Saturday 25/10/2025 – NGOC League 10 – Headless Hill

Headless Hill consists of a number of North-South ridges with deep valleys between them. Most of it is mature hardwood forest, with the western slopes characterised by crags and boulder fields. The area is heavily used by mountain bikers whose trails appear and disappear with the seasons, almost. There is extensive bracken in places, but also plenty of runnable forest.

The edges of many tracks have a penetrable, but intimidating, band of bracken that guards entry/exit to the forest.

The threat to our forests and woodlands has never been greater. Trees and plants in Britain are now vulnerable to a range of new pests and diseases as a result of a combination of climate change and the increased movement of goods around the world. Activities in forests can increase chance of spreading a pest or disease. Everyone who visits or works on managed forests can make a difference.

Please arrive with clean footwear and clothing and clean footwear and clothing either on site or at home before visiting another woodland, “Leave the Forest in the Forest”.

A4, Scale 1:10,000, 5m contours for Brown, Blue, and Green, 1:7,500 for other courses, all subject to final controlling, based on the previous NGOC 2022 map, minor updates 2025 for this event by Pat Macleod.

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

Assembly is in a small private field adjacent to the parking track

The Start and Finish are both a few hundred meters from assembly.

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

Course details are subject to final controlling and possible changes arising from uncertainty over the availability of the parking area. They are however representative of the likely final details.

Course distances are straight line between controls. The 'climb' on the Brown and Blue courses is similarly on the direct line between controls. Say no more!

We hope to have a string course on the day.

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: 10:30 - 12:00. Note the earlier start window.

Courses close: 14:00, meaning that you must report to download before 14:15, or risk disqualification.

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 Wednesday 22nd October.

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.

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 allowed in the area and courses as long as they are under control and owners tidy after them.

A single toilet should be available.

The NGOC pop-up café’ will be present. Please note the café is CASH ONLY, please either bring cash (it’s a very cheap pop up cafe!) or make yourself known at enquiries to make a bank transfer, particularly if you have outstanding arrears due.

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.

The area is well used in particular by mountain bikers. Please take care when running or crossing MTB trails, particularly if going downhill, where bikes will be approaching fast, probably, from behind you.

Do not climb on timber stacks. Be aware of crags and large boulders in the area.

Forestry contractors may be working in the area and although operations should not be taking place at weekends please be vigilant.

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 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.

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.