Updated:

04/11/2023 – WNL 2023-24 – Minchinhampton Common

04/11/2023 – WNL 2023-24 – Minchinhampton Common
Updated:
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04/11/2023 - WNL 2023-24 - Minchinhampton Common

The Western Night League is a series of 60-minute score events, taking place after dark in the winter - headtorches required!  Each control in the forest 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.

Our first WNL event in the 2023-24 League takes place on Minchinhampton Common, which together with neighbouring Rodborough Common forms an extensive area of fast open grassland, crossed by many paths, some quite indistinct in the dark, and with plenty of small topographic features. The Common drops away steeply on the West side, so you can expect some climb.

Enter OnlineEnter on Fabian4.co.uk by midnight on Thursday 2nd November. Entries will open shortly, and please try not to leave it to the last minute to enter.

Officials

  • Organiser/Planner: Rosie Taylor.
  • Controller: Judith Taylor.

Queries? email Rosie/Judith.

Directions and Parking

The parking is alongside the Culver Hill road, adjacent to the Minchinhampton reservoir, GL5 5AB
Streetmap
What 3 words: weekend.wobbles.bake

There is ample room further along the road if the parking immediately by the reservoir is full.

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

The Area

Mostly flattish open grassland with some quiet roads and paths around the picturesque village of Amberley. There are many thickets, knolls, depression and historic iron-age earthworks.
The grass over the common is quite short at this time of year, so the area is generally very runnable. The woodland is generally very runnable inside but in places (as mapped) there is a strip of brambles making entry more difficult.

The Map

The map is 1:10000 scales with 5m contours. Control descriptions printed on the map and available loose at Registration

Start and Finish

Registration, Start and Finish are all close to the parking area. There will be a Mass Start at 17:45. Course closes at 19:00

Courses

Standard WNL 60 minute score course with 30 controls and 600 points available.

If all controls are visited within the time an extra 1 point per 6 seconds will be awarded. Penalty of 1 point for every 6 seconds late. 8 controls form a yellow course which sticks to paths as far as possible and is suitable for newcomers to night orienteering.

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

Timing and Fees

Starts: Mass Start at 17:45.

Course closes at 19:00, meaning that you must report to download before 19:15 or risk disqualification.

Fees

Pre-entry Entry on the Day Non-member Supplement
Adults £7 £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 2nd November. Entries will open soon on Fabian4.

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

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

Dogs are permitted on the courses, but must be ‘under control’.

Facilities

The pub of the night is The Old Lodge  GL6 9AQ  food-club.com

Food is served until 20:45 and tables have been reserved for us from 19:30: please let Judith know as soon as possible if you would like to eat at the pub.

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.

There are one or two large crags in the event area. They are not hazard taped but they are marked on the map. Runners should be aware of them.

The safety bearing is South East, heading to the road which borders the Common and then heading back towards the parking area.

The area is very exposed and competitors may be required to wear or carry waterproofs if the weather is particularly poor.

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.