Pre Event Info

Assembly: M40 7LJ (tbc)

This will be a Knock Out Sprint competition format, but all entrants will have the chance to run three races.

[1 x individual qualifier and 2 x Knock Out Sprint races].

The first Sprint race will be an individual qualifier race. The results from this will be used to seed competitors into A and B Semi Final streams.

The second Sprint race will be Knock Out Sprint format with ‘mini mass start’ for each heat. The placing of runners in the Semi Final heats will determine which FINAL race stream (e.g. A, B, C, D etc) they go into.

The Final races will be Knock Out Sprint format with ‘mini mass start’ for each Final Heat.

All heats on a specific Distance (i.e. Long, Medium or Short) will run the same course. As such, maps will be collected from runners at the finish up until the last heats have been started.

Location

Nearest town: Miles Platting, Manchester

• Grid Ref:
• Postcode: M40 7LJ
• Latitude: 53.48951
• Longitude: -2.21558
• Google Map
• Streetmap (OS 50k)
• Bing Map (OS 50k)
• OpenStreetMap

Directions / Parking

Bus: nearest Naylor Street bus stop 83, 84, 114, 181, 182, 722 and 726 on Oldham Road – 5 min walk.

Train: 20 min walk from Piccadilly Rail station

Tram: 10 min walk from Holt Town Tram stop

Car: Various Pay and Display car parks available within 15 minutes walk.

Parking in residential streets close to the assembly are restricted to resident permit holders.

Registration & Start Times

Starts will be allocated by the Organisers.

Timings:

Course Information

Courses offered will be:

Long           (c.2.5km – winning time 8 mins)

Medium      (c.2.0km – winning time 8 mins)

Short          (c.1.5km – winning time 8 mins)

Each entrant will have the opportunity to run 3 sprint races at the distance selected (i.e. Long, Medium or Short).

Junior competitors:

• Juniors aged between 13 and 16 Years on the day can only enter the Short Course

• Courses are not suitable for junior competitors under 13 years of age on the day of the event

• Juniors can not be accompanied or shadowed.

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.

Entries Close: Midnight Sunday 17th May 2026.

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

Standard rate will apply from 13th April to midnight Sunday 17th May 2026 (closing date tbc.

There will be no automatic late entry or EOD available after entries close on 17th May.

Where late entries or entry changes are accepted by the Organiser, the following higher rates (or difference from original rate paid) will be applicable: Seniors = £15.00, Juniors = £7.50

Facilities

Toilets, 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.

Further Details re Bibs TBC

Dogs allowed?

Dogs on leads are allowed in the area.

No dogs allowed on Courses.

Dogs in Assembly building TBC.

Contacts / Officials

Enquiries to: 

Co-ordinator:  David Wathey
Organiser:  Paul Watson
Planners:  Ben Kyd
Controller: Alan Ogden

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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