12/11/2022 – WNL 2022-23 – Soudley

12/11/2022 – WNL 2022-23 – Soudley
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12/11/2022 - WNL 2022-23 - Soudley

The Western Night League is a series of 60-minute score events, taking place after dark in the winter - headtorches required!  Each control in the forest is worth a given number of points: score as many points as you can by visiting controls, and get back within the time limit to avoid late penalties.

We return to Soudley Ponds, scene of our SW league event back in January, for our first WNL event in the 2022-23 League

Enter on Fabian4.co.uk by midnight on Thursday 10th November. Please try not to leave it to the last minute to enter. Enter Online

Officials

Organiser/Planner: John Fallows. Queries? email John, or phone 07971 782729

Bio-Security

Please pay particular attention to the following requirement from Forestry England:

Our forests are at risk from pests and diseases. They can spread rapidly and have a devastating impact on our landscapes. Help keep the forest healthy by ensuring all boots, buggies and bikes are free of mud, leaves twigs or bark before traveling to another area of woodland.

Read more on how you can help stop the spread of diseases in our forests at:

https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/biosecurity-advice-forest-visitors

Directions and Parking

Parking is on a forest track immediately North of Soudley Village, on the minor road from Soudley to Littledean, with the entry point at:
What 3 Words:  ///engine.yummy.valley
Grid Reference: -  SO659109

The turn off the minor road will be signed, with warning signs on the approaches; take care on this narrow road.

Click on the Parking icon on the map below, and then the Direction icon icon to get directions to the course.

The Area

Mixed woodland consisting of steep slopes divided by a road running North/South through the area. There are many boulders and brashings which are slip hazards and may lead to injury.

Please do not cross any fences marked as uncrossable.

The ponds are suffering from Crayfish Plague at the moment and it is therefore most important that you do not enter any areas marked as out of bounds other than to use the paths between the ponds. Dogs must be kept on leads to prevent them from entering the ponds and the main stream which runs between them. There are many Forestry signs up to remind you of this.

You may not run along the road which runs through the area.

The Map

Map drawn originally in 2019, updated in October 2021 and minor updates for this event. A4, 1:10,000, with control descriptions on the front of the map as well as available as loose control descriptions at Assembly.

Start and Finish

Registration, Start and Finish are all adjacent to parking.

Courses

Standard WNL 60 minute score course

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

Timing and Fees

Starts: As soon as it's dark enough, so probably 17:15-17:45 or thereabouts
Courses close: 19:00, meaning that you must report to download before 19:10, or risk disqualification.

Fees Pre-entry Entry on the Day Non-member Supplement
Adults £7 £10 £2
Juniors £3 £4 £1
Family (2 adults + their children) £16 £20 As above for any non-members

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

Touch Free dibber: £2 Adults, £1 Juniors

Pre-entry is strongly preferred. Enter on Fabian4.co.uk by midnight on Thursday 10th November..

Enter Online

Entry on the day is available only while maps last, but note the premium price to discourage this. EOD payment by cash only.

Refunds

As the Government has removed all restrictions on events and activities, 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

Dogs are permitted on the courses, but must be ‘under control’, and may not be allowed into water courses.

Facilities

the pub of the night will be confirmed shortly

Safety

There are one or two large crags in the event area. Course are planned such that no sensible route approaches them, but runners should be aware of them. They are not hazard taped.

The road through the event area is strictly out of bounds, but may be crossed anywhere at right angles to the road to pass between the two parts of the event area. You may not run along the road.

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

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 Download.

Living with COVID

As from 24 February:

  • You are not be legally required to self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19. You should, however, stay at home if you can and avoid contact with other people.
  • You do not have to take daily tests, nor are you legally required to self-isolate following contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Nevertheless, although all legal restrictions have ceased, you should NOT attend if you are Covid positive, or suspect you are, and everyone attending should continue taking sensible precautions, such as avoiding close contact, particularly around the Start, Finish, and Assembly.