CLOK logo Cleveland Orienteering Klub
invites you to an orienteering event at
Skelton Warren & Birk Brow
on Sunday 29th January 2023
CLOK logo
Location:

Parking will be in the car park of the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust officies on Margrove Road, just off the A171 Birk Brow Road east of Guisborough.  The grid reference of the entrance to the car park is NZ 650155 and the What3words reference is ///vibrating.haggling.worlds.  The postcode is TS12 3BZ.

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 location.

Overflow parking will be at Margrove Park Old Shale Tip, which is 200 metres further along Margrove Road (towards Boosbeck), on the left hand side of the road.

Terrain:

The area has two distinct parts, separated by a quiet road.

Skelton Warren is mixed woodland on the steep slope on the edge of the North York Moors.  There are scattered rock features in the woods, and the area has a good path network.  Please note that some of the many bike and off-road vehicle tracks are not mapped.

Above the quiet road at the top of Skelton Warren, Low Moor is a gently sloping area of heather moorland with patches of gorse and small areas of old quarry workings.

At present, the whole area is very wet.  Many slopes are covered in wet leaves, making descents/ascents very slippery, and rutted tracks have deep water in places.  Thinning has taken place in the area, and some of the small thickets have been cut down.  There are low-lying brambles in parts of the area.

The map is being updated to reflect the changes to the paths and thickets, but please note that some recent paths may not be shown on the competition maps.

There is one dangerous pit in the area.  It will be taped off.

Courses:
Course  Length  
(km)
  Climb  
(m)
Brown3.4160
Blue3.2150
Green2.7100
Short Green    1.980
Light Green2.4120
Orange1.660
Yellow1.340

Please note that this is a Middle Distance event, so the courses are shorter than they would be at a Classic Distance event.  The course lengths are provisional subject to final controlling.

Sorry.  The nature of the area makes it impossible to plan a White course.  Youngsters who would normally run the White course should only run the Yellow course if they are shadowed by an adult.

The Yellow and Orange courses stay in Skelton Warren and do not cross the minor road.

The Yellow course will use a variety of paths / tracks and one fence.  Some of the tracks are quite rutted, and there may be tapes along some of the smaller, less clear paths in the wood.

Map:

1:7,500 scale   5m contours   A4 size   Updated in January 2023

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

Punching system:

SPORTident electronic punching will be used.

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 not be available for hire on the day, but you can arrange to borrow an SI-card by adding the request to your entry in Racesignup.  Please collect your loan SI-card from Download before your run and return it as you download after your run.  Take care of your loan SI-card, as there will be a £20 charge if you lose it.

Entries:

There will be no Registration at the event and no entry on the day.  If you wish to participate in this event you must pre-enter via the Racesignup online entry system.

The entry fees are:
Seniors:£8.50       £2.00 surcharge for non-members of British Orienteering
Juniors / students:   £2.50 
Adult beginