22/01/2023 – League 1 – Welshbury – RE-SCHEDULED

The hill, whilst a small steep area, has a mix of very clean deciduous and pine woodland except the NNE corner which is a complex matrix of vegetation. Longer courses, Brown and Blue cross to Flaxley South which has been updated to accommodate the changes in vegetation since last used. These are mostly very positive. Flaxley has a similar mixture of woodland and is mostly white runnable with moderately deep valleys crossing East to West. Many of what were once tracks are now overgrown with a South American grass leaving no evidence of track. These are now shown as narrow rides.

A4, 1:7,500, 5m contour interval, for all courses, georeferenced to a LIDAR base and updated for this event, with control descriptions on the back of the map for Brown and Blue courses, on the front otherwise. The green course has a map exchange. Competitors must leave their part 1 maps in a collection box before picking up part 2. These can be collected from registration when courses close.

The start and finish are about 500m from assembly. The route to/from them follows the forest entry track to the public road, and then follows the road for about 180m to the closest point where you can enter the forest. The road is narrow, and whilst not normally busy, will be more so than usual with arriving and departing competitors. Please take great care along the road. Young children must be accompanied both ways on the road section.

Course details subject to final controlling.

Please note the following; Yellow course. Due to the absence of paths and tracks the Yellow course includes a taped route towards the end of the course. Children should be advised to follow the tapes from control 7 to the final control.

Brown and Blue Courses cross the access road at a bend on a narrow but fairly fast lane, this being the only point to cross to Flaxley. This will be marshalled and the crossing timed out by 1 minute. You must STOP and await the go ahead from the marshal.

The Green course has a map exchange at Control 8. Drop your map in the discards box and pick up a part 2 map. You can collect your part 1 map once courses close.

We will use SI Timing, in contact and touch free modes. All runners must however punch the Start and Finish controls.

In order to minimise demands on scarce volunteer resources we operate a 90 minute start window, and we recognise that this can be a challenge for parents seeking split starts. We are happy to accommodate split starts provided:

• You let us know in advance that you need a split start. Do this by emailing the organiser, address in the introduction above
• You come early; the start team will normally be ready to allow very early starts sometime between 10:00 and the published 10:30 start time, so aim to be there soon after 10:00. We do not offer starts later than the published end of the start window.
• The shorter course runner goes first. We will not turn you away if you can't manage this, but it gives you both a better chance of beating the course closure time.

Owing to the short day we will also start taking in controls as soon as courses close, so again, if you feel you may be out some time, come early.

Starts: 10:30 - 12:00
Courses close: 13:30, meaning that you must report to download before 13:45, or risk disqualification.

SI dibber hire: Standard dibber £1 Adults, Juniors free

Touch Free dibber: £2 Adults, £1 Juniors

Enter via Fabian4.co.uk by midnight on Thursday 19th January.

Entry on the day is possible only while maps last, but note the premium price to discourage this. We should by then be able to accept credit/debit card payments, but this is not guaranteed so bring cash just in case.

If you have previously entered, your entry is carried forward to the re-scheduled event. If you are unable to make the revised date, and need to cancel, you can do so by referring to the email sent this morning - 17 January - by Fabian4, and following the instructions therein on how to claim a refund of your entry fee. You must do this before the revised closing date, which is midnight on Thursday 19th January. Thereafter you will be assumed to be coming to the event.

As the Government has removed all restrictions on events and activities, COVID related refunds are no longer available. The standard Fabian4 terms and conditions offer an automatic refund up to 2 months before the event date, and we do not normally vary this specification. That means that in most cases no refunds are possible, as we do not publish details until less than 2 months before the date of the event.

However, for all except large events we hold entries open until only a day or so before the event, so you can delay entry if unsure whether you can run, until very close to event day.

Dogs are allowed at Assembly and along the parking track, under strict control. Dogs are also allowed on courses, but Brown and Blue courses cross a road, and a private field by means of a public right of way. Dogs must be on leads for this section, both ways.

The NGOC cafe will be present.

Orienteering is an adventure sport. All runners take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety.

There is a road crossing on Brown and Blue courses, used both ways. The crossing is timed out (1 minute) and you must obay the crossing marshal's instructions.

The Yellow course is a difficult TD2 standard. Runners should be briefed carefully, and the youngest, at least, should be accompanied.

In parts of the the NNE area of Welshbury hill there is loose single strand non-barbed fencing wire on the ground, not easy to see, too extensive to hazard mark, and too difficult to lift where found. It constitutes a trip hazard, though not one we feel precludes use of the area; it's not really much different from boar dug roots and brambles, but it can be difficult to spot.

There has been very recent forest clearance along the approach road to the event, with the timber stacked by the forestry entry point. The log stacks are strictly out of bounds. In addition, the entry track is now much muddier than it was, though still firm underneath. Take care driving up the access track, but do not cause a tailback onto the approach road, which is narrow and 'blind' for much of its length.

The route to/from the start/finish involves walking along the minor approach road, and forest access track, for about 400m. You must take particular care on this stretch, and must accompany young children
both ways.

A risk assessment has been completed, and a copy will be held at Enquiries and Download in case competitors wish to consult it before their run.

A first aid kit and trained first aiders will be available at Enquiries and Download.

Living with COVID

As from 24 February:

• You are not legally required to self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19. You should, however, stay at home if you can and avoid contact with other people.
• You do not have to take daily tests, nor are you legally required to self-isolate following contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Nevertheless, although all legal restrictions have ceased, you should NOT attend if you are Covid positive, or suspect you are, and everyone attending should continue taking sensible precautions, such as avoiding close contact, particularly around the Start, Finish, and Assembly.