13/05/2023 – League 5 – Gloucester City Sprint | North Gloucestershire Orienteering Club

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13/05/2023 - League 5 - Gloucester City Sprint

It's possible we may have a permissions problem for this event, so please hold off entering, if you have not already done so, until after the weekend, by which time we should have a better idea whether we can go ahead the following weekend or not.

We return to central Gloucester for our first visit for some years, this time for a two-leg sprint race around the heart of the city and the neighbouring docks. As it is an NGOC league event there will be the usual 6 classes - Brown to Yellow - with each course consisting of two legs, to be run in any order and with whatever interval between them that you choose. So you can have a break between them, for as long as you wish subject to completing both before courses close, or can run them consecutively with just enough time between to download the first and get into the queue for the second. Your overall time will be the aggregate time for both legs.

Please note the following information regarding Juniors:

Only yellow and orange courses are suitable for those under 16 on the day of the event. These courses use pedestrianised areas around the docks and also extend into pedestrianised city centre streets and the Cathedral Close. They cross a 'shared space' between docks and city centre at a marshalled crossing.
The Yellow course is not constrained by any natural boundaries, so is not suitable for junior beginners unless accompanied. It is possible that they could stray from traffic-calmed areas. Parents should ensure that only experienced and competent juniors are allowed to run alone. If there is any doubt about the ability of a Junior to complete their course reliably they should be shadowed (after the parent's runs).
Unaccompanied juniors should run both legs, if possible, within the first hour of the start window. If you are shadowing a junior this rule does not apply, and you should run your competitive legs first.

Entries are open on Fabian4.co.uk, and will remain so until midnight on Wednesday 10th May. Please try not to leave it to the last minute to enter.

Officials

Organiser/Planner: Samuel Taunton Queries? email Samuel

If travelling by public transport, from the station it takes about 15 minutes to walk via the Cross, Southgate Street and the shared space to the docks. The bus station is on that route, so takes about the same time.

You can park in any of the city centre car parks, but bear in mind that all are pay and display car parks, so be prepared to pay. For details on such things as payment methods available, height restrictions, and parking suitable for motorhomes, visit Gloucester City Car Parks. The map alongside these notes shows the car parks nearest to the assembly.

The nearest car park - the Docks car park - is usually the busiest, and often full, but Ladybellegate is worth trying. There is also a multi-storey car park in Gloucester Quays shopping centre and quite a bit of on street parking, but be aware that parking charges always apply everywhere.

The Council parking website instructs campervans to park in Westgate car park and pay for two slots. Westgate and Ladybellegate have height restrictions removed during daylight hours. Otherwise there is a general height restriction in city centre car parks of about 2m.

Once parked, you need to prepare to run, and then make your way to the Northern Warehouse at the most northerly end of the docks. Assembly start and finish are behind this warehouse - now Council and Regus Offices - or in front of it if approaching from the docks. There is little space there for any facilities other than a registration/download tent, but we will hold small bags for people wishing to bring warm clothing to wear between courses.

Assembly, Start and Finish are at:
What 3 words: ///quit.tracks.belong
GL1 2FF
Grid Ref: SO827183

NGOC have recently set up a Car Sharing WhatsApp group, called NGOC Ride Share, so if you need, or can offer, a lift, please sign up to the group and we can try and cut down our travel footprint. Request an invitation to join by emailing equipment@ngoc.org.uk, or texting Pat Macleod, if you have his mobile number.

Typical part pedestrianised and partly traffic free city centre, plus Gloucester docks, and some busier through routes. The Yellow course will largely avoid trafficked areas, but there is a manned crossing between the docks area and the pedestrianised city centre. There is extensive deep water frontage in the docks, typically with no restraining rail or fencing, and juniors must be advised not to run close to the water's edges. There are bridges in the docks area which open on demand to allow waterborne traffic to pass. All runners must obey the traffic lights controlling these bridges, and must not attempt to cross if the lights are flashing to indicate imminent closure to pedestrian traffic.

Each course consists of 2 legs, named Parts 1 and 2, to be run in either order, with as long a gap between legs as you wish, subject to finishing your second leg by course close time. We will use a standard turn up, queue and go start procedure; you will queue in the start lane, one of seven, labelled for your course and leg/part. In the tables that follow, the first figure is for part 1 of your course, and the second for part 2. Note that climb figures are very largely notional - there is almost no noticeable climb throughout the event area, other than steps etc in some places!

Please read the instructions in the welcome section at the top of the page on junior courses.

Class/Course	lengh(Km)	Climb(m)	Controls	Suitable for
Brown	3.8/3.6Km	10/10m	21/19	Experienced Orienteers
Blue	2.5/3.6Km	10/10m	15/19	Experienced Orienteers
Green	2.5/3.2Km	10/10m	15/18	Experienced Orienteers
Short Green	1.8/3.2Km	10/10m	13/18	Experienced Orienteers
Orange	1.8/1.8Km	10/10m	13/13	Adult beginners and improving children
Yellow	1.1/1.8Km	10/10m	10/13	Children

Course details subject to final controlling.

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 2 hour start window for this event, 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 10:30 and the published 11:00 start time, so aim to be there soon after 10:30. 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.

Entry Details

You should enter the class/course appropriate to your involvement in the NGOC league, if relevant, or whichever course you choose otherwise.

Starts: 11:00 - 13:00
Courses close: 14:30, meaning that you must report to download before 14:45, 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

Enter via Fabian4.co.uk by midnight on Wednesday 10th May.

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.

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 Ian Prowse, Volunteer Coordinator, to let us know if you can help, and ask for the helper discount code that you can apply when entering. You don't have to be a NGOC member to help, but you do need to be a BOF 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.

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

Please read the instructions in the welcome at the top of the page regarding junior participation

There is extensive deep water in the docks area which rarely has any barriers to prevent people falling in. All runners must take great care when running through the docks to keep well away from the water's edge.

Although largely pedestrianised, there are car parks in the docks area, and some through routes for occasional traffic to access the businesses in the area. Once again all runners must take care to be aware of and to avoid any such traffic.

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 2022:

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.

13/05/2023 – League 5 – Gloucester City Sprint