Sunday 05/07/2026 – NGOC League 7 and Welsh League – Clydach Terrace

We would like to thank the Duke of Beaufort Estates for permission to use the area and Brynmawr Foundation School for the use of their grounds and building.

The area is exposed open moorland largely composed of old slag heaps with a lot of fine contour detail. Although there are many steep slopes, the area as a whole is fairly level, so there are no prolonged climbs.

There was a serious moorland fire last year which affected approximately half of the area we are using and there is very little heather or gorse remaining. The map has not been updated to show the fire damage but you can assume that the area, apart from the marshes, is very runnable. The longer courses will visit the more severely burnt eastern side which has a “moonscape” appearance. The areas marked as marsh are very difficult to cross and you are advised to avoid them.

Please arrive with clean footwear and clothing and clean footwear and clothing either on site or at home.

Based on the SWOC map created by Ben Mitchell with some updates to paths by Alan Pucill and Roger Stein. A4 size, Scale 1:7,500, 5m contours for all courses, all subject to final controlling. The map for the Brown course will be double sided.

There are numerous small paths many of which eventually fade out. We have tried to be pragmatic in the mapping of these as it is impossible to map them comprehensively without making the map unreadable.

As noted above, the fire damaged areas have not been mapped but there is very little undergrowth anywhere so the area is very runnable. Consequently, the distinction between areas marked as Open and Rough Open is not now a useful aid to navigation.

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, except for the Red course, for which control descriptions are only on the map.

Enquiries, registration and download are in the school foyer and there are toilets adjacent. NO SPIKED SHOES indoors please. We hope the NGOC café will be present for light refreshments.

Unfortunately, the Start and Finish are 1.5km from assembly (60m uphill to the start). The route is along a very quiet but narrow public road so juniors should be accompanied. Start and Finish are close together so clothing can be left near the Finish. In the case of bad weather we aim to put up a shelter for the clothing dump.

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

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

With the exception of the Red course, course distances are the straight line between controls. For the Red course, length and climb are measured along the likely path route round the course. Red course runners can run in pairs or groups if they wish.

There is one path on the Yellow course which is quite indistinct. Depending on the state of the vegetation on the day, we may add tapes. There are a couple of places where Yellow course runners may encounter a sad face which means they are going the wrong way! All other courses can ignore these signs.

The area is compact so courses criss-cross and you can expect to see other runners appearing from all directions!

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.

Entry Details

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

Starts: 11:00 - 12:30. Please allow plenty of time for the 1.5km walk to the start.

Courses close: 14:00, meaning that you must report to download before 14:30, or risk disqualification.

SI dibber hire: Standard dibber £1 Adults, Juniors and Red course free

Touch Free dibber: £2 Adults, £1 Juniors, Red course free

Entries are now open, and will close at midnight on Wednesday 1st July.

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.

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 not allowed in te school grounds, nor on the courses, due to grazing sheep.

Toilets are available in the school. There are no facilities (or suitable bushes!) at the Start or on the way there.

We hope the NGOC pop-up café will be present at assembly. You can pay by cash or contactless at registration, or by scanning a QR code, but please note that our provider sets a minimum payment of £1 for non-cash payments.

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.

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.

The area is exposed and mostly above 400m above sea level so please dress appropriately and bear in mind that even on a summer’s day it can be much cooler than one might expect. Hopefully we’ll have a sunny day, in which case please consider using sun screen and make sure you are well hydrated. However, it can be wet and very windy and if conditions are poor runners may be required to carry a water/windproof top. In this case there will be notices on the route from the car park to assembly and on leaving assembly towards the Start.

There is considerable evidence of motorbike scramblers using the area, although none have been seen on any planning visits. If any are there on the day, please take extra care, especially when climbing slag heaps with obvious motorbike tracks down them.

The large marshes are very difficult to cross and if we have rain before the event there are places where you could go in up to your knees! Courses have been planned to avoid the need to cross them and we strongly advise you not to try.

Running in shorts is allowed if the weather is suitable, but please check for ticks after your run.

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.

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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.