20/08/2022 – League 8(Long Sprint) – Dean Close School

There is a mixture of playing fields and school buildings amongst which the controls will be dotted.

Do not cross Shelburne Road anywhere except at the marshalled pelican crossing. Competitors may, however, run along the pavement alongside roads.

Green, Blue and Brown courses use a wooded area beside a stream on the E side of the map. Take care to avoid ropes in this area which are tied between trees. Ropes are not marked on the map.

The area includes The Bacon theatre; anyone attending the Tuckwell Open-Air festival there (Tues 2nd to Fri 12th August) may do so without fear of being disqualified.

Scale 1:3,333, 2m contours. Based on Lidar, updated 2022 for this event by Tom Cochrane.

The Start is to the East of Shelburne road. Please exit the parking field through the NE corner onto Shelburne Road. Take special care later on as this is also the vehicle exit for the field. Walk left along the pavement to cross the road at the manned pelican crossing. This crossing will also be used on the courses, follow any directions from the marshals. Give way to runners.

The Finish is adjacent to the parking field.

This is a Long Sprint race. The map and course design are based on British Orienteering Urban Sprint guidelines, but the distance for each course is broadly what you would expect for a more typical two heat urban sprint combined distance.

All courses are subject to final controlling.

Course distances are actual running distances, not straight line.

Regrettably there is no string course, due to a lack of a suitable area close to assembly.

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

There is a single timed out(1 minute) road crossing used by most courses. This is also used pre-race to access the Start. Please obey the instructions of the crossing marshal.

The short green, green, blue and brown courses will have double sided maps. You may need to turn over the map more than once, make sure you do not miss out the part of the course.

Note that Brown and Blue courses have more than 30 controls. Type 5 dibbers(serial number below 500000) and Type 8 dibbers (serial number 2000001-2999999) will not support more than 30 punches, and need to be swapped for a SIAC or other dibber outside these number ranges. We have only 10 SIACs available for hire, and no other capable options, so enter early to be sure of getting one.

Starts: 11:00 - 13:00
Courses close: 14:00, meaning that you must report to download before 14:05, or risk disqualification.

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

Touch Free dibber: £2 Adults, £1 Juniors

Entries close at midnight on Wednesday 17th August. 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 NGOC_Volunteers@outlook.com to let him 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 on school property as long as they are under control and you pick up all mess.

Toilets are available in the Sports Centre. Please follow, and do not divert from, the 150m taped route to these.

The NGOC cafe will be present in the car park.

There is a marshalled road crossing on the route to the start and on the course. Please follow any instructions from the marshals.

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 Registration and the cafe.