Sunday 04/05/2025 – SW League Event (inc NGOC League 5) – Newent Woods

Mainly runnable mixed woodland below the iconic May Hill. The longest course will also visit the open grassland at the summit of the hill. There are some steep slopes, but the climb is limited for all TD5 courses by having a remote start close to the top of the hill.

The map has been selectively updated for this event. Maps are pre-printed at A4 on waterproof paper, except for Short Green, which is on A3.

Maps will be at 1:10,000, 5m contours, for Brown to Green courses, and 1:7,500 for the remaining courses, subject to final course planning and fitting courses onto the map templates.

Control descriptions will be text for White and Yellow, pictorial for all other courses, except Orange which will have both. They are on the course maps, though in some cases slightly smaller than the standard size. Loose control descriptions will be available in the start lanes.

There are 2 separate Starts. The one for the junior courses (White, Yellow, Orange and Light Green) is 100m from the assembly field. The one for the TD5 courses (Brown, Blue, Green and Short Green) is 1.4km away with 120m of climb.

The Finish is about 200m from the Assembly field. Please remember to download!

SI touch-free punching is enabled, but all runners must physically punch both Start and Finish.

Course distances are straight line.

We will use SI Timing, in contact and touch free modes. All runners must however punch the Start and Finish controls.

You MUST go to Download even if you do not complete your course – we need to confirm that you are back safely!

Whistles must be carried by juniors running on their own and are highly recommended for all competitors. If you hear a distress whistle, please go to assist.

Time-outs for road crossings . Note that all TD5 courses (brown, blue, green and short green) have 2 timed-out sections to allow three very quiet minor roads to be crossed safely. The first one crosses one road and the time-out is 2 minutes. The second one allows 4 minutes to cross two roads and the field between them. These times should be ample to walk each section. None of the roads will be marshalled.

A String Course should be available close to Assembly. If your children would like to do the free string course come to Enquiries to pick up a map. Come back to Enquiries after the course to collect your prize!

Split starts. In order to minimise demands on scarce volunteer resources we operate a 90 minute start window for this event, and we recognise that this can be a challenge for parents seeking split starts, particularly with the TD5 start being some distance away. We are happy to accommodate split starts provided:

• You let us know in advance that you need a split start. Do this by emailing the organiser, address in the introduction above
• You come early; the start team will normally be ready to allow very early starts up to 30 minutes before the published start time, so aim to be there with this in mind. We do not offer starts later than the published end of the start window.
• The shorter course runner goes first. We will not turn you away if you can't manage this, but it gives you both a better chance of beating the course closure time.

Entry Details

You should enter the course appropriate to your involvement in the SWOA and/or NGOC league, if relevant, or whichever course you choose otherwise.

Starts: 11:00 - 12:30

Courses close: 14:30, meaning that you must report to download before 14:45, or risk disqualification.

Given the lengthy walk to the Senior Start, competitors on Brown and Blue courses are urged to arrive early and leave plenty of time to get to the Senior Start in good time. The start will be taken down promptly at the end of the start window.

SI dibber hire: Standard dibber £1 Adults, Juniors free

Touch Free dibber: £2 Adults, £1 Juniors

Entries are now open, and will close at midnight on Thursday 1st May.

Entry on the day is possible only while maps last, but note the premium price to discourage this. We should be able to accept credit/debit card payments, but this is not guaranteed so bring cash just in case.

A helper discount is available for those offering to help on the day. These events don't happen without volunteers willing to help out on the day, so if you are able to do so, before signing up to enter, email Ian Prowse, Volunteer Coordinator, to let us know if you can help, and ask for the helper discount code that you can apply when entering. You don't have to be a NGOC member to help, but you do need to be a BOF member to be covered insurance wise.

COVID related refunds are no longer available. The standard Fabian4 terms and conditions offer an automatic refund up to 2 months before the event date, and we do not normally vary this specification. That means that in most cases no refunds are possible, as we do not publish details until less than 2 months before the date of the event.

However, for all except large events we hold entries open until only a day or so before the event, so you can delay entry if unsure whether you can run, until very close to event day.

Dogs are permitted in the car park and assembly areas and on the courses, but must be kept under close control at all times.

A single sit down toilet will be available in an outbuilding of the owner's house. Those M competitors looking for a urinal are advised to make use of frequent opportunities en route to the Start, so leaving the single toilet in the main for W competitors.

The self-service NGOC Cafe tent will be present.

There are no covered changing facilities and competitors are reminded of the need for discretion when getting changed by their cars.

If you are interested in obtaining club kit, whilst there will not be an extensive range of sizes to try on at the event, we can have a few sizes available for specific items. You can see the options, and a size chart, on the Club Kit page. Email paul@ngoc.org.uk with details of any items, and relevant sizes, you wish to try, and we can have those available.

Orienteering is an adventure sport. All runners take part at their own risk and must take responsibility for their own safety.

Everyone is advised to carry a whistle, and for Juniors it is compulsory. Full leg cover is compulsory for everyone.

A first aid kit and trained first aiders will be present at Registration. Note that we are not permitted to provide epi-pens or antihistamine tablets in the event of stings. If you know you react badly to stings you should carry your own epi-pen or antihistamine tablets.

The TD5 courses (Brown, Blue, Green and Short Green) all have to cross 3 very quiet minor roads. The road crossings are timed out so competitors have time to cross safely, although these crossings are not marshalled.

Orienteering is a great sport for young people. If you bring children, please help us to keep to our safeguarding policy and British Orienteering’s photography policy.

By entering this event, competitors agree to abide by the British Orienteering Code of Conduct.

A comprehensive risk assessment will have been carried out by the organiser and a copy will be held at Registration, but participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety during the event. All participants must report to download whether they finish their course or not.

When participating in our events/activities your name may appear in the results section of this website or in newspaper reports. To see how we look after your personal data, please read our privacy policy.

NGOC follows British Orienteering’s national guidance. This provides a sensible balance between the benefits and risks associated with the taking and use of images. If you are unsure about acceptable practice, please speak to the event organiser.