13/01/2024 – 2024 League 1 – Cooper’s Hill

Mixed woodland, with wonderful stretches of runnable beech for everyone to enjoy . There is holly on the steep western side, but this is easy to run through/across; there are some boggy bits for sure, and some fallen trees to jump over. Also, there has been a lot of felling/thinning in one area resulting in long lines of cleared wood, marked as uncrossable hedges on the map. Look out for occasional places to pass across. Inevitably all courses have considerable climb.

There is one stretch of path, which many participants will have to use to get to the hill and back, narrow in places. Please be considerate of youngsters and slower runners and please do not barge them out of the way!

For added excitement, the longer courses will be passing through a newly mapped disused quarry.

A4, Scale 1:7,500, 5m contours. Part of the overall Cranham/Witcombe/Sheepscombe area map, created and maintained by Greg Best and selectively updated for this event.

The Start and Finish are across the main road, and into the woods, approximately 700m in all, and steep. The Finish will be visible on the way to the Start, so you could probably leave some clothes there, at your own risk, as this will not be manned.

Please follow the directions of marshals at the main road, take care of vehicles coming into the carpark and also areas of recently-seeded grass on the verges.

Course details subject to final controlling. Course distances are straight line.

As this is a compact area, all competitors (except those on Yellow & Orange) should expect several leg/control crossings and should therefore pay attention to their next control number. Longer courses in particular should expect a bit of a mad scramble and noodle on the hill – all part of the fun, I hope! (Planner)

Those entering Brown should allow sufficient time to complete the course and return to Download before the 14.15 cut-off point.

Whistles must be carried by juniors running on their own and are highly recommended for all competitors. If you hear a distress whistle, please go to assist.

There will be a string course close to Assembly. If your children would like to do the free string course come to Enquiries to pick up a map. The start will be close to assembly and clearly marked. Come back to Enquiries after the course to collect your prize!

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 90 minute 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 course appropriate to your involvement in the NGOC league, if relevant, or whichever course you choose otherwise.

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

Entries are now open, and will close at midnight on Tuesday 9th January.

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.

Dogs are permitted at assembly and on courses

The Prinknash cafe will be delighted to serve refreshments.

They have also kindly offered us the use of their loos, in the hope that we will return for refreshments after our runs. Strictly no muddy boots or spikes.

Please be considerate to other people out walking on the hill, especially on narrow paths. There may also be volunteers working on clearing, to be respected.

In January, there may still be a lot of wet leaves, or snow and ice, so care should be taken on all rough ground and steep slopes. Some scrambling should be expected on Green/Blue/Brown courses. The quarry area will be slippery but courses have been planned with safety in mind and no one should be anywhere near a crag/cliff face. There is a mandatory crossing out of this area and no one must cross any other fences.

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. Note that we are not permitted to provide epipens or anti-histamine in the event of stings; if you know you react badly to these you should carry your own epipen, or anti-histamine.