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Saturday 8/03/2025 – WNL 2024-25 – Crickley Hill

Saturday 8/03/2025 – WNL 2024-25 – Crickley Hill
Updated:
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8/03/2025 - WNL 2024-25 - Crickley Hill

The final event of the Western Night League is once again hosted by NGOC. This year, we head to the compact area of Crickley Hill Country Park for a fast and furious finale. Crickley Hill is a varied area on the Cotswolds escarpment overlooking Gloucester. There are great views during the day time but unfortunately you won't see much as it will be dark!

The Western Night League is a series of 60-minute score events in the local area, taking place after dark in the winter - headtorches required! Each control 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. There will be an easier loop of controls suitable for beginners.

Enter on Fabian4.co.uk by midnight on Thursday 6th March.
Enter Online

Officials

  • Organiser/Planner: Robert Finch

Queries? email Robert.

Directions and Parking

Parking is on hard standing at the Crickley Hill Country Park. Enter the Country Park from near the Old Air Balloon roundabout and precede up the road to the main parking area.

Parking charges will apply during the evening. There are car parking machines which you can pay on exit. There are cameras for number plate recognition. Parking is £2 per car. More info on the bottom of this webpage: Crickley Hill | Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust

Grid Ref: SO929162
What 3 words: impresses.fixed.angle

There are extensive road works underway near the Country Park as part of the A417 Missing Link project. Unfortunately, it is expected that the section of road between the A46 Brockworth junction and the Air Balloon will be closed. This will affect everyone approaching from the M5 or west of the area. Please follow the diversions which may involve approaching via Birdlip or Shurdington and the edge of Cheltenham (near the pub of the night). Please see this page for the latest updates: A417 missing link - National Highways

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

The Area

Crickley Hill Country Park is a small but varied area. The area consists of a steep slope with some small crags and contour detail and a gently sloping area of woodland and open areas.. There is a former hill fort. Some of the area is forested with varying levels of runnability. There are sections of open with numerous scattered trees.

The Map

The map is 1:5000 scale with 5m contours. Control descriptions printed on the map and available loose at Registration. The map will be printed double side.

The map has been updated by Greg Best in early 2025.

Start and Finish

Registration is in the parking area. Start and Finish are close to the parking area.

Courses

Standard WNL 60 minute score course with 30 controls, with variable points value. Odds and evens format on a double sided A4 map.

Penalty points will be applied at one penalty point for each 6 seconds or part thereof a competitor exceeds the allotted time of 60 minutes. If all controls are visited within the time an extra 1 point per 6 seconds will be awarded.

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

Spare headtorch and a whistle are compulsory. Leg cover strongly recommended.

Timing and Fees

Starts: Streaming mass start score at approximately 18:30 when the Planner and the League Coordinator deems it is dark enough. For a streaming mass start, rather than everyone starting at a given time, all competitors assemble, clear and check, and then queue to punch the start control and receive a map. This means that everyone has a punching start, but typically all start within a minute or two of each other. There will be two start stations and so two queues, to get everyone started as fast as possible.

Course closes at 19:45.

Fees

Pre-entry Entry on the Day Non-member Supplement
Adults £8 £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 Thursday 6th March.

Enter Online

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

Refunds

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’. There are cows grazing on the area.

Facilities

The pub of the night is the Wheatsheaf, Old Bath Road, Cheltenham. Less than 5 mins drive from the event.

I have reserved an area of the pub for 20-25 people for dinner and for the trophy presentation. I will add additional tables if we get more people ordering food.

You can browse the menu HERE. Once you have chosen your meal for the evening, please register your choice on this form.

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.

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.