08/10/2022 – League 10 – Headless Hill

Mixed forest, with a good network of paths, but dropping away to the North and West, steeply in some parts. There are many mountain bike tracks, not all mapped, and going is generally not too bad, with the worst of the undergrowth avoided by the courses. However getting off and onto the main forest tracks can be tricky in places due to abundant summer vegetation along the open verges.

Map drawn originally in 2019, updated in October 2021 and minor updates for this event. A4, 1:10,000 for all courses, with control descriptions on the front of the map as well as available as loose control descriptions. It is important to note that this area is used by mountain bikers and as such, there are numerous bike tracks which are not always mapped. Beware of bikers, they travel fast!

Registration, start and finish will all be within 400m of the car park (early parkers), but late arrivals could have an additional half a mile to Assembly

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 if there is no one waiting in 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.

Headless Hill is a physical area, with very limited flat terrain. Courses are therefore relatively short, but with significant climb. Much of this is avoidable; on the Short Green course, in particular, unavoidable climb is mainly concentrated in the early part of the course, and much of the later climb is easily avoided.

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.

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 5th October.

Entry on the day is available only while maps last, but note the premium price to discourage this. We may be able to accept credit/debit card payments, if the phone signal is sufficient, 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 permitted on the courses, but must be ‘under control’.

There are no toilet facilities as this event is based along a forest track. We are hoping to have the NGOC café available but will confirm this nearer the event date. The village of Staunton is less than a mile from the entrance to the forest and it has a pub.

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

The area is also used by horse riders. Please give horses plenty of room, slow down or walk past them, and try not to burst out the woods near them. The riders are usually regular local users of the forest, and although we have posted notices warning of our activities, we must nevertheless make every effort not to surprise or spook their horses.

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.