Pre Event Info

Assembly: Department Campfield, Lower Byrom Street, Manchester, M3 4FP

This will be a Long Distance Urban – National event, with a full range of Age Class Courses.

This event is part of the 2026 UK Urban League and North West Urban League.

A 60 minute City Score course will also be available for individuals, families or small groups wishing to try out urban orienteering.

Race Number bibs will be available to collect at the Assembly venue and must be worn and visible at all times by all competitors while competing on courses.

Location

Nearest town: Manchester

• Grid Ref: SJ832977
• Postcode: M3 4FP
• Latitude: 53.47669
• Longitude: -2.25399
• Google Map
• Streetmap (OS 50k)
• Bing Map (OS 50k)
• OpenStreetMap

Directions / Parking

Bus: nearest use 'Museum' bus stop 30, 33 and 33B on Liverpool Streer.

Train/tram: 10 min walk from Deansgate Rail station and Tram stop.

Car: various Pay and Display car parks available within 10 minutes walk.

Registration & Start Times

Starts will be from 10:30 to 12:30.

Self-selected start times are requested on the online entry system. Please start at your selected time.

Timings:

Course Information

Full range of Urban Age classes as per UKUL plus a 60 minute City Score course.

Distances and Climb are based on the optimal route.

Note regarding Junior competitors running on their own (not accompanied by an adult):

• 16 Years or under on the day can only enter Courses 7 or 8
• 12 Years or under on the day can only enter Course 8
• Juniors 16 years or under on the day running the City Score course MUST be accompanied by an adult 

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

Entries via RaceSignUp from Sunday 1st March 2026.

Start times to be selected by competitors on entering the event.

Early Bird rate will apply up to midnight 12th April 2026

Standard rate will apply from 13th April to midnight Sunday 17th May 2026.

Late / EOD rate will apply for any entries accepted after midnight 17th May 2026.

Entrants may select to borrow an SI timing card at no cost.

Entrants running courses with over 30 controls will be allocated a high capacity SI Card to borrow free of charge for the day(s) in question. 

(MDOC Member Discount applies.)

Refund Policy

Full refund will be made, less the RSU transaction fees, on cancelled entries up to midnight on the 17th May.

No automatic refund will be available after this date.

Terrain Description

The race will cover the Castlefield area and western parts of Manchester City Centre.

Facilities

Toilets and bag drop area will be available at the Assembly venue.

Bags are left at competitors risk.

Race Number bibs will be available to collect at the Assembly venue and must be worn and visible at all times by all competitors while competing on courses.

Catering outlet exists in the Assembly complex

Dogs allowed?

No dogs on Courses. Dogs on leads are allowed in the area and Assembly if kept on leads.

Contacts / Officials

Enquiries to: 

Co-ordinator:  David Wathey
Organiser:  Guy Lingford
Planners:  Trevor Hindle & Hazel Hindle
Controller: TBC

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.

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