bristol, MD (It's a classic)

RegistrationOnline pre-registration is now closed open - click here - and it's free for members and discounted for all others. Pre-registration will close Friday May 30 at midnight. You can register at the event but will pay regular entry fee prices. Pre-registered participants are listed here.
Start TimesSpecial start time(s) will be announced for this event.
ScheduleSunday, June 1
11:00 am - 3:00 pmIt's a classic:
Volunteers
Event Director:Florence Tan
Course Designer:Nadim Ahmed
Beverage Pourer:Jody Landers
Beverage Pourer:John Landers
Location Details

It's a classic
Jug Bay
Caretaker's House Area
Bristol, MD
Google Map

From the MD. Rt. 4 Capital Beltway exit, head south/east on Rt. 4 for 8 miles (where you cross over U.S. Rt. 301), then 3 more miles south (into Anne Arundel County) on Rt. 4 to the "Plummer Lane" exit. Ignore all "Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary" signs and continue on Plummer Lane (which becomes Pindell Rd.) for 2.0 miles, making a hard right turn at 5 mailboxes. Take the paved "River Farm" road for a mile though the O' map terrain; after the road become dirt, look for parking in the field a bit before the house by Jug Bay.
Google Maps Link
Apple/iPhone Link
Course DetailsIt's a classic
Course NameLength (km)Climb (m)No. Controls
White 2.2159
Yellow 3.33516
Orange 4.88014
Brown 4.57014
Green 6.28523
Red 7.18023
Blue 8.111023
Course NotesIt's a classic

  • Loops A, B, and C will be 1:10,000 maps.
  • Loops D, E, and F will be 1:5,000 maps.
  • The Yellow course goes off trail and follows a distinct ditch. This is in accordance with official OUSA Yellow course guidelines that encourage off trail navigation, but a little more difficult than some Yellow course runners may be used to doing. Those not ready for it might be better off sticking to the White course.
  • Vegetation mapping was redone in 2012 and for the most part is still accurate. Many areas mapped green have opened up over the years and are not as slow to pass through as one might expect. There are not a lot of thorns but there are some.
  • There are some private property/out of bounds areas at the edges of the map in both the NW and the SE.
  • Having a good bearing will benefit competitors.
  • The mosquitoes are out but running and use of repellent can keep them off of you.
  • Mapped water levels vary--especially for the vernal pools. Not all of the places where vernal pools form are mapped.
  • Some linear marshes are mapped beyond where the current wetness ends.
  • Some trails mapped as distinct have become intermittent.
  • Park management has removed some mapped man made objects. One of these is at a control site and only small remnants of the object are still there. However the control is in the correct location and the flag is visible.
  • Shorelines can change with tidal flow. The flag for one control near the shore has been moved inland because the object is sometimes in the water.

Entry FeesThis event is free to all members who pre-register and discounted for all others who pre-register. The fees shown below are those applicable to those registering and paying at the event - but why not save yourself and the meet volunteers time by signing up online now?

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

Participants are welcome to compete together as a single team entry. 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. Each extra team map beyond the first is an additional $2. Individuals or teams desiring to compete on a second course can do so for a reduced fee of $2/map.

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.
  • Free beginner instruction is always available - just ask at the registration table.