DALES WEEKEND 2015 - FINAL DETAILS

Saturday 19th September – Sunday 20th September

Incorporating the Senior Home Internationals, Northern Championships and YHOA Championships.

N.B. 9/9/15 Course details for Day 1 updated due to last minute loss of access to part of the area.

 

Notes for both days

Safety notes – please read first

This is fell running country.  The terrain is high (primarily between 400-500m) and exposed.  Come prepared for all possible types of weather.  In 2013 we had glorious warmth and sunshine on Saturday and a ferocious gale, torrential rain, and poor visibility on Sunday.

 

Shorts are allowed.  (There are some small patches of nettles). A whistle must be carried.  Cagoules with a hood may be compulsory.  There will be checks for both; the latter only if required.   We recommend that, in addition, competitors follow the very sensible Fell Runners Association regulations, which stipulate all competitors come prepared to carry or wear whole body cover waterproof clothing, hat, gloves, and some emergency food.  (Compass, whistle and map go without saying!)  We hope you won’t need it, but you never know.

                                                 

Sheep are on the area and may be some cattle. The latter are usually mildly inquisitive.

         

There will be no water available on the courses or at the finish – so, if you feel the need, please carry your own.  Please empty and crush any water bottles you bring to the start.

 

Lone runners please leave labelled car keys (or something equally unforgettable) at Registration as an additional safety check.  There will not be a clothing dump on either day.

 

First Aid from ML Services will be available in the Assembly Field on Day 1 and also at Assembly and near the Finish on Day 2.  To minimise the risks from e-coli, please wash your hands before eating.  Please check for ticks after your run too.

 

Terrain

Classic limestone country: reasonably fast open land, limestone pavement, scree and crags. Very slippery if wet.

There are many walls in various states of repair. Those which are underprinted in purple must only be crossed at marked crossing points. The latter include gates and permanent stiles, as well as 25 temporary stiles transported and erected by AIRE members. Control description lists will not include the statement ‘use marked crossing points’, as such points will be obvious from the map.  For clarity, where there is only one sensible crossing point on a leg, the line between controls is diverted via that point. Where there is a choice of crossing points, the line between the controls is straight, but is broken over any uncrossable walls. Please use the clearly marked crossing points in both cases

 

Please report to Enquiries any damage caused in competition to walls or gates or stiles.  Our future use of these areas is dependent upon us effecting prompt repairs. Crossable walls may be crossed anywhere that physically allows; this may result in a slight deviation to your route.  Please leave walls, gates and stiles as you found them.  Please open and close gates rather than climb them.

 

Maps

All of the Northern Championships area and the northern part of the YHOA Championships area is new to orienteering. The southern part of the YHOA area formed part of the Kilnsey North map and has been updated. Previous copy available via AIRE Routegadget.  Survey by Roger Lott and Tony Thornley with assistance from Chris Burden, cartography by Tony. Scale according to course - see tables below.

 

The map conforms to ISOM with the following variation:

Continuous limestone pavement is shown with a dark (35%) grey screen. This can be crossed with care by the agile when it’s dry, but it is generally slow and treacherous.

Broken and scattered limestone pavement is shown with a lighter (20%) grey screen. This is usually easier to cross, but is again variable.

 

Contours have been deliberately layered above the grey screen so that you can see the ground shape in these rocky areas.  The stony ground symbol shows broken limestone edges. Dense stony ground dots show scree which is hard to cross.  There are some very big crags. These are not taped. Do not be tempted to try to cross those drawn with a thick line and tags.

 

There is a multitude of cairns in the area, especially on the East side. Only the most prominent are mapped, and sometimes there are too many too close together to show them all.  Many smaller pits and depressions are unmarked.

 

All the open ground in the competition area is shown as rough open, although it varies in runnability.

Movable agricultural equipment - for example fodder racks and small water tanks - is not shown, although five prominent and permanent water troughs are mapped.

 

Marshes are mostly fairly dry. Indistinct marsh can be distinguished by vegetation rather than wetness.  Minor animal and quad bike tracks are not on the map.

 

SHI

The SHI Individuals (Day 1) and Relays (Day 2) will be the first events of each day, which means that 11.00 will be the earliest start time for all other competitors (except the shortest junior and older veteran courses and W/Y/O/LG on Day 2, which will have 11.30 as the earliest start).

