Saturday 14/03/2026 – 2026 Welsh and NGOC Leagues and BUCS Orienteering Championships – Merthyr Mawr

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Header image: cc-by-sa2.0 - Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes by Pebble - geography.org.uk/7411792

Saturday 14/03/2026 - 2026 Welsh and NGOC Leagues and BUCS Orienteering Championships - Merthyr Mawr

For our next league race we go West again, this time deep into the heart of South Wales, running on the dunes at Merthyr Mawr by kind permission of Merthyr Mawr Estates and Swansea Bay Orienteering club. We are there in part as a result of our plan this year to seek greater cooperation with clubs in Wales, but also to support our club members or associates who are involved in the 2026 British Universities and Colleges (BUCS) Orienteering Championships. This is a separate event, organised by the University of Bristol Orienteering Club, but planned by Sophie Jones, daughter of our Chair, and controlled by Richard Cronin, NGOC, and run alongside our league races, which are also planned by Sophie. It also a selection race for the World Universities Orienteering Championships, to be held in Portugal later in the year. So it's going to be a busy day, on the great terrain that we visited for Day 1 of Croeso 2024.

The format of the day is that we will run the Open, league courses, first, with BUCS courses following on after a short break. This means that the Open start window is relatively early - 10:00-11:15 - with BUCS courses opening at 11:30 and running through until perhaps 14:15. These timings will, however, depend on the numbers of both Open and BUCS runners, and may be adjusted backwards if numbers allow. This means a long day, and we will need plenty of volunteers to run the day efficiently, so do please think about volunteering to help on the day. You can find contact details for our volunteer coordinator in the Entries section below.

This is a Regional (level C) event for which you can earn British Orienteering ranking points.

Entries are now open on Fabian 4 and will close at midnight on Tuesday 10th March.

Important: Please also note that as from 1 January 2026 Non-members of British Orienteering are not insured under British Orienteering’s public liability policy. By entering this event, you acknowledge that you are participating at your own risk.

Officials

Planner: Sophie Jones, TVOC.

Controller: Richard Cronin, NGOC

Organiser: Pat Macleod, NGOC For any pre-event questions, please email Pat

Parking for the event will be in a field about 900m short of the Candleston Car Park. Parking is free in this field, but if you wish, and if there is space, you can also pay and display park in Candleston car park. Take care walking along the road to Assembly from the event car park, as it will be used by vehicle traffic during the day.

W3W: ///upon.plug.nation This is the entrance to the event parking field.

Postcode: CF32 0LS. Drive on past the church on arrival at the post code, and the parking field is 400m further on, on the left.

Please note that there is a 6 Nations Rugby match between Wales and Italy at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on the 14th March, and so you can expect traffic to be significantly heavier than usual. However, kick-off is at 16:40, and so it may be that the worst of the traffic will not materialise during the earlier part of the morning, and will not be leaving post-match until later into the evening. Check travel news before making your travel plans.

If you wish to pay in the Candleston car park, the fee for a day is £5, payable by car or RingGo (code 29531).

The area has a mix of sand, scrubby undergrowth and some woodland grown over complex dune detail. The map's proximity to Porthcawl and Bridgend has resulted in an extensive and ever-changing path network meaning not all minor paths are mapped. These two factors create an area that is uniquely challenging and requires concentration for fine contour navigation.

The undergrowth has become quite thick in parts and is encroaching on most small paths so full leg cover is mandatory.

Runners are reminded to take care and watch for other members of the public. This is especially true for small paths and steep dunes that encourage fast descent. BUCs Mens/ Womens A and Mens B courses will have a spectate-able descent down the 60m “Big Dipper” dune which can be watched a short distance from the carpark.

A4, Scale 1:10,000, 2.5m contours, for Brown and Blue courses, 1:7,500 for other courses, all subject to final controlling.

Seasonal water is mapped with horizontal blue lines. Significant rainfall over the winter means these will be very wet. Whilst impressive, when tested, the water is only knee deep on sensible route choices. There are dry routes to all controls.

Whilst there are no butterfly loops on the League courses, some controls may be placed very close together - check control numbers carefully. Where legs between controls are short, again, read overprint with care.

Control descriptions will be text for Yellow, text and pictorial for Orange and Red, and pictorial for all other courses. Loose control descriptions will be available in the start lanes.

Maps for all courses and classes will not be collected from runners at download, but will be folded and taped to hide the course. All runners are trusted not to show their maps to runners yet to start.

Courses are close to being finalised for both Open (i.e non-BUCS) and BUCS courses, but are subject to final controlling.

Class/Course	Length(Km)	Climb(m)	Controls	Map	Qualifying League(s)	Suitable for
Brown	7.7	275	24	A4, 1:10,000	Welsh, NGOC	Any experienced orienteer
Blue	6.1	210	21	A4, 1:10,000	Welsh, NGOC	Any experienced orienteer
Green	4.7	165	14	A4, 1:7,500	Welsh, NGOC	Anyone
Short Green	2.8	100	13	A4, 1:7,500	Welsh, NGOC	Anyone
Light Green	3.0	120	11	A4, 1:7,500	Welsh only	Anyone
Red	5.5	170	12	A4, 1:7,500	NGOC only, or assumed Long Orange equivalent for Welsh League	Runners and Novice Adult Orienteers
Orange	2.9	85	9	A4, 1:7,500	Welsh, NGOC	Adult beginners and improving children
Yellow	2.1	40	13	A4, 1:7,500	Welsh, NGOC	Children

Course details are subject to final controlling. They are however representative of the likely final details.

