01/01/2025 – New Year’s Day Score – Blakeney Hill

Traditional Forest of Dean mixed woodland, but dominated by lovely runnable and open beech and oak woods. Likely to be wet and muddy underfoot, and recent thinning has left some areas somewhat brashed.

We are grateful to Forestry England for giving us permission to run in this area.

A4, 1:10,000, with 5m contours, part of the much larger and regularly updated Mallards Pike map.

The Start and Finish are close to Assembly, and the car park.

This is a standard 60 minute Score race, with a near-mass start. You will dib the start box, be issued with a map, and set off, and we will process people through this sequence as fast as we can.

There are 30 controls and these will have varying points value – either 10, 20 or 30. The points are shown on the map and in the control descriptions, with higher points for higher numbered controls. The penalty for late return is 10 points per minute or part minute.

The course includes a number of easy controls, of Yellow standard, for young runners and those looking for an easy morning perhaps after a heavy New Year's Eve.

We will use SI Timing, in punching and touch free modes. The Start and Finish must however be punched.

There will be a mass start at 11:00, consistent with a punching start and map issue. Allow plenty of time to get to Assembly/Start and do not be late.

Fees

Note that for 2025 we have increased the senior entry fee by £1, whilst maintaining previous prices for all others.

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

Entries are now open on Fabian4.co.uk: enter by midnight on Monday 30th December.

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.

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 That means that in most cases no refunds are possible, as we do not publish details until less than 2 months before the date of the event.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.

Allowed, under control.

The NGOC cafe will be present.

The picnic site toilets are closed during the winter, but we may provide a toilet, subject to confirmation.

• Orienteering is an adventure sport. All runners take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety.
• The ground is likely to be wet and slippery, and care should be taken on steeper slopes. It is also unwise to step on fallen branches and logs on slopes, as they are usually extremely slippery.
• A risk assessment will be carried out
• First aid support will be available at Assembly