 

Traders & Caterers

Compass Point and O-Nosh will be present, as will the YHOA junior squad cake stand.  Please give them your custom.

 

JK 2016

There will be a JK2016 tent in assembly.  Please could YHOA members sign up there to volunteer – we will need all of you!

 

Toilets

Will be in the assembly fields only.

 

Day 1 Saturday: Monks’ Road

SHI Individuals, Northern Championships and UK Orienteering League Event

Travel             

From the South and East the route will be signposted from Malham Village. SD900628.  Post Code BD23 4DQ.  Travel to Malham on all roads from the A65 is along narrow roads and very slow.  After Malham Village the road becomes narrower and, initially, steeper. 

From the North-West the best route is via Settle and Langcliffe on the B6439.  Follow the signs to Malham from Langcliffe for approx. 5.5k, along a narrow and initially steep road, before taking the second lane on the left towards Arncliffe.

From the North-East the area can be approached via the road from Arncliffe.  However this is particularly steep and narrow, and is best avoided.

Allow plenty of time – start times cannot be adjusted.  Please try to avoid travelling in close convoy on narrow lanes with passing places, to more easily allow vehicles travelling in the opposite direction to pass.  

Parking           

Parking is in a field at Great Hill, 800m north of Malham Tarn on the narrow road to Arncliffe, GR SD884684   Post Code: BD24 9PT (the nearest we can get!).  Please follow the instructions of marshals.  There will be a parking fee of £1 per vehicle.

No exit before 12.30

Assembly

Assembly is in the parking field.  All event facilities will be located at Assembly: Enquiries, EOD registration (non-Championship courses only).  SI-card hire, Download, Toilets, CompassPoint, O-Nosh, Results display.  There may be a cake stall too.

Dogs                 Must be on lead and only in the assembly field, as there are sheep everywhere.

Start times:      11.00-13.00      Registration:   10.30-12.30  Enquiries:  09.00-15.30

 

EOD Fees per day:   There will be no EOD for Northern Championship Courses.  (Entry closes on-line at www.fabian4.co.uk at 23.59 on 13 September) 

There will only be EOD for M/W21V, Light Green, Orange, Yellow and White Courses. 

EOD for colour coded courses £5.00; Seniors on Light Green and M/W21V £8.00; Students £5.00

SI-card hire is 50p. Lost cards are charged at £30.

                                                          

Course Details

Course

Classes

Map Scale

Length

Climb

Controls

1

M21E

1:15000

13.4k

440m

23

2

M20E M18E W21E M35L M40L M21L

1:15000

10.7k

360m

19

3

M45L M50L

1:10000

9.6k

270m

16

4

M55L M18L M20L W21L M21S

1:10000

7.8k

200m

19

5

M60L M16A

1:10000

6.2k

170m

16

6

W20E W18E W35L W40L M35S M40S

1:15000

6.2k

195m

14

7

M65L M45S M21V W45L W50L

1:10000

5.6k

170m

14

8

M70L M50S M55S M18S M20S W55L W21S W20L W18L W16A

1:7500

4.9k

145m

15

9

M75L M60S W60L W35S

1:7500

4.4k

125m

14

10

M65S W65L W70L W40S W45S W50S

1:7500

3.4k

140m

13

11

M80 M70S W75 W20S W18S W21V W55S W60S

1:7500

3.3k

105m

11

12

M85 M90 M75S W80 W65S W70S

1:7500

2.8k

105m

9

13

W85 W90

1:7500

1.6k

65m

6

14

M14A M16B

1:10000

5.7k

150m

16

15

W14A W16B                                               Light Green

1:10000

3.2k

110m

12

16

M12A M14B W12A W14A                         Orange

1:10000

2.6k

80m

13

17

M10A M12B W10A W12B                         Yellow

1:7500

2.5k

75m

13

18

M10B W10B                                               White

1:7500

1.5k

40m

9

Competitors on White and Yellow: You may study your map at the Start, before you start.  Ask to look as soon as you enter the start lane. They must not be shown to any competitor yet to run their Championship course. 

Shadowing Only allowed on colour coded courses.  The shadower must run their Championship course before shadowing, or declare themselves non-competitive.

Control Descriptions  Loose waterproof copies of the control descriptions will be available in the start lanes. 

For White and Yellow courses, control descriptions (on map and loose) are textual and pictorial.  Descriptions for all other courses are pictorial.