Course distances for all courses are straight line between controls, except for the Red course, where the length is optimal path based.

Red course runners can run in pairs or groups if they wish.

There may be a string course, subject to finding a suitable location and the resources to manage it. We will update here in due course.

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.

Split starts. The Open course start window is very short, and so split starts will be difficult to achieve. If you need one please contact the Organiser - details in the Introduction to this page - and we will try to accommodate you.

BUCS Courses

These details are provided for information, in particular for BUCS Guest runners entering the event via Fabian 4.

Class	TD	Spectator Control	Length(Km)	Climb (m)	Controls	Map	Course Number
BUCS Men A, WUOC Selection Men, Guest Men	5	Yes	9	305	28	A4, 1:10,000	11
BUCS Women A, BUCS Men B, WUOC Selection Women, Guest Women	5	Yes	7.7	250	24	A4, 1:10,000	12
BUCS Women B	5	No	4.7	165	14	A4, 1:7,500	13
BUCS Women C, BUCS men C	3	No	4.1	170	12	A4, 1:7,500	14

Runners on courses 11 and 12 will be assigned to a course variant on call up. These courses include butterfly loops. If you are not familiar with these, read the detailed description on the BUCS event information website

The Start procedure for Open/League courses is broadly as usual for NGOC league events, with a turn up and queue system, but at 4 minutes rather than the usual three. At -1 you will stand by your map box, where the course name will be visible for you to check that it is the correct map. At -10 seconds you can pull the map from the box, making sure you only pull one copy, but may not look at it. On the long beep, dib the adjacent start control and follow the tapes about 30m to the start flag.

Yellow and Red course runners may inspect their maps before starting, and will be started independently of the queueing system.

BUCS runners reading this page should refer to the BUCS event information for further information on how the BUCS start will operate; broadly as above but with allocated start times and so call up by name 4 minutes before your start time, and for runners on Mens and and B and Womens A courses assignment to one of the course 11/12 variants.

Entry Details

You should enter the course appropriate to your involvement in the Welsh or NGOC leagues, if relevant, or whichever course you choose otherwise. BUCS Guest runners should select their appropriate Guest Class when entering on Fabian 4.

Starts: 10:00 - 11:30. Please note that the start window is earlier than usual, and a little shorter. This is to allow the BUCS runners to start once the start area is mainly clear of other runners, at 11:30. This includes BUCS Guest Runners. It is a queueing start for all runners in the Open start window. BUCS Runners (excluding Guests) will have allocated start times, from 11:45 onwards.

Courses close: 12:30 for all League runners, and 16:00 for BUCS courses, meaning that you must report to download before 12:45, 16:15 for BUCS courses, or risk disqualification. You should start early if running a long course.

Please note that there is no red course discount for this race

Fees	Pre-entry	Entry on the Day	Non-member Supplement
Adults	£12	£14	£2
Juniors	£6	£7	£1
Family (2 adults + their children)	£24	£28	As above for any non-members

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 Tuesday 10th March.

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.

Please note that we keep entries open as late as we can subject to map printing. If you miss the deadline you are welcome to enter on the day, and there will invariably be a map available for the course you choose to run. We will not reserve maps for people who contact us after entries close and ask us to do so; you take your chance with all others who choose to enter on the day.

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.

Toilets will be available in the event car park. There is also a small toilet block in Candleston public car park.

The NGOC pop-up café will be present in the Assembly area. Please note that it operates a cash only honesty system. If you have no cash, you can pay via card at registration, subject to a minimum charge of £1. Please note, however, that the mobile signal is poor at Assembly, and so the card system may not work. Bring cash!

There will be a clothing dump close to the Start and finish; please bring your own bags. In addition, you may leave valuables, phones, cash etc in an envelope at registration if you wish. We will provide the envelopes!

If you are interested in obtaining NGOC 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.

Important: Please note that as from 1 January 2026 Non-members of British Orienteering are not insured under British Orienteering’s public liability policy. By entering this event, you acknowledge that you are participating at your own risk.

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

The competition area is used by the public, in particular by horse riders, and, towards the Eastern edge of the map, race horse training jockeys. Please allow horses space and obey any requests from riders.

The road between the event car park and Assembly, which is next to Candleston public car park, is narrow and will be used by members of the public, and competitors prepared to pay and display (and who can find a space!). Please go carefully along the road between your car and the event.

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

A first aid kit and trained first aiders will be available at Enquiries and Download.

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.

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.

Saturday 14/03/2026 – 2026 Welsh and NGOC Leagues and BUCS Orienteering Championships – Merthyr Mawr