Two sprint courses, A and B, are offered for all age groups and can be run in any order (i.e. A then B, or B then A). Both courses are planned entirely within the boundaries of the park which is isolated from the surrounding roads.

Times for both courses will be added together to provide overall time. Results will be posted on the MDOC website after the event. 

Location

Nearest town: Fallowfield, Manchester

• Grid Ref: SJ 853942
• Postcode: M14 6LT
• Latitude: 53.44542
• Longitude: -2.22391
• Google Map
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• OpenStreetMap

Directions / Parking

Entry to car park via Mabfield Road (off A6010 Wilmslow Road).

In addition there is roadside parking on roads adjacent to the park, Yew Tree Road and Platt Lane (please be considerate of residents if parking on surrounding roads).

Public Transport: A large number of public bus services run along Wilmslow Road, past the Eastern entrance to Platt Fields from Piccadilly Gardens in central Manchester, running down Oxford Road. Visit Transport for Greater Manchester at www.tfgm.com/buses for full details of route options and timings.

Nearest Railway stations – Oxford Road or Piccadilly.

Note that the Metro tram system does NOT run close to Platt Fields, and therefore buses are a better option.

Registration & Start Times

Registration will be located to the side of the driveway leading to the carpark, and clearly visible from the Mabfield Road entrance.

Registration: 11:30 to 13:45

Starts: 12:00 to 14:00

Courses Close: 15:00

Fee: Adults £4, Juniors & Students £2 – fee covers entry for both courses. Competitors may run only one course if they wish.

Free SI-dibber hire (but £30 if not returned).

Course Information

Course A = 3.0 km, Course B = 2.8 km

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.

Terrain Description

Platt Fields is a flat area of urban parkland to the south of Manchester city centre at the heart of the University residential area and at the southern end of the famous ‘Curry Mile’. The park has areas of open grassland planted with mature trees. There is a well defined network of paths and numerous features of interest tucked away around the park.

Facilities

Public toilets are located next to the car park, by the duck pond.

Dogs allowed?

Dogs are allowed in the park.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Sam Drinkwater

Organiser: David Wathey

For further information please contact the organiser David Wathey via