SI Clear Station      The Clear and Check boxes will be at the Start.

Control sites    Kites and SI boxes will be hung on canes.  Pin punching if SI boxes fail.

The Start                 The start is approximately 500m from Assembly with 20m climb.  Leave the assembly field on the east, i.e. right hand side, of the barn and follow the orange flags.

Call-up will be at -4 minutes.

There is a timed start.  It is your responsibility to get to the start on time.  Should you arrive at the start late, we will try and fit you in at the earliest opportunity, when there is a suitable gap in the start list, but your start time will not be adjusted.    Please follow the instructions of the officials.

The Finish               The finish is approximately 400m from Assembly.  There will be no map collection.  Please do not show your map to competitors who have yet to run. 

Courses Close  at 15.30.

Download                It is essential that you download at the tent as you enter the Assembly Area. Failure to do so could result in Mountain Rescue being called out to do an unnecessary search of the area.

Results                     Results will be displayed at Assembly at regular intervals, and on the Aire website.

String Courses        There will be a String Course on the fell close to assembly.  Follow the route to the start and look out for the String Course.  It will be open from 10.30-12.30.

 

Northern Championships Prize-giving  This will be in assembly at 14.30, or as soon after as relevant results are available.  Unclaimed trophies will be taken to the Yorkshire Championships the following day, and can be collected from Enquiries. Please return trophies from 2014.

Officials           Organiser                   Chris Burden; 01274 583853;  chris.burden@btinternet.com

                          Planner                      Alistair Wood                          Controller        David Rosen (SROC)

Acknowledgements – see end of document

 

                         Day 2 Sunday: Hawkswick Clowder / Arncliffe

SHI Relays, YHOA Championships, Yorkshire Superleague and UK Orienteering League Event

Travel             

From the South and East, the route will be signposted from Skirfare Bridge, SD972692, nearest Post Code BD23 5PT.  This is the road to Littondale that has a cattle grid near its start.  A sign will be in place to ensure that you do not turn off at the ‘main’ Littondale road.

From the North-West you will approach via Arncliffe, but ensure you stay north of the river so that you go though Hawkswick before crossing the bridge there.

Allow plenty of time.  Please try to avoid travelling in close convoy on narrow lanes with passing places, to more easily allow vehicles travelling in the opposite direction to pass.  

Please check the Aire website (www.aire.org.uk) shortly before your journey, as the Hawkswick Bridge is being repaired and if works over-run then alternative instructions will be posted there.

Parking           

Parking is in a field, GR SD953704, Post Code: BD23 5QA (the nearest we can get!).  Please follow the instructions of marshals.  There will be no parking fee.  No exit before 12.30.

Assembly

Assembly is in the parking field.  All event facilities will be located at Assembly: Enquiries, EOD registration, non-Championship courses only), SI-card hire, Download, Toilets, CompassPoint, O-Nosh, YHJS cake stall (TBC), Results display. 

Dogs                 Must be on leads in assembly area only, as there are sheep everywhere.

Start times:      11.00 (11.30 on Blue starts) -13.00   Registration: 10.30-12.30     Enquiries:  09.00-15.30

EOD Fees per day:   Pre-entry is recommended to reserve maps and save you money.  (Entry closes on-line at www.fabian4.co.uk at 23.59 13 September)  There will be limited EOD for all courses, as long as maps last. 

EOD for White, Yellow and Orange courses (children and adults): £4.00; Juniors and Students on longer courses: £5.00

SI-card hire is 50p. Lost cards are charged at £30.

                                                          

Map  Updated from previous maps including some new areas, surveyed by Tony Thornley and Roger Lott, 2014/5.  Cartography by Tony Thornley.

There will be maps at 1;10000, and 1:7500.  These are shown against courses in the chart below.

All maps will be on waterproof paper with control descriptions on the front.                      

