The Caddihoe and VHI Weekend

NGOC is very pleased to welcome you to the glorious Forest of Dean for the Caddihoe weekend of orienteering.

On Day 1, Saturday 30 September, we stage the SW Long Distance Championships, VHI individual races, and the first race of the Caddihoe Chase. We are also pleased to host the RAF Orienteering Championships, as well as an Interland Selection race for English runners in M/W14-18 classes.

Then on Day 2 the VHI relay will precede day 2 of the Caddihoe Chase, on the last occasion that it is organised by a club other than the club that originated the Chase, DEVON OC.

Traditionally, and as indicated by the name, Day 2 has a chasing start, with start times derived from finish times on Day 1, but recently the chase part of the event has been dropped in favour of a normal one minute interval start. There are various reasons for this - complexity and resourcing of a full chasing start, lack of experience in organising and managing a chasing start, and a feeling among many that as the chasing start means that no ranking points can be awarded, there is less reason to compete.

It may be that DEVON will from next year continue the current 2 day interval start format, but we would like to sign off the non-DEVON club hosting of the Caddihoe with a traditional Chasing Start, and so be able to award the Caddihoe Chase trophies to those triumphant in what could be the final Caddihoe Chase. We hope that everyone will stay around for the second part of the race, and give us lots of pure head to head racing rarely found in other orienteering formats.

For those not familiar with the format, your Day 2 start time is determined by your finish time on Day 1. In summary, the clock stops when you punch the Finish on Day 1, and then restarts the following day at what is in effect the same time, after an overnight pause, so that the first person in each class to finish on Day 2 wins the class.

Officials

Organisers: Pat Macleod, Rhiannon Fadeyibi, NGOC
Planners: Greg Best, NGOC(Individual courses); Paul Taunton, NGOC(Relays)
Controller: Charles Daniel, BOK

General Information for the Weekend

These details apply to the weekend as a whole. For specific information on each day, please see the relevant day section.

If you are a VHI runner, or interested in the VHI event, please see the VHI section below

Travel Information

Parking for both days is in the field by Speech House Hotel. From there, on Day 1 there is a 1.3km largely flat walk to the arena. The walk is all on hard tracks and is pushchair and wheelchair friendly. It is the red line on the adjacent map. On Day 2 there is a slightly longer 1.6Km walk, almost all on hard tracks, but with a short woodland section at the end. This can be by-passed on a slightly longer hard track route. This is the Blue line on the map. Regrettably there is no room at the arena for any competitor parking, but there is room for club tents, for which we will provide a ferry service from the car park.

What Three Words: ///defenders.reception.bubbles

Grid Reference: SO620120

GL16 7EL

The Area

We will be using different parts of the overall Mallards Pike map for each day, with relatively little overlap between the days.

The overall area is typical Forest of Dean mixed woodland. Runnability is generally very good throughout the area, though there has been thinning work in some blocks, with resulting brashings, and there are intermittent patches of heavy windblow, mapped as Fight.

Bracken is widespread throughout the forest at this time of year. Only the worst areas, where the bracken is felt likely to impede progress significantly, have been mapped, and courses have been designed to avoid these.

There are large numbers of deer and boar in the forest, the latter still with juvenile families. It is quite possible that you will encounter boar during your run. They are very rarely aggressive, and will generally seek to avoid human beings, but with numbers of runners off track in the forest there is a very small risk that they may feel themselves to be cornered, in which case they may approach you. You are strongly advised to allow them space, and give way to families and large males. Juniors should be advised that they may encounter boar on the paths. Once again they should stop and allow them space, or walk slowly towards them, in which case the boar will generally make off into the undergrowth.

There are many small unmapped paths throughout the area, created by wildlife and mountain bikers.

The area is very popular with dog walkers, riders and the general public. They will have been informed about the event, by means of notices posted around the area, but you should be courteous towards them, and not treat the forest as your own (as some of them may try to!)

