Pre Event Info

Location

Nearest town: Hawkshead

• Grid Ref: SD342964
• Postcode: LA22 OQQ
• Latitude: 54.35867
• Longitude: -3.01385
• Google Map
• Streetmap (OS 50k)
• Bing Map (OS 50k)
• OpenStreetMap

Directions / Parking

The event will be signed from Hawkshead and from the Grizedale Forest Visitor Centre. Look out for a restricted-view right turn 300m south of Hawkshead.

Parking is on forest roads, east of the public road at GR SD 342 964. Nearest Post Code LA22 0QQ, approximately 2km south of Hawkshead and 2km north of the Grizedale Forest Visitor Centre.

The Car Park Fee  will be £1.50

Registration & Start Times

Registration will be between 9.30am and 12 noon in the car parking area, 250m from the public road.

Runners using their own SI cards should bring them to registration to streamline the registration process and the information accuracy for the results.

Start times will be from 10.30 - 12.30, with a 15 minutes (about 1km) walk to the start from Registration and Assembly and back from the finish.

The route to the start and on return from the finish involves a 150m walk along the edge of and a crossing of the main road through Grizedale Forest. Please walk in single file along the east side of the road (the same side as the parking) and cross opposite the entrance into the competition area. 

Start and Finish will be close together - a clothing dump will be available.

All runners MUST punch (physical punch) the Safety control positioned after the finish - this is our primary way to confirm whether a runner has finished. 

Courses will close at 14:30.  If you cannot complete your course by this time please retire as the nature of the area requires swift action in the event of a missing competitor and we will not delay contacting the Mountain Rescue. If you become badly lost, head east to join a forest road and follow to the public road.

PLEASE DOWNLOAD IMMEDIATELY AFTER FINISHING EVEN IF YOU RETIRE SO THAT WE CAN BE SURE ALL RUNNERS ARE BACK.

Course Information

The usual Galoppen courses will be provided:

Courses                       Length             Climb              Controls          Map Scale

• Brown                          7.2 km             280m               21                    1:10,000         
• Blue                             5.0 km             220m               14                    1:10,000         
• Green                          3.9 km             130m               11                    1:10,000         
• Short Green                3.2 km             120m               10                    1:7,500           
• Very Short Green        2.6 km             110m               11                    1:7,500           
• Light Green                 2.5 km             105m               11                    1:7,500
• Orange                        2.7 km               90m                 9                    1:7,500           
• Yellow                         2.1 km               50m                 9                    1:7,500           
• White                          1.1 km                40m                 6                    1:7,500           

Sorry, but there will not be a String Course this time.

The map was surveyed and drawn by Martin Bagness in 2010. Updated by Martin in 2014 and 2017.

All maps will be laser printed on waterproof, but not tear proof, A4 paper.  There will be no legend on the maps - loose copies of the legend may be available at registration if required.

Control Descriptions will be on the front of the map for all courses. They will be in written format for White and Yellow courses, but pictorial for all other courses. Loose control descriptions will be issued at registration.

Explanation of colour courses

• White are very easy with all controls on paths. They are mainly used by 6-10 year olds and family groups.
• Yellow use simple linear features like paths, walls and streams. They are mainly used by under 12’s and family groups.
• Orange progress to basic use of the compass and route choice. They are ideal for novice adults or experienced youngsters.
• Light Green are ideal for improvers as the navigational difficulty begins to increase and uses simple contours and point features.
• Green are used mostly by experienced under 18’s and adults wanting a short but challenging course with a very hard navigational difficulty.
• Blue are a longer, more physically demanding course in comparison to the green. The distances are more varied between controls and the course attracts experienced orienteers.
• Brown & Black are very physically demanding and have a very hard navigational difficulty. They are for experienced orienteers only.
• Score means visiting as many controls as possible in any order in a specific time, like 45mins.

Entry Details

Entry on the day only

Seniors - £6 with an additional £2 for non-BOF members
Junior & Students - £2

SI card (not SIACs) hire - £1, note that there will be a £30 charge for lost SI cards.

Terrain Description

Grizedale North is a mixture of natural deciduous forest and coniferous plantation. It is very physical. Generally speaking, the “Undergrowth” symbol on the map understates the nature of the terrain. The close hatched areas should be avoided. They comprise areas of windblown trees or similar. You will find the wider hatched areas slow going, but they can be crossed. Because of the nature of the terrain, courses have been planned shorter than usual, although it is expected that winners’ times will be close to recommended times.

You are advised not to use the green runnability symbol, as mapped, for detailed navigational purposes.

There is one “Uncrossable boundary” which should only be crossed at marked crossing points, crossing points will be taped. Please refer to the map extract at the top RH corner of the event website information.

There are a number of marshes, some of which are quite deep. So those with short legs should be particularly careful. But seriously, do not take a risk if the marsh seems to be getting uncomfortably deep. Retreat and go round. The edges of two marshes, mapped as uncrossable, will be marked with black and yellow striped tape. These tapes must not be crossed.

Facilities

There will only be toilets at Registration, there will be no toilets at the start.

Safety

All competitors take part in this event at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety.  Please dress suitably for the weather conditions.  If cagoules are compulsory, a sign will be displayed at registration and on the way to the start.  Whistles must be carried, there will be a check on the way to the start and competitors will be turned back without them..

Ticks

Ticks are prevalent in the area at present. Please carefully inspect your bodies for presence of ticks after finishing. If you suspect you have been bitten by a tick, look out for red rings on the skin surrounding the bite, which may appear up to 30 days later. For further advice, visit https://beta.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/

Other Forest Users

Grizedale Forest is a popular for recreation with the general public. Expect to encounter walkers, runners and cyclists on forest roads and other public rights of way within the forest. Please take special care on a number of dedicated mountain bike trails. There are three specific mountain bike trails in the competition area, marked using the footpath symbol but shown in red rather than black. These trails are also designated by the “Forbidden Route” symbol. See map extract in the top RH corner on this web page. Competitors should not run along these trails, although there is one point where orienteers may cross a wall using the mountain bike crossing point. (see map extract)  Although you cannot run on these trails, competitors on several courses will have to cross them. Please cross with care and as quickly as possible.

Clothing        

Full leg and torso cover is compulsory. Gaiters or similar leg protection would be prudent.

Vendors and catering

Compass Point will be attending and there will be NWJS refreshments.

Dogs allowed?

In the car parking area only - under close control.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Roger Smith (LOC)

Controller: John Nash (LOC)

Organiser: Tony Richardson (LOC) 01539 722552 before 9PM please

Important Information

Safety and Risk: A comprehensive risk assessment will have been carried out by the organiser.

Runners MUST download even if they retire so we can be sure everyone is back and that we do not need to start a search and rescue.

Participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety during the event.

Help and Information: Anyone needing any advice about Orienteering should talk to the Organiser.

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