Course Details

Course

Colour

Classes (M)

Classes (W)

Map Scale

Length (km)

Climb (m)

Controls

Start

1

Black

M21

 

 1:10000

 12.2

 290

23

Red

2

Brown

M35   M40

 

 1:10000

 10.2

 245

21

Red

3

Short Brown

M18   M20   M45  M50

W21

 1:10000

 8.5

 225

20

Red

4

Blue

M16   M55   M60

W35   W40

 1:10000

 6.5

 260

17

Red

5

Short Blue

M65

W18   W20   W45   W50

 1:10000

5.8 

 250

15

Red

6

Green

M70

W16   W55   W60

 1:10000

 5.2

 185

14

Red

7

Short Green

M75   M80

W65   W70

 1:7500

3.8 

 75

12

Blue

8

Very Short Green

-

W75   W80

1:7500

2.9 

 65

9

Blue

9

Light Green

M14

W14

1:7500

 3.3

 120

13

Blue

10

Orange

M12

W12

1:7500

 2.5

 55

12

Blue

11

Yellow

M10

W10

1:7500

 2.0

 55

12

Blue

12

White

-

-

1:7500

 1.7

 40

11

Blue

Competitors on White and Yellow: These may study their maps at the Start: competitors may look as soon as they enter the start lane. Maps must not be shown to any competitor yet to run their Championship course.  White and Yellow courses contain some taped sections (red and white tape on canes) and Yellow uses the foot of a pronounced escarpment.

The SHI relays will be coming to their climax at around 11.30, and their assembly is adjacent to the Blue start, allowing for spectating opportunities for early starters – but please be aware of runners crossing your path and please give them precedence at crossing points.  Also, if you require a split start, please bear in mind that owing to the SHI relays, the Blue start is operating from 11.30 to 13.00, whereas the Red start is operating from 11.00 to 13.00.

Shadowing  Only allowed on colour-coded courses.  The shadower must run their Championship course before shadowing, or declare themselves non-competitive.

Control Descriptions  Loose waterproof copies of the control descriptions will be available in the start lanes. 

For White and Yellow courses, control descriptions (on map and loose) are textual and pictorial.  Descriptions for all other courses are pictorial.

SI Clear Station      The Clear and Check boxes will be at the Start.

Control sites    Kites and SI boxes will be hung on canes. Pin punching if SI boxes fail.

The Start        Both starts are relatively high and far apart. Make sure you head off for the correct start right from assembly.  Longer courses (Black to Green) use the RED start. SHI Relays and shorter courses (Short Green to White) use the BLUE start. 

Route to RED Start - 2.4km, 130m climb - Exit assembly field via main gate (beware of incoming cars) and follow the signs / tapes. The route follows a short section of lane, level footpaths and fields, crosses a road (take great care), and more level fields before climbing steeply. 

Route to BLUE Start - 2.2km, 180m climb - Exit assembly field via main gate (beware of incoming cars) and follow the signs / tapes. The route follows footpaths across level fields, crosses a marshalled road (take great care), then climbs steadily across fields before climbing more steeply along narrow paths amidst rougher terrain. 

Each start has a wall to cross immediately before the pre-start area. These will afford some limited shelter in the event of poor weather. Allow plenty of time to reach your start … and to enjoy the Yorkshire Dales scenery.

Please try to arrive in good time for your allocated start slot, but there is a punching start to allow for the logistics of the long walks to the start and for those with split starts.

The Finish       The finish is approximately 900m from Assembly, and the walk will be downhill.  It will be taped and will cross the road at a marshalled point.  There will be no map collection.  Please do not show your map to competitors who have yet to run.

Safety bearing/if lost: Generally travel north and downhill to road.

Courses Close  at 15.30.

Download                It is essential that you download at the tent as you enter the Assembly Area. Failure to do so could result in Mountain Rescue being called out to do an unnecessary search of the area.

Results                     Results will be displayed at Assembly at regular intervals, and on the Aire website.

String Courses        There will be a String Course in the assembly field.  It will be open from 10.30 -12.30.  It will be suitable for off-road style pushchairs.

YHOA Prize-giving.  This will be in assembly at 14.30, or as soon after as relevant results are available. 

Officials           Organiser                   David Alcock; 07989 563588;  alcock_david@hotmail.com

                          Planner                      Rob King (AIRE)                    Controller        Adrian Pickles (WRE)

 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

 

Acknowledgements – without these people, the Dales Weekend would not be possible!

National Trust, Natural England, Robert Harrison, Steve Towler, Bill Cowperthwaite, James & Deborah Hall,  Malcolm Campbell, Jimmy Fallon, Matt Metcalfe,  J Metcalfe, Stephen Crabtree, R & C Nelson, Mike McKenzie,  Roger Gibson, and many other local residents, farmers and landowners.  Special thanks too to the mappers and access officers who have spent hundreds of hours making this event possible – especially Tony Thornley, Roger Lott and Guy Patterson.