Mapping

The map has undergone a thorough revision using Lidar data, with very many days been spent surveying and checking. The huge number of drainage ditches have been checked and re-drawn, the vegetation has been checked and updated for early autumn conditions and all point and contour features have been reviewed and updated where necessary. The worst areas of summer vegetation, mainly bracken, are highlighted with green stripes. For more details on the area and mapping used for each day, see the individual Day sections.

The following special symbols are used on all maps:
Hide - x
Mineshaft - o

Electronic Punching

We will use SportIdent electronic punching, with touch free punching enabled, although Start and Finish must be punched on both days. There are no courses with more than 32 controls, and the SI controls will support all SI card types. Lost standard hired dibbers will be charged at £35, and SIACs at £50.

Enquiries and Registration

Enquiries, EOD Registration and dibber hire are co-located in the arena on each day. Look for the two pale green canvas tents. Runners wishing to change course details or pre-entered dibber numbers must complete a change slip at Enquiries. Please see the relevant Day page for details on changes to start times.

Bags and labels will be available at Enquiries for the safekeeping of smart phones and other devices, as well as car keys and valuables, whilst you are out on your run.

Results

Results will be posted online throughout each day, provided the phone signal permits it. A QR code will be posted prominently in the arena to help you find them, or you can visit https://www.ngocweb.com/results/liveres.html

First Aid

Event First Aid is provided by NGOC.
The nearest hospital with a minor injuries unit is Lydney Hospital, Grove Rd, Lydney GL15 5JE, tel: 0300 421 8722
The nearest Accident and Emergency Hospital is Gloucester Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester, GL1 3NN, Tel: 0845 4222222

Drinks

Drinks will not be provided. Please bring your own or purchase drinks from the food vendors.

Safety

• Please note the warnings above regarding boar.
• Full body cover – legs and torso, as defined by BOF - is mandatory for all runners on all courses. Runners in shorts will be refused permission to start.
• Although unlikely in late September, in the event of extreme wet, cold or windy weather you will be required to carry or wear a cagoule. A decision will be made, based on the then Met Office forecast, and published on the event website no later than 8pm on Friday 29th September, and likewise on Saturday 30 September, as to whether cagoules are required or not. The decision will also be posted in the arena, and on the routes from parking; given the distance from parking to the arena, if you have not been able to check the web the previous evening it would be prudent to have a cagoule in your kit bag anyway!
• Runners are strongly advised to carry a whistle.
• Due to the prevalence of boar and deer in the forest, ticks are omnipresent, and tick-borne disease is a risk, albeit a small one. Apart from abiding by the full body cover rule, you should examine yourselves and your children carefully for ticks after your run. Tick tweezers will be available at First Aid if required. Lyme disease is a particularly unpleasant condition which can be caused by tick bites. Go to http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/ for more information on Lyme disease and its symptoms.
• If you are travelling and running alone you may wish to leave details of yourself and your car with enquiries.

Biosecurity

Biosecurity is of great concern to the Forestry Commission in the Forest of Dean, and although there are none in the competition area, some parts of the forest remain subject to Statutory Control Notices for Larch disease(Phytophthora ramorum). Furthermore, in order to help minimise the risk of spreading Ash die back disease (Chalara fraxinea) British Orienteering has issued the following advice to all clubs on the biosecurity measures that should be taken by all orienteers (i.e. Planners, Controllers and control hangers, as well as competitors) when holding or participating in an area suspected to contain Ash trees. This includes all of the competition area, so please do what you can to comply with these instructions.

• Thoroughly wash all footwear before leaving the area, ensuring that all mud, soil and leaf litter is removed.
• On returning home, rinse all boots and shoes in a chlorine based cleaner or garden fungicide and allow them to dry thoroughly. N.B. please read the manufacturer's label and follow their instructions on use and disposal of the product.
• Thoroughly wash and dry all kit and any other clothing that may potentially have been contaminated with fungal spores.
• Clothing and footwear should not be reused for at least 48 hours after drying.
• Please do what you can to help prevent the spread of these diseases.

