Our 2024 Summer 2 x 2 Relay moves back to the Cotswolds this year, in Toadsmoor woods, near Stroud. The event is taking place by kind permission of Limekiln farm and all of the local land owners. Without their support we would not be able to use this area. In the woods you may see a couple of ‘Private’ signs. We have permission to use this area.
As in previous years, you should enter as a team if you can, but if you have no team mate you can enter as a singleton, and we will pair you up on the day.
Entries are now open at Fabian4, and will close at midnight on Sunday 7th July.
Officials
Organiser/Planner: Ian Phillips, NGOC. Queries? Email: Ian, or call 07766 193953
Directions and Parking
Parking is on hard standing or grass about half a mile from the event start area, at Limekiln Farm, Middle Lypiatt, Stroud. GL6 7LR
What 3 Words: ///deeply.boxing.contained
Postcode: GL6 7LR
Grid Reference: SO873043
There will be a mass start at 11:00 so you will need to plan in time to get to Assembly from parking.
The Area
Largely runnable deciduous woodland in the Toadsmoor valley, with some steep slopes in places.
The Map
1:5,000 with 5m contours.
Start and Finish
Start, Finish and the event area are co-located about half a mile from parking, so make sure you allow sfficient time to get from parking to the event in time for the mass start at 11:00
Format
It is a 2x2 relay, with two runners of any age or gender forming a team. Each runner will run 2 completely different courses, with a rest period in between while their team-mate runs their course.
On arrival, each team will meet up and collect their bibs and pins to pin it to their tops. There will be a meeting point for team members to group. Please bring your own pins if possible.
Please note that there will be an information tent, but due to land owner constraints, no other club tents are allowed on the area.
On arrival, all runners will be given their first map, folded and sealed with a piece of tape, so they can’t look at it before they start. At the map issue point, there will be a list of teams and team members, with the allocated course order for each runner, e.g. Blue1-Blue2 or Orange2-Orange1 etc.
The first runners set off on their first leg in a mass-start at the published time. There will be a large taped start pen. Runners should then enter the pen some minutes before they expect their team mate to return, setting off as soon as they are tagged. The in-coming runner then proceeds to punch the finish control before downloading. At download, they will be given their second map. As this is a fun event, we request that runners who have completed their course do not share their maps with runners who have yet to go out nor do they open their second map until they have been tagged and are off on their second leg.
Courses will be allocated such that half of the runners complete course 1 first and the other half complete course 2 first. This will make it more difficult to follow others.
Anybody who does not already know their team mate should hang around the registration tent, which can act as a meeting point.
The second leg runners should enter the Waiting pen in good time before their partner returns. They will then wait there for them to arrive.
In-coming runners will first dib the Finish control and then proceed to tag their partner. They will then go to download, receive their second sealed map, then clear ready for their next leg.
Note that there will be no Start control to dib, as start times for each leg are determined by the mass-start time for the first leg and team-mates' finish times for subsequent legs.
Mass Start: 11:00
Courses close: 14:00
Results
Two sets of results will be published. The main one will be the relay results, i.e. the overall time for each team. The second set will be individual results per course.
Courses
Provisional course details. There will be 2 variants of each course listed below, not necessarily identical in length and climb, but combined to give roughly double the lengths stated below.
Course Number | Equivalent Course | Level | Course 1, KM/climb | Course 2, KM/climb | Age Classes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Brown | TD5 | 3.3/160 | 3.4/240 | M18, M20, M21, M35, M40, M45 |
2 | Blue | TD5 | 3.0/115 | 3.0/185 | M50, M55, M60, M16 and under W18, W20, W21, W35, W40 |
3 | Green | TD5 | 2.4/135 | 2.4/145 | M65, M70, W16 and under, W45, W50, W55 |
4 | Short Green | TD5 | 1.7/100 | 1.7/105 | M75 and older, W60 and older |
5 | Orange | TD3 | 1.6/115 | 1.6/105 | Adult beginners Older children or inexperienced adults who normally run Orange |
6 | Yellow | TD2 | 1.1/70 | 1.1/70 | Children who normally run Yellow |
We will use SI Timing, in contact and touch free modes. All runners must however punch the Finish control at the end of each leg.
Those taking part will automatically be given the course for their age category, except where they have specifically asked for a different course. People can only ‘run-up’ a course, not down, unless they are young or inexperienced, in which case they are allowed to do yellow or orange.
Entries
Sorry, NO entries on the day. This is due to the extra complexities of organising a relay.
Teams are made up of 2 people of any age/course.
If you have a team-mate, one of you should enter the team as one entry on Fabian4 and pay for both of you. When completing your entry, set your team size to 2. Note that the order that you input the people in your team will be the running order. In other words, the first named person will run the first leg in the mass-start and the 3rd leg, while the second named person will run the second and fourth legs.
If you do not have a teammate, just enter as an individual, setting your team size to 1, and we will randomly assign you a partner. Where possible, your will be paired with somebody from the same club.
So, in Fabian4, there is a three step entry process:
- Step 1 - enter your contact details as team leader or individual entrant
- Step 2 - enter your competitor details, and those of your team mate if you have one - click the Add another competitor button at the bottom of the form
- Step 3 - Enter your actual team size - 1 or 2. Note that there is only one class - we will assign you to courses according to your age class, unless you ask to run up.
By default, you will automatically be assigned the course associated with your age group unless you request otherwise on the entry form. Note that if you wish to be competitive in the relay you can only substitute your default course with a longer one, not a shorter one, unless you are young or inexperienced, in which case you are allowed to do yellow or orange. Any experienced orienteers choosing to run a shorter course will be made non-competitive for the Relay.
Fees | Pre-entry | Entry on the Day | Non-member Supplement |
---|---|---|---|
Adults | £7 | N/A | £2 |
Juniors | £3 | N/A | £1 |
Family (2 adults + their children) | £16 | N/A | As above for any non-members |
SI dibber hire: Standard dibber £1 Adults, Juniors free
Touch Free dibber: £2 Adults, £1 Juniors
Hired dibbers may be picked up registration.
Entries close at midnight on Sunday 7 July
Dogs
Allowed, under control, in Parking, Assembly and on courses
Facilities
Regrettably there are no toilets.
We are not permitted any tents other than a single information tent, so sadly the NGOC cafe wont be present.
Safety
- Ticks are an ever present but usually rare occurrence. You are advised to wear full leg cover, and to check yourselves for ticks after your second run. They carry a small threat of Lyme Disease, which alough rare can be very unpleasant. For more information about it, visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/ or https://lymediseaseuk.com/
- 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 Registration in case competitors wish to consult it before their run.
- A first aid kit and trained first aiders will be available at Registration.