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 will use some of the BUCS courses. 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 will open soon 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, UBOC.
Controller: Richard Cronin, NGOC
Organiser: Pat Macleod, NGOC For any pre-event questions, please email Pat
Directions and Parking
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.
Click on the parking icon on the map below, and then the 
icon to get directions to the course.
The Area
Merthyr Mawr is a mix of open sand dunes largely covered with coarse grass or undergrowth, and dense woodland further from the shoreline. There are many tracks, and some areas of open sand, including the well known Big Dipper close to Assembly. Relief is very intricate, with a 2.5m contour interval to highlight the fine details of the dunes. The mix of dense fine contour detail and a plethora of paths can lead to some challenging navigation!
The Map
A4, Scale 1:10,000 or 1:7,500, to be confirmed, 2.5m contours, for Brown and Blue courses, 1:7,500 for other courses, all subject to final controlling.
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.
Assembly, Start and Finish
Assembly is adjacent to Candleston Car Park.
The Start is and Finish are similarly very close to this public car park
SI Touch free punching is enabled, but all runners must punch both Start and Finish.
Courses
Courses have yet to be finalised, but the table below gives indicative lengths for the Open (i.e non-BUCS) courses.
| Class/Course | length(Km) | Climb(m) | Controls | Map | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | 7.5 | 20 | A4, 1:10,000 or 1:7,500, TBC | Any experienced orienteer | |
| Blue | 6 | 18 | A4, 1:10,000 or 1:7,500, TBC | Any experienced orienteer | |
| Green | 5 | 17 | A4, 1:7,500 | Anyone | |
| Short Green | 3.5 | 12 | A4, 1:7,500 | Anyone | |
| Light Green | 3.5 | A4, 1:7,500 | Anyone | ||
| Red | 4.5 | 12 | A4, 1:10,000 | Runners and Novice Adult Orienteers | |
| Orange | 2.8 | 9 | A4, 1:7,500 | Adult beginners and improving children | |
| Yellow | 2.0 | 11 | A4, 1:7,500 | Children |
Course details are subject to final controlling. They are however representative of the likely final details.
Course distances for all courses including the Red course are straight line between controls. This is due to the Red course being used for some BUCS classes.
Red course runners can run in pairs or groups if they wish.
Regrettably there wont be a string course, owing to lack of a suitable area conveniently located for the event as a whole
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. 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. 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.
Entries, Timing and Fees
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.
Starts: 10:00 - 11:15. 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 area is mainly clear of other runners, at 11:30.
Courses close: 12:30 for all League runners, meaning that you must report to download before 12:45, or risk disqualification. You should start early if running a long course.
| 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 will open soon, 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.
Refunds
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
Dogs are allowed in the area and courses as long as they are under control and owners tidy after them.
Facilities
Toilets will be available in the event car park. There is also a fairly tatty 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.
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.
Safety
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.