Dogs

Dogs on leads are permitted in the parking and assembly areas. Due to the large numbers of boar and deer in the forest, including young families, dogs are not permitted on any course on any day.. Note that the walk to the arena from parking is a very popular dog walking route, and dogs must be kept under control. You must also clean up after your dog, and not follow the habits of far too many other dog walkers in this area. Special bins will be provide for the disposal of poop bags in the arena.

Facilities

Toilets will be available at parking and in the arena.

CompassPoint will be present each day.

Catering will be provided by British and Continental Catering, or better known as Tom and Julie's burger van.

Prizegiving

Prizegiving for the SW Long Distance Championships will take place in the arena at Courses Close time on Day 1.

Prizegiving for the VHI will be held at about 12:00 on Day 2, in the arena.

Prizegiving for the Caddihoe Chase will take place again on Day 2 in the arena at about 14:30.

Entry Information

Entry to the SW Championships and Caddihoe Chase is by age class. The mapping of age classes to course will be as set out in British Orienteering Rules, Appendix B, para 8.6, and shown in the table below, but with two exceptions:

• If there are insufficient entries in M21, M21s will run Brown, not Black
• There will be no Long Orange course. M21N runners should enter M21S.

However, if you wish to run non-competitively you may enter by colour (i.e. course) class. In this case your results will appear alongside those of all runners on your course, but you will be non-competitive as far as Championship positions are concerned.

You must be a member of a SWOA club on race day to qualify for the South West Long Distance Championships. You will be asked to confirm this when you enter.

W35 runners interested in matching themselves against their national team peers should note that VHI W35s will run Short Brown, and not Blue as set out below. They should enter W21. W35s also qualified to compete for the South West Championship face something of a dilemma, and will, of course, compete in the class they choose to enter!

* Subject to a minimum of 12 entries by 10 September. If fewer than 12, M21s will run Brown.

The following EOD courses will be available each day: White, Yellow, Orange, Light Green. Please note that there is no entry on the day for the South West Championships and Caddihoe age class courses.

There will also be a free string course each day.

Entry Fees

Entry is via Fabian4.co.uk, and entries will open early in August. Please note the following regarding your entry on Fabian4:

• Entry is by Age Class only, if competing in the SW Championships and/or Caddihoe Chase. If you choose to run up a course then select an age class for the course you wish to run. If you run down likewise choose an age class appropriate for the selected course. Note that you will not be competitive in either the SW Championships or the Caddihoe Chase in this latter case, nor will you be if you choose to enter by colour class. Colour classes are listed in the Fabian system after all age classes.
• You will be allocated a start time for Day 1 - the South West Championships - in accordance, as far as possible, with a preference stated on entry. For Day 2 - the Caddihoe Chase - your start time will be determined by your finish time on Day 1. See further details in the Day 2 section below.
• Juniors in M/W14-18 classes will all be treated as seeded runners, and will be allocated start slots with at least 4 minute separation from others in your class. In order to be eligible for selection to the England Interland team you should ensure that your BOF Nationality is ENG, and not GBR. You should also enter early to have a better chance of start time allocation within your preferred start window.

Day 1 - SW Long Distance Championships and VHI Individual Race

On Day 1 we host the South West Long Distance Championships, the VHI Individual race, and the RAFO Championships. Parking is in the Speech House Hotel field and there is a 1.3Km largely flat walk from there to the Arena.

The Area

The terrain for Day 1 has plenty of variety, although most of it is wooded. There are flat areas with an extensive network of drainage ditches, there are former mining areas with tips and there are other hilly areas with plenty of features. Runnability is generally very good, although there is likely still to be summer vegetation in some parts, particularly bracken.

The ditches have been carefully re-surveyed and drawn such that when the blue dashes meet, it means the ditches actually join on the ground, but when the dashes do not quite join up, it means the ditches do not join on the ground either, as shown in this map snippet. Note that ditches vary in depth between about 30 cm and 1 metre.

Day 1 Starts

There is a single start 500m from the Arena. The route to the start crosses part of some junior courses. please look out for and do not hinder juniors on their courses.

VHI runners will start between 10:00 and 11:00, with SW Champs runners starting from 11:15 or thereabouts.

All runners other than those entering on the day will have an allocated start time. Please try to make your allocated start time if possible. Late starters should report to a Start Official. They will be slotted in as soon as possible but there may be a long wait on some courses. EOD runners and helpers will be slotted in by the Start team on available start slots. These runners should make their way directly to the Start when ready; there is no requirement for latecomers and helpers to go to Enquiries to obtain a start time.

All runners must punch the Start control; it is your responsibility to make sure you do so.

There is a taped route to the start flag, which all runners must follow in its entirety.

The start procedure is as follows:
-4 minutes - Call up and check
-3 Control Descriptions, SIAC Test, and and late instructions
-2 Blank maps
-1 Silence

Courses

The Finish

The Finish is located towards the eastern end of the Arena, and download will be further down the tarmac road. Please download as soon as you finish. You must report to download even if you do not complete your course.

Day 2 Start times

Day 2 start times are determined by your finish time on day 1, or by specific queueing rules for those who do not record a finish time on Day 1. Your start time will be published on the NGOC website no later than 20:00 on Day 1, and will be available in printed form in the car park and the arena early on Day 2. You can also work out your Day 2 start time by reading the start time details in the Day 2 section of these details, below.

Day 2 - The Caddihoe Chase and VHI Relay

On Day 2 there is a slightly longer walk to the Arena, to avoid the competition area. The final section is a short cut through the woods, which can be bypassed via a longer track option, adding about 200m.

The Area

The part of the Mallard’s Pike map which will be used for Day 2 and the VHI relay is mostly flat with networks of drainage ditches, or gently sloping. The longer Caddihoe courses will visit a hillier area with old mine workings, although there is no little or no overlap between the Day 1 and Day 2 areas.

The competition area is divided by paths and tracks into blocks mainly of mature coniferous and broad leaved woodland, although there is a strip of sometimes marshy rough open land with scattered trees along the Blackpool Brook. The Brook can normally be crossed at any point, but competitors should be aware that in extreme wet weather conditions it may be necessary to enforce mandatory crossing points.

Runners should also take care when crossing the Family Cycle Trail which may have fast cycle traffic heading downhill (southwards).

The courses have been planned with a relatively high number of controls to try to minimise path running. Many of the coniferous blocks will be fast running, as there is little or no vegetation underfoot, although open areas, track margins and sparser woodland may still be affected by seasonal undergrowth in October.

There is a large enclosure mapped as surrounded by a high fence. You are permitted to cross this fence at any point you wish, though as it is over 2m tall and generally in good condition it is likely to be quicker to use one of the two gates or several mapped gaps in the fence.

The area in use for the relay is part of the wider competition area for Day 2 of the Caddihoe Chase, and there will be additional controls already in the forest for this later event. The controls for both events will be located such that minimum distances between controls are respected.

Day 2 Starts

There is a single start about 130m from the middle of the arena. However the start funnel is lengthened for the chasing start, and call-up is within 50m of the Arena. The Chasing Start means that provided you finished on Day 1 within the declared cut-off time, your start time is determined by your Day 1 finish time. If you finished outside the cut-off time, or did not run on Day 1, you start after the cut-off time has passed on Day 2.

The cut-off time is 100 minutes for runners on Black, Brown and Short Brown courses, and 90 minutes for all other courses.

Day 2 runners therefore fall into 3 categories as far as starting is concerned:

• Runners with a Chasing Start.
• Runners who ran Day 1 but did not finish within the chasing start cut-off, retired or mispunched, and runners pre-entered on Day 2 only
• EOD runners

Chasing Start Runners

You can calculate your start time by adding your Day 1 finish time to the Day 2 base time for your course. The base time for Black, Brown and Short Brown courses is 10:00, and for all other courses is 11:00

Thus if you ran 67:07 on Blue on Day 1 your Day 2 start time will be 12:07:07. If you ran 94:23 on Brown on Day 1, your start time on Day 2 will be 11:34:23. If you ran 123:13 on Blue, you will have a punching start at or soon after 12:30 on Day 2.

All runners in the chasing start - i.e. within the cut-off time - have a timed start, and will not punch a start control. You will be timed from your calculated start time even if starting late.

The chasing start procedure is as follows:

-5 call-up; at 1 minute intervals, all starters in that minute are called into the call-up box:
-4 control descriptions and dibber check:
-3 blank maps:
-2 stand by your map box; take map and hold by your side
-1 move forward into start queue
As you approach the start line you will see a computer display showing your name and counting down the seconds to your start time. You go on the beep when your name comes round. In the event of computer failure you will be started by the Start official from a paper list.

Non-Chasing Start and Day 2 Only Runners

Day 2 only runners and those who missed the cut-off will be started at 30 second intervals after the cut-off time, which is 11:40 for Black, Brown and Short Brown courses or 12:30 for all other courses, on a turn up and go basis. Please report to the Punching Start official, as soon as you can after these times. All runners in this group must punch the Start control.

EOD Runners

EOD runners may go to the Start, report to the Punching Start official, and go when ready. You do not need to wait for the cut-off time, and can start as soon as you wish after the start opens, which should be about 11:00. You must punch the Start control.

Courses

The Start is about 130m from the middle of the arena, and the Finish is on the Western end, next to the Relay Handover pen. There is a common Finish for the VHI Relay and the Caddihoe Chase. The Relay start is fairly close to the Caddihoe Start, so please make sure you follow the taped route to the Caddihoe Start, and do not interfere with any Relay runners.

The Relay will start at 09:30, and the base time for the Caddihoe is 10:00 or 11:00, depending on course, so that the first Caddihoe runner will probably start just before 11:00. Please try to come early and support your national VHI relay team while waiting to start the Chase.

The Veterans Home International

The Veteran Home International (VHI) is an annual competition between teams from England, Ireland (Northern Ireland and Eire), Scotland and Wales. Each team comprises 2 men and 2 women in each age group 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60, and one man and one woman in age groups 35 and 65: 24 athletes per team.
Rules and Guidelines for the VHI are published on the British Orienteering website, at http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/page/home_internationals

The Invidual Race

The VHI individual race on Day 1 will use the same courses as the South West Championships. VHI competitors will start between 10:00 and 11:00, with SW Champs runners starting from 11:15. In the VHI, all individuals count towards the team score.

The Relay

The VHI relays on Day 2 will mass start at 09:30, with the relay changeover area located in the main event arena. There are two relay classes: MWM - 2 Men + 1 Woman - and WMW - 2 Women + 1 Man. Nations may enter 4 teams in each class with their best 3 to score. The aggregate of each team’s BOF ages is to be 145 or greater. The Caddihoe chasing start will have a base time - 11:00 - which will allow you to support your national team. The Caddihoe Start is adjacent to the Relay Start.

Scoring

Points gained by a nation in the relays are to be added to the points gained by a nation in the 14 individual classes with the highest combined score winning.

Trophies

There are 4 trophies:

• The Quaich for the nation that wins the relays.
• The Lagan Valley Rosebowl for the nation that wins the individual event.
• The Mickelgate Bar Trophy for the overall winning nation.
• The "Stonewall Trophy" is presented to either Wales or Ireland, whichever has the greater combined points total.

The results of last year's VHI, hosted by WOA at Dolgellau, can be seen at: https://www.fabian4.co.uk/results/WelshChampsVHI2022/