We are pleased to invite you to this special event on Leckhampton Hill, with its stunning views over Cheltenham and far beyond towards Wales. This is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and very popular with the general public for walks, picnics, mountain biking and so on. We are very grateful to Cheltenham Borough Council for permission to run here.
After the enthusiastic response from our first go at the relay format last year, it was clear we should do it again this year. However, this time we are adding a further dimension to it - not only will it be a relay race for teams of two, but each person’s individual times will be aggregated and count towards the NGOC League.
Another addition this year is post-event food and drink at the Cotswold Lion Brewery, where NGOC’s own Steve Williams brews his award winning ales!
Officials
Organiser/Planner: Greg Best, NGOC. Queries? Email: Greg Best
Directions and Parking
Parking is at Hartley Farm, Hartley Lane, Cheltenham GL53 9QN
What 3 words: ///purse.ambushes.flinch
The event will be signed from the junction of Leckhampton Hill and Hartley Lane. From most directions, this is best approached from the Air Balloon roundabout, which is at the junction of the A417 and A436.
The Area
The top of Leckhampton Hill is fairly flat and has an ancient hill fort. However, the sides of the hill looking north, east and west form part of the Cotswold escarpment and are extremely steep. The area has been heavily quarried over the centuries, and this has left behind a wealth of contour detail in many parts. Much of the area is open grassland, but there are also some pleasant areas of woodland. The steepness aside, the area is generally very runnable.
The common is very popular with walkers, mountain bikers and others, and the Cotswold Way crosses it, so please show respect for others on the day.
The Map
The map has been extensively updated, using new full Lidar coverage finally available for the whole area. It is printed on waterproof A4 paper at 1:7500 with 5m contours. Control descriptions will be printed on the front of the map only (no loose ones will be available).
Note that there are certain fences and walls that must only be crossed at marked crossing points. Some of these are electric. A special symbol has been used to show these...
Start and Finish
The Assembly, Start and Finish are next to each other and a 1.0km flat walk from the parking area - allow at least 15 minutes to walk there.
When arriving at assembly, you will need to pick up your bib, pins and first map, so please allow time for this. Bear in mind that everybody else will be arriving at the same time, so there is likely to be a queue. Do NOT be late for the mass start!
Format
It is a 2x2 relay, with two runners of any age or gender forming a team. Each runner will run 2 different courses, with a rest period in between while the team-mate runs theirs (i.e. Runner 1 Leg 1 whilst Runner 2 rests, Runner 2 Leg 1 whilst Runner 1 rests, Runner 1 leg 2 whilst Runner 2 rests and finally Runner 2 leg 2).
On arrival, everybody should first collect their bib and pins and fix it to their front. First leg runners will have a Blue bib; second leg runners will have a Red bib. Next, everybody should collect their first map, which will be folded and sealed. These can only be opened once it’s their time to run. Everybody should clear their dibbers before each run.
Anybody who does not know their team mate should hang around the registration tent, which can act as a meeting point.
It is a mass start at 11am, and there will be a taped out Waiting pen, with a clock showing the current time. The first leg runner from each team should enter the Waiting pen in good time for the mass-start.
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.
Mass Start: 11:00
Courses close: 14:00
Courses
| Course | lengh(Km) | Climb(m) | Controls | Intended for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | 3.5 + 3.4 | 133 + 155 | 18 + 20 | M18, M20, M21, M35, M40, M45 |
| Blue | 3.0 + 2.9 | 110 + 140 | 16 + 16 | M50, M55, M60, M16 and under, W18, W20, W21, W35, W40 |
| Green | 2.2 + 2.3 | 105 + 110 | 13 + 13 | M65, M70, W16 and under, W45, W50, W55 |
| Short Green | 1.9 + 2.0 | 80 + 75 | 11 + 11 | M75 and older, W60 and older |
| Orange | 1.6 + 2.0 | 75 + 40 | 10 + 10 | Adult beginners Older children or inexperienced adults who normally run Orange |
| Yellow | 1.3 + 1.6 | 70 + 40 | 6 + 9 | 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.
Entries
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. 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 and we will randomly assign you a partner. Where possible, your will be paired with somebody from the same club.
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 run-up a course, not down, unless you are young or inexperienced, in which case you are allowed to do yellow or orange. Any experienced orienteers choosing to run down a category will be made non-competitive for the Relay.
There may be some instances where your assigned course is not the same as the course you would normally run in the NGOC League. In these cases, you will have to decide whether the league or the relay is more important to you and choose accordingly.
All fees will include a £5 charge for the post-event buffet.
Fees:
| Fees | Pre-entry | Entry on the Day | Non-member Supplement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults | £12 | £15 | £2 |
| Juniors | £8 | £9 | £1 |
| Family (2 adults + their children) | £26 | £30 | As above for any non-members |
SI dibber hire: Standard dibber £1 Adults, Juniors free
Touch Free dibber: £2 Adults, £1 Juniors
Entries close at midnight on Tuesday 5 July
Hired dibbers may be picked up registration.
Dogs
Allowed, under control, in Parking, Assembly and on courses
Facilities
Toilet in the brewery by the parking. Post-match buffet and drinks will be provided. Cash bar at Cotswold Lion brewery.
Safety
- There are some high and dangerous crags. Courses have been planned to avoid approaching these from above, but take care.
- The area is used by downhill mountain bikers. Courses have been planned to avoid them, but be prepared to give way if you do find yourself on one of their tracks, many of which are not mapped.
- There may be cows in the area. They are used to people and pretty docile, but best to give them some space.
- 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.
Post Event Food and Drink
With most teams finishing around the same time, the prospect of nice summer weather and parking by a brewery where a club member works, holding a post-event social was a no-brainer! This social event will be at the Cotswold Lion Brewery located at the farm where we are parking and a finger buffet and hot drinks will be provided. Bring your own chair or picnic rug if you wish to sit down. Steve Williams’ tasty ales will be available from the cash bar, togeter with takeaway cases of bottle, so bring cash, although the brewery is hoping to be able to accept cards by then.