Join us for for part of the British Schools Championship weekend in Manchester and to a great challenge of an area for orienteering. We hope you enjoy exploring around this great estate and park.

The area will provide a great challenge around the nature reserve which will surely test all abilities.

We can’t wait to see you.

Location

Smithills Country Park, Bolton

GRID REF.                        SD 700 115

LAT/LONG                       53.598828, -2.455289

WHAT 3 WORDS           star.bunks.cubs

The event will be signed from the crossroads of the A58, Moss Bank Way with Smithills Dean Road/Halliwell Road.

Parking

Within the grounds of Smithills School. Please follow the signs to the specific orienteering car park. Do not park at the sports centre.

Terrain

A varied area comprising formal Parks, a Country Park with open land and mature woodland some of which is in steep sided valleys. The bulk of the area is set on a hillside rising 125m from South to North.

A stream runs through the area in a steep sided valley which is dangerous to cross except where paths or bridges allow it.

Runners on some courses may choose a route which crosses some football pitches. If the pitches are in use they should be considered as Out of Bounds even though they are not marked as such on the map.

All cultivated fields (yellow with black dots) are out of bounds, even if not specifically marked as such on the map. The one exception is a field on the SE part of the map with a very indistinct path across it which is shown in the gap between OOB areas. Please take the straight line across this field.

Map

Map produced from OOM data by John Embrey of SROC in 2022. Transfer to OCAD and extended by Stephen Richards and Dean Thetford of SELOC and then updated by Simonas Sakalauskas of SROC in September 2023. Final adjustments have been made by Stephen Richards in January 2024.

The Mapper has used the Green dot version of the “Rough Open with Scattered Trees” symbol to show areas of very young trees which have been planted in the two park areas. You can, with care, pass through these areas without damaging the trees but please take special care in the SE part of the area to the NW of the football pitches as the recently planted saplings are only 300mm tall and nigh on invisible.

All courses will use a 1:7,500 scale, 5m contour map.

Facilities

Toilets available at registration.

Please note that there are no metal studded shoes allowed inside the building. If shoes are very muddy these will need to be taken off at the door.

Dogs are welcomed at this Park.

Timings

11.30 till 13.30 with courses closing at 14:15.

Anyone new to the sport along with inexperienced Juniors and Adults can be given some guidance prior to their Start.

The Yellow course map will be available before you start.

Control descriptions in the Start lanes TBC

Courses

The courses available are below. Finishing touches are still being made to each course and full distance/ climb is subject to final planning and will be published ahead of the event.

• Green – 5.2km and m climb
• Short Green – 3.6km and m climb
• Light Green – 3.6km and m climb
• Orange – 2.6km and m climb
• Yellow – 2.0km and m climb

The Si boxes will be set in Contactless mode for those with “Air” dibbers however all competitors must punch at both the Start and Finish.

Registration, download and the finish

At Smithills School, follow the signs through the school grounds to the car park and registration, download, start and finish will be close by.

Please note that there are no metal studded shoes allowed inside the building. If shoes are very muddy these will need to be taken off at the door.

The start

100m from the car park and registration/ download area.

Entries and Fees

We prefer entries in advance through Fabian4, but limited entry on the day will be available.

Entries will be open a couple of weeks before the event.

Seniors

• Short Green and Green £8.00
• Yellow, Orange, Light Green £6.00

Juniors

• All courses £3.00

SI card hire £0.50

SELOC members recieve a £1 discount for any course.

Volunteers also recieve a code to get 50% off your entry. If you can volunteer please contact the event organiser.

Please note: Participants who are not members of British Orienteering are not covered by British Orienteering’s public liability insurance. By entering this event, you acknowledge that you are taking part at your own risk. For example, if you were to accidentally injure a member of the public or damage property during the event, you would not be covered.

First Aid

A first Aid kit will be available but competitors should try to treat any injuries themselves with guidance from a first aider if necessary. Ask at Download.

Officials

Planner – Peter Brooke (SELOC)

Organiser – Lee Ward (SELOC)