Pre Event Info

For details of the other associated events during the weekend, go to

Day 2 Saturday 4th May 2024 - Middle distance Urban
Day 3 Sunday 5th May 2024 - Long distance UKUL Urban
Day 4 Monday 6th May 2024 - 'O'Fest in Wythenshawe Park

Day 1 Friday 3rd May 2024

This introduction to the Manchester in May Weekend will be based at The Gardeners Arms, Wythenshawe Rd, Wythenshawe, Manchester M23 9DD. It is situated alongside the 'Wythenshawe Park' MetroLink tram station. Assembly and toilets will be in the pub.

There will be a long and a short course. To reach the starts, you will take the tram to 'Northern Moor' station (one stop), for the short course and to 'Sale Water Park' (two stops), for the long course. The single fare to both is £1.40. 

This cost is not included within the entry fee and is payable at the Metro station. 

All Metro stations accept card payment by touch in / out readers or via the ticket machines located on the platforms. Manchester Metro do operate extensive revenue enforcement, so please ensure you have paid for your travel before boarding the tram. There are no options to pay on the tram itself.

Location

Nearest town: Baguley

• Grid Ref:
• Postcode: M23 9DD
• Latitude: 53.40756
• Longitude: -2.29509
• Google Map
• Streetmap (OS 50k)
• Bing Map (OS 50k)
• OpenStreetMap

Directions / Parking

The Gardeners Arms has a limited amount of parking. When this is full, parking is available on local streets.

From the south and west, take the M56 to junction 3. Follow signs to City Centre onto the A5103. After 500m take the slip road signed to Northendon and Sale Moor. Turn left onto the B5167, then at the first traffic lights turn left towards Brooklands on the B5167 to pass Wythenshawe Park. The Gardeners Arms will be on your right after 1.5km.

From the east, take the M60 to junction 3. Then take the M56 to junction 2. Exit onto the A560 and after 1km turn right onto the A5103. Take the slip road signed to Northendon and Sale Moor. Turn left onto the B5166, then at the first traffic lights turn left towards Brooklands on the B5167 to pass Wythenshawe Park. The Gardeners Arms will be on your right after 1.5km

From the north, follow the M60 to junction 5 and follow the signs to Chester. After 300m take the slip road signed to Northenden and Sale Moor. Turn right onto the B5166, then at the first traffic lights turn left towards Brooklands on the B5167 to pass Wythenshawe Park. The Gardeners Arms will be on your right after 1.5km.

Course Information

Long course      Optimum run distance of 10.7km

Short course     Optimum run distance of 5.8km

Start times         (leaving Assembly) From 17:00 to 19:00

Trams run every 12 minutes. You should allow c.10 minutes for the tram journey to get to the start point on the Short course and c.15 minutes to get to the start point on the Long course.

Please aim to be back at Assembly by 21:00 latest.

Explanation of colour courses

• White are very easy with all controls on paths. They are mainly used by 6-10 year olds and family groups.
• Yellow use simple linear features like paths, walls and streams. They are mainly used by under 12’s and family groups.
• Orange progress to basic use of the compass and route choice. They are ideal for novice adults or experienced youngsters.
• Light Green are ideal for improvers as the navigational difficulty begins to increase and uses simple contours and point features.
• Green are used mostly by experienced under 18’s and adults wanting a short but challenging course with a very hard navigational difficulty.
• Blue are a longer, more physically demanding course in comparison to the green. The distances are more varied between controls and the course attracts experienced orienteers.
• Brown & Black are very physically demanding and have a very hard navigational difficulty. They are for experienced orienteers only.
• Score means visiting as many controls as possible in any order in a specific time, like 45mins.

Entry Details

Online entry is via Racesignup

Entry fees

Until 23:59 on 27 April 2024
Long and Short courses: £6 Adults, £3 Juniors

On or after 28 April 2024
Long and Short courses: £8 Adults, £5 Juniors

Online entries close 2 May 2024 at 20:00

There will be very limited entry on the day available and maps will be issued on a first come first served basis. To guarantee a run please register in advance on line.

Facilities

Pie and chips will be available at the pub. Tick the box on the entry system

Dogs allowed?

The pub is dog friendly. They are also allowed on the trams. You may take them on your course if they are on a lead

Contacts / Officials

Entries: Marie Roberts, 

Contact: Sue Birkinshaw, Coordinator,  

Planner: Peter Ross MDOC

Controller: Ian Watson MDOC

Safety and Risk

A comprehensive risk assessment will have been carried out by the organiser, but participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety during the event.

Privacy: when entering our events your name may appear in the results section of this website or in newspaper reports.
Read our privacy policy to see how we look after your personal data.

Back to top