Summer Evening Event - Brereton Heath
and Club Championship Event 6
A summer evening event offering courses that are suitable for newcomers and for experienced orienteers.
Tue 17th Jun 2025
Type of event: Local
Type of terrain: Parkland, Woodland
Info updated: 18th Jun
Results
Event Report
Planner's Comments
My thanks to all who took part in this evening's event at Brereton Heath. Once again the site provided a good location for orienteering and it was great to see so many members and guests take part. I continue to be amazed as to how much vegetation can spring up in only a matter of days. Julie (Organiser) and I walked the site no more than two weeks earlier and navigation was much more straightforward then. So, whether your run was 30 minutes, 90 minutes or anything in between or indeed you were able to squeeze in a second run, I hope that you enjoyed the evening.
Many of you will be aware that MDOC is 60 this year and as a small recognition of that the courses (with the exception of White and Yellow who had a separate recognition) included a series of controls that, if followed closely, will have created a diamond shaped piece of 'Strava Art' (or whatever your preferred means of recording your run is). Sorry that the club couldn't run to real diamonds but I'm sure you'll agree that the cup cakes were tasty.
As planner I am grateful to Julie Brook (Organiser), Eddie and Kath Speak (Computing) for their orienteering wisdom plus to Andy Thornton (my orienteering mentor). Thanks also to those members who supported the start / finish / download and clear up activities. An additional thanks to Ben Kyd who brought Trail O to life for many of us.
I was able to get 'out and about' while the event was on and managed to get this picture which captured the evening for me. Club colours, smiling face and a bright control with a wildflower meadow in the background.
Pre Event Info
Pre-entries via RaceSignUp please.
MDOC's 60th anniversary picnic will be held alongside the event. Bring your own food -cake and soft drinks will be provided.
The ice cream farm opposite will be staying open later for us.
Location
Nearest town: Holmes Chapel
- Grid Ref: SJ795654
- Postcode: CW12 4SU
- Latitude: 53.18511
- Longitude: -2.30777
- Google Map
- Streetmap (OS 50k)
- Bing Map (OS 50k)
- OpenStreetMap
Directions / Parking
What3words: ///skewed.warm.lunching
Signed from A54 Holmes Chapel to Congleton road. Parking charge (meter). Registration outside Visitor Centre.
Registration & Start Times
Pre-enter by Tueday 17/06/2025 12:00 to guarantee a map is available for you.
Limited EOD at the event, subject to the availability of maps.
Registration from 17:00. Start times: 17:30-19:00. All courses close at 20:15.
Collect hire SI cards if necessary.
Course Information
The following courses are available (suitable for newcomers and for experienced orienteers:
| Course | Length |
|---|---|
| White | 1.1 km |
| Yellow | 1.6 km |
| Orange | 2.3 km |
| Light Green ** | 3.1 km |
| Very Short Green | 2.6 km |
| Short Green ** | 3.4 km |
| Green ** | 4.1 km |
| Blue ** | 5.1 km |
| Beginners' Score | 45 mins |
** indicates double-sided map
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.
Fees: £6.00 seniors and £3.00 juniors. (£1 discount for MDOC members)
Free SI-dibber loan (but £30 if not returned).
Terrain Description
Brereton Heath is a delightful pocket of Cheshire woodland. If you are not already aware, it is a mostly flat and mostly runnable (hopefully sunlit) bit of forest. There are many many lovely paths and open woodland which means fast progress, but it is easy to get confused or dis-oriented and end up losing time!
Much of the area offers very pleasant running and has little or no undergrowth to inhibit your progress.
The courses will be planned to avoid the worst undergrowth, but you may encounter some nettles or similar in some places.
Facilities
Toilets at the visitor centre.
First Aid will be available at Registration.
Dogs allowed?
Under close control at all times. Preferably not on courses.
Contacts / Officials
Series Co-ordinator: Tony Wagg 0161 445 0902, enquiries to:
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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