11/09/2022 – League 9 – Parkend

Mixed woodland, with a good path network. There is minor (dead end) road within the area but only Green, Blue and Brown courses are likely to cross this. Some area have extensive undergrowth and courses have been planned to avoid the worst of the bracken and bramble. Unofficial bike trails have proliferated since lockdown and not all may be shown.

The Forestry Commission have recently been doing extensive forestry work in the north-west area of the map and what was a nice woodland six months ago is rather more untidy now. This part of the competition area has not been completely remapped due to the fact that the forestry work is ongoing, and it is only visited by Blue and Brown. The courses have been planned to use features that are expected to remain clearly visible. A lot of oak has been thinned and left at the edge of fire trails where it is now covered with brambles, therefore in some places access from tracks to forest is more difficult than usual.

Bio-Security

Please take normal bio-security measures before and after you visit to Parkend; Clean your shoes well before coming, and again before you leave the area.

Scale 1:10,000, 5m contours. Based on the previous NGOC 2004 map, updated variously since, and in 2022 for this event by Paul Taunton.

The Start is about 300m beyond Assembly and the route to it along the road will be marked with tape. Juniors should be accompanied to the start.

The Finish is adjacent to the football pitch next to the Assembly area. Follow tape back to Assembly. Juniors may return from the Finish to Download unaccompanied, but must be accompanied on the route back to the car park.

It is a turn up and go queueing start. There will be three or five start lanes, depending on entry numbers, with Yellow runners picking up their maps and starting when ready, independently of the start procedure. You can move into the first start box, where Clear and Check are located, if there is no one waiting for your lane before you. In that event, please queue appropriately for your start lane.

Touch Free punching is enabled, but all runners must punch both Start and Finish.

All courses are subject to final controlling.

There will be a string course, close to the Football Clubhouse. Families with children under 2 can park on the grass by the clubhouse, rather than at the school.

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

Starts: 11:00 - 12:30
Courses close: 14:00, meaning that you must report to download before 14:15, or risk disqualification.

If you need a split start, and are concerned that you wont be able to manage this within the 90 minute start window, please email the organiser at the address given above to request an early start for your first runner. Split starts must be based on early arrival and first run, and not a late second run.

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

Touch Free dibber: £2 Adults, £1 Juniors

Entries close at midnight on Thursday 8th September. Pre-entry is strongly preferred.

Entry on the day is available 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.

A helper discount is available for those offering to help on the day. These events don't happen without volunteers willing to help out on the day, so if you are able to do so, before signing up to enter, email our Volunteer Coordinator to let Kevin know you can help, and ask for the helper discount code that you can apply when entering. You don't have to be an NGOC member to help, but you do need to be a BO member to be covered insurance wise.

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 in the area as long as they are under control and owners tidy after them.

Toilets are available in the Football Club.

The club will be offering tea/coffee/soft drinks and filled rolls etc, so please support them. You can bring a bag from the car park and leave it in the clubhouse, to save you going back to the car post run to change etc. Please note that studs are not allowed in the clubhouse, so bring alternative footwear, or go barefoot inside.

The local residents park their cars between the Start/Finish and Assembly. The route to the start is along a quiet road which is not marshalled, so parents please keep an eye on your children. Please be aware of parked and moving cars.

There is a minor (dead end) road within the competition area with occasional slow-speed traffic. This is likely to be used for a short distance by runners on the Brown and Blue courses, and perhaps also by runners on the Green course, dependent upon their route choice. Parents should warn their children running these courses that there may be vehicles on the tarmac road within the competition area. Signs will be erected to warn drivers

A control at the bottom of a large 5m crag is visited by several courses. There will be safety tape at the top of the crag to make you aware of the drop if you approach from above. It is safest to go round.

The area is heavily used by walkers and mountain bikers; please be mindful of other users, and take particular care when crossing or running on what appear to be bike trails.

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 Enquiries and Download.

Living with COVID

As from 24 February:

• You are not be 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.