Updated:

28/01/2023 – WNL 2022-23 – Selsley Common

28/01/2023 – WNL 2022-23 – Selsley Common
Updated:
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28/01/2023 - WNL 2022-23 - Selsley Common

The Western Night League is a series of 60-minute score events, taking place after dark in the winter - headtorches required!  Each control in the forest is worth a given number of points: score as many points as you can by visiting controls, and get back within the time limit to avoid late penalties.

Our second WNL event in the 2022-23 League takes place on Selsley Common, a small but interesting area on top of the Cotswolds which we mapped a couple of years ago for a 2x2 relay, and now visit again for this night race.

Enter OnlineEnter on Fabian4.co.uk by midnight on Wednesday 25th January. Please try not to leave it to the last minute to enter.

Officials

Organiser/Planner: Doug Wilson. Queries? email Doug.

Directions and Parking

Parking is in the public car parks along the road through the Common. The nearest to the event is at
What 3 Words:  ///mugs.important.confident
Grid Reference: -  SO828026

Approach from Stroud or Dursley by the B4066. There is ample parking on the edge of the Common. If the indicated parking area is full then use other spaces close by.

Click on the Parking icon on the map below, and then the Direction icon icon to get directions to the course.

The Area

A compact area of runnable grassland with some steep areas on the Cotswold Escarpment. There are great views across the Severn Vale towards Wales and the Forest of Dean even at night. The area has a mixture of natural and manmade features as a result of historic quarrying activity. A network of grass and dirt paths criss-crosses the area.

The Map

The map is 1:4000 scales with 5m contours. Originally produced by Tom Cochrane in 2020 and only used once previously. Control descriptions will not be on the map, due to lack of space, but will be available loose at registration.

Start and Finish

Registration, Start and Finish are all close to the parking area. Starts will be from 17:30 to 18:00. Course closes at 19:15.

Courses

Standard WNL 60 minute score course with 30 controls and 600 points available.

Due to the compact nature of the area the format is odds and evens. At the start choose if you plan to visit either odd or even numbered controls. When you decide to, swap to the other number set. You can only swap from odds to evens or vice versa once.

If all controls are visited within the time an extra 1 point per 6 seconds will be awarded. Penalty of 1 point for every 6 seconds late. 8 controls form a yellow course which sticks to paths and is suitable for newcomers to night orienteering.

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

Timing and Fees

Starts: As soon as it's dark enough, so probably 17:30 - 18:00 or thereabouts
Courses close: 19:15, meaning that you must report to download before 19:30, or risk disqualification.

Fees Pre-entry Entry on the Day Non-member Supplement
Adults £7 £10 £2
Juniors £3 £4 £1
Family (2 adults + their children) £16 £20 As above for any non-members

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

Touch Free dibber: £2 Adults, £1 Juniors

Pre-entry is strongly preferred. Enter on Fabian4.co.uk by midnight on Wednesday 25th January..

Entry on the day is available only while maps last, but note the premium price to discourage this. EOD payment by cash only.

Refunds

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

Dogs are permitted on the courses, but must be ‘under control’.

Facilities

the pub of the night will be confirmed shortly

Safety

As with all Western Night League events it is compulsory to carry a backup light and a whistle. It is advisable to carry a mobile phone too.

There are one or two large crags in the event area. They are not hazard taped but they are marked on the map. Runners should be aware of them.

The safety bearing is South East, heading to the road which borders the Common and then heading back towards the parking area.

The area is very exposed and competitors may be required to wear or carry waterproofs if the weather is particularly poor.

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

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 Download.

Living with COVID

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.