05/12/20 – WNL – Painswick Beacon

05/12/20 – WNL – Painswick Beacon

Click here to download these details in PDF format.

Date Event Parking Organiser
Sat 5th December
17:00-18:00, allocated start times
See note below
Finish by 19:30
WNL
Painswick
GL6 6SZ Ian Phillips, 07766 193953

Our next WNL event is scheduled for Saturday 5th December, on Painswick Beacon, when we will be in Tier 2 as far as COVID restrictions are concerned. That means that we are allowed to stage the event, must maintain the usual rule of 6 gathering, and the local hostelries may only offer table service, so no pub of the night organised by us. Our understanding of the post 2 December rules are that for all tiers travel is not banned, but ‘should’ be reasonable in tier 1, necessary in tier 2, avoided if possible in tier 3, and you should not go into a tier 3 area. Please check that if you are coming, you conform to the rules for your locality. Our interpretation of those is that most, if not all, of you are allowed to come and run.

Needless to say event logistics are a little different from how they were in pre-COVID days:

The event will be pre-registration only, with allocated start times. Please note that the start window on Fabian was set to be consistent with our earlier race at Chalford, but darkness now arrives considerably earlier, so we would like to bring start times forward by one hour, to run from 17:00 to 18:00. If this gives you any difficulty with travel arrangements, please email Ian Phillips to say that you will be late arriving, but are still coming. Otherwise we will assume that if you have not arrived by 18:00, you are not coming.

Travel and Parking

Use the link in the table above for parking details and a link to directions.

Parking is on the road over the Beacon, where space is limited, and somewhat scattered along the road. Please try to park as sensibly as possible, bearing in mind that we have a strong entry, and will need all the space we can find. If necessary, you can overflow onto the track to the quarry, which is before the sharp bend in the road if coming up the hill from the A46.

The Start and Finish are co-located on the road where the main Beacon track crosses. Download will be down the hill towards the North West, in one of the laybys there.

The Area

Painswick Beacon is a mix of very runnable open land, some of it consisting of golf fairways, and generally runnable but steep woodland on either side of the central ridge running up to the Beacon itself. There are quite a few detailed contour features, in both open and wooded areas.

There is some temporary electric fencing on the Beacon, which is mapped, but may have been moved between printing the maps and the event. We will let you know at the start what the status of this is.

The Map

The map is A4, 1:7,500 scale, with 5m contours

Event Details

We revert to the standard 60 minute score for this race, using SI timing, in normal punching mode, ie NOT SIAC enabled, so you must punch all controls, including Start and Finish.

There is one road which bisects the area, and will be used largely by us! It is, however, a fairly technical area, and so under 16s may run unaccompanied, but we do not advise that unless they are experienced night orienteers.

Times and Costs

Starts: 17:00 – 18:00, ie 1 hour earlier than pre-allocated on Fabina4. Regulars will be aware, however, that start times are very flexible for these events, and as long as appropriate social distancing is maintained, we generally allow people to start when they are ready, while giving priority to those wanting to start on their specified start times. Courses close: 19:30, but extended for anyone unable to make the earlier start window.
Entry: £6 Seniors (£7 for non-BOF members)
SI timing chip hire: £2 seniors.

FACILITIES

None!
Because of the pandemic, sadly there is NO official Pub of the Night. However, people can of course make their own individual arrangements.

EVENT PROCEDURE

Start
When you register on Fabian4 you can select a start time. To avoid congregation at the start, we’d ask you to follow the following start procedure:

Wait in your car (or warm up away from the start) until a short time before your designated start time.
When your start time arrives: sanitise your hands, take a control description sheet, dib Clear and Start, and pick up a map from the table. Note that maps will have been printed several days before the event, and not handled since, so should be safe to handle.

Out on the course
We’re holding the event in the evening which should be a quieter time, but there are still some narrow streets and footpaths where you may encounter other runners and members of the public. Be sure to wait, give people space and give way.

Finish
The Finish is by the Start. Once you’ve finished, be aware of the social distancing guidelines and don’t congregate in large groups to compare results. You can always compare afterwards online. Results will be posted on the WNL and NGOC websites afterwards.

SAFETY

A risk assessment has been completed, and a copy will be held at the Start/Download in case competitors wish to consult it before their run.

WHISTLES & BACK-UP LIGHTING ARE COMPULSORY AT WNL EVENTS. It is recommended that you also carry a mobile phone. Organiser’s number is 07766 193953 and is printed on the loose control descriptions and on te map. You MUST report to download even if you retire. All Competitors compete at their own risk. However, don’t let all this put you off… take care and have fun!

A first aid kit will be available at Registration.