This is the first event in CLOK's Autumn Short Race Series held between October and December 2022.

Newcomers to orienteering:   Help and advice will be available at this event.  Just come along and ask!

West Park is on the west side of the A68 Bishop Auckland road on the northern edge of Darlington.

You should be able to park in the Aldi / M&S car park.  The postcode is DL2 2GZ, and the What3words reference of the entrance to the car park is ///fade.factories.cried.

Click on the link to see a map.  You can zoom in (and, optionally, switch to Satellite mode) to see the details of the final approach to the event.  You can also get directions if you specify your starting point.

The Juniors course remains in West Park, which is mainly open grassland with some small areas of trees and bushes.

The other two courses visit both the park and some quiet housing areas.

Registration and Download will be in the White Heifer That Travelled pub, which is across the road from the Aldi / M&S car park.

PARENTS:  Please note that, due to the road crossing, young children must be accompanied from the car park to the Start and from Download back to the car park.

There will be three courses available, with winning times of about 20 - 25 minutes:-

Anyone under that age of 16 on the day of the event who wishes to run the Youth / Vet course or the Open course must be accompanied by an adult.  (Under-16s can run the Juniors course unaccompanied.)

If at all possible, please pre-enter via Racesignup.

The entry deadline is midnight on Thursday 27‑Oct‑2022.

There will be limited entry on the day, subject to the availability of maps.

Scale 1:4,000   A4 size   Drawn by Phill Batts and updated in July 2022.

Control descriptions will be printed on the map and loose copies will be available at the Start.

This event will use SPORTident electronic punching.

The control boxes will be activated to enable SIAC cards to operate in touch-free mode ..... but please note that you will need to punch the conventional way at the Start and Finish.

SI-cards will be available to hire on the day for a charge of £1.  Please take care of your hired SI-card, as there will be a £20 charge if you lose it.

Starts: 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.     Courses close at 1 p.m.

The Start is just inside West Park, at the park entrance on Corners Garth Road.  The What3words reference is //urgent.bolt.vague.  Click on this link to see a map of the route from Registration to the Start.  The route will be taped.  The distance is 500m.  Allow 10 minutes.

Competitors will be able to use the toilets in The White Heifer That Travelled pub.

First aid at Download.

No drinks will be provided.  Either bring your own post-run refreshments or make use of The White Heifer That Travelled, which will be open as usual during and after the event and has a restaurant.

Although the Covid-19 restrictions have been relaxed and serious illness and death are now thankfully rare, Covid-19 is still affecting significant numbers of people and Long Covid remains a consideration.  Please continue to take precautions to protect yourself and other people ..... including the volunteers who make orienteering events possible.

Orienteering is an outdoor, naturally socially-distanced sport.  However, although you should be relatively safe when you are out on your run, there is a risk of Covid-19 transmission during the pre- and post-run activities.

Given that:-

• Please do not attend this event if you have Covid-19 symptoms.  In accordance with Government guidance, if you have symptoms of a respiratory infection you should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.
• Please maintain social distancing where practical, including from the volunteers on the organising team; e.g. at Download.
• Before and after your run, you may wish to avoid unnecessary close contact with people outside your household.
• Continue to maintain good hand hygiene.

A comprehensive risk assessment will have been carried out by the Organiser, but please remember that competitors take part at their own risk.  Orienteering is an adventure sport – your safety while orienteering is your own responsibility.

Please make sure that you download even if you do not complete your course.

CLOK recommends that you carry a whistle whilst participating in this (and every) orienteering event.

If you have a relevant medical condition, please add this to your competitor details in Racesignup or inform the Organiser before you go out for your run.  Any information provided will be treated in strict confidence and will only be used if you need medical treatment and are unable to communicate at the time.