Northaw (Open event & Yvette Baker Final)

Once at Tolmers, follow marshals’ instructions because there are other people using the site. It is then a pleasant 750m walk following a taped route through the woods to a marshalled road crossing into Cuffley Camp. Younger juniors should be accompanied.

There is a drop off loop ~150m from the event centre, suitable for vehicles up to coaches. Follow marshals’ instructions from Carbone Hill EN6 4PR w3w ///basket.fame.crisp. Watch out for pedestrians as this is en route from Tolmers.

Additionally, the 242 Arriva bus provides a service every two hours (08.20, 10.10, 12.10) from Potters Bar station that takes just 15 minutes to reach Cuffley station.

Courses have been planned to avoid the worst of the summer vegetation – bracken is high in places and there are nettle patches so full leg cover is essential.

Many thanks to Cuffley Active Learning Centre, Tolmers Scout Campsite, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and the Friends of Northaw Great Wood for their cooperation in putting the event on.

Yellow course maps are available at the pre-start. There is a small “quarantine” area before the -4 line where Yellow runners can look at their maps, accompanied by a coach (or similar, but not a YBT/S competitor!) if they wish. Coaches can come back out of the quarantine area, competitors and maps can only  go on through pre-start.

Control descriptions are on the map and separate descriptions are available in start lanes. Yellow and Orange courses have both pictorial and text descriptions on the map, and a choice of loose pictorial or text descriptions.

There will be a free string course and maze course.

• The courses are entirely contained within the wooded area. If you find yourself on a main road or on farmland, you are in the wrong place.
• Rootstocks and benches are not marked.

All courses except Yellow courses

• There is a lot of bracken in the area at this time of year. The thick undergrowth screen on the map denotes brambles or particularly high and thick bracken.  The lighter screen shows areas of thinner bracken.
• Towards the end of the courses there are many tents, shelters and other temporary structures. These are not mapped.
• Courses have been designed to avoid clearings where tents have been pitched in groups very close together. If you do find yourself in such a clearing, please run round the outside of the tent groups.  Otherwise, you are likely to trip on the guy ropes or cause damage.
• Towards the end of the courses you may find activity equipment. Please avoid this.  This includes low steel cables which will be taped to make them more visible.
• Near the end of the Orange course, there is a taped route between two controls to avoid the tents.
• Green and Blue courses will encounter very deep depressions.  Take great care.
• Green and Blue courses only:  The special control description “X” is a crashed light aeroplane.

Start call up is -4 minutes, please allow 20-25 minutes before your start time to get there.

We will collect maps from finishers in the open competition as well as YBT/S. All may be collected after 1347. You must not discuss your course, control sites or the terrain with any competitor yet to start.

Courses close 1530. You must report to download by then.

Start list is here. There will be versions ordered by surname and club later.

Please pay if you haven’t already. Cost is £7 per entrant. SIAC (contactless) dibber hire £2. Charge for lost dibbers £65. Note that pairs need only one dibber so you should include only one hire charge.

If you don’t have your own dibber (timing chip) you’ll need to hire one.  SIAC (contactless) dibber hire £2. Charge for lost dibbers £65.

YBT/S competitors are expected to start at their allocated time. For Open course competitors there is more flexibility, see above.

Free string course and maze course open to all.

Traders:

• CompassPoint for all your orienteering needs.
• Catering by PacificGrills.co.uk. Full menu here, also burgers & nuggets chalkboard with prices starting from £5
• Ice cream van from LollieDollies
• Cake stall

There are plenty of indoor toilets. Please follow signs to avoid vehicle routes and groups of tents (guy rope hazard).

Prizegiving will take place as soon as possible, we hope to start before 1500. There are prizes for the first 3 clubs in Trophy and Shield. They will be presented by Sarah Mansel, who is retiring as YBT/S coordinator.

Full results will be published on the same page and on Routegadget as soon as possible after the event. We will email all entrants when results are published.

Please check before travelling.

Full leg and torso cover is mandatory. The risk of exposure is low in woodland in July, but you may wish to bring a cagoule in case of summer storms. Whistles are recommended.

It may be warm. Please stay hydrated. There are plenty of taps to refill water bottles.

There is an emergency telephone number on the map.

See also the Course Notes above.

You must go to Download even if you don’t finish your course. We need to confirm you’re back safely.

In accordance with recent British Orienteering guidance:

• Please refrain from changing clothes in public view before or after the event.
• Ensure that changing is done discreetly, away from areas where others, especially young children, could see.