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NGOC are pleased to invite you to the final event of the 2021/22 Western Night League. Located on the Cotswold escarpment, the area is a mixture of woodland and more open grassland. The area is steep in places so route choice to minimise the amount of climbing will be part of the challenge. As this is the last event of the season it is mass start. Prizes, including the much coveted WNL mugs, will be awarded in the ‘Pub of the Night’ afterwards.
Enter on Fabian4.co.uk by midnight on 10 February. 
Officials
Organiser/Planner: Doug Wilson. Queries? email Doug Wilson, or phone 07881 951858
Directions and Parking
Parking and assembly are at the Royal George Hotel, Birdlip, GL4 8JH which is also the ‘Pub of the Night’. Go through the archway and park at the far end of the car park. Note on the way out there is a one-way system when leaving the car park. If there is no space in the car park please park on the road nearby.
What 3 words: ///inclines.sock.shorten
Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/YdJ2193kf5rwdByH6 NGR: SO925143
The start is a 10 minute walk from Assembly so competitors should be ready to make their way to the start by 17:45 at the latest.
The Area
Open woodland and grassland with several tracks and paths. The area is generally runnable although it slopes towards the North West and is steep in places. There are numerous MTB tracks in the Southerly part of the area which have not been mapped.
There is a road bisecting the area which should be crossed with care and only at the marshalled crossing-point. As the road crossing is marshalled, competent Junior night orienteers can run accompanied. You must not run along any of the roads adjacent to the area.
The Map
This is printed on A3 waterproof paper at 1:7500 with 5m contours. Control descriptions will be on the front of the map and also available loose at Assembly. The map is drawn to ISSOM by Greg Best, NGOC.
Impassable fences and walls are clearly marked and must only be crossed via gates / stiles and not climbed over.
Start and Finish
The Start is approx. 10 minutes walk from Assembly. We will walk as a group to the Start. The Finish is close to the Assembly area with a taped route to follow.
Please report to download immediately so the event and final League scores can be calculated promptly.
Format
This is the usual WNL 60 minute Score event. There are 30 controls worth 10, 20 or 30 points each with 600 points available in total. The higher the control number, the higher the value. We will use SI Timing, in contact and touch free modes. The Start and Finish controls must be physically punched in the traditional way.
There will be a yellow standard set of controls close to paths and junctions suitable for less experienced night orienteers.
Penalties and bonuses are as normal: 1 penalty point per 6 seconds late and 1 bonus point per 6 seconds early if all controls have been visited.
There will be a yellow standard set of controls close to paths and junctions suitable for less experienced night orienteers.
Timings and Fees
Mass start: 18:00
Course close: 19:15
Fees: £7 Seniors, £3 Juniors (£9/£4 for non-BOF members)
£16 Family (2 adults and their children)
SI dibber hire: £1 Seniors (Juniors free), or £2 for touch free (Juniors £1)
Pre-entry only by Fabian4.co.uk and closes at midnight on Thursday 10th February. No entry on the night.
Hired SI dibbers may be picked up at Assembly. Each will be bagged in a small plastic bag, with the runner name on a slip inside. Please take the dibber and leave the bag in the box for reuse.
Refunds
Under British Orienteering COVID guidelines you may claim a full refund of your entry fee if you or a member of your household has COVID-19 symptoms, or because they have been asked to isolate by NHS Test and Trace. NGOC will carry the costs associated with the entry and cancellation transactions.
In this event you must email the Organiser requesting cancellation of your entry. There are no refunds available for cancellation for any other reason.
Dogs
Dogs are allowed but must be kept under control.
Prizegiving and Food
An area in the Royal George is reserved for prize-giving afterwards. The hotel have asked that we pre-order food as they have another large group in that evening.
Please select what you’d like from their menu
(https://www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk/pubs/gloucestershire/royal-george-hotel/menu/ main-menu) and email your choice to horseshoe.daw@gmail.com by the 5th February at the latest. You’ll need to pay for your food on the night.
If you want to order food after the 5th February please contact the hotel directly.
Safety
You must carry a whistle and back-up light - these will be checked. The area is exposed and if the weather is poor you may be required to carry a waterproof.
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 Assembly.
Take care when crossing the road and listen to the Marshall’s instructions.
The safety bearing is due East to reach the roads which run along the edge of the area.
COVID code of conduct. It is vital that all attendees at the event:
- Act as ambassadors for the sport of orienteering at all times and consider how your actions may appear in the eyes of landowners or members of the public.
- Observe social distancing at all times, including keeping your distance from other participants, volunteers and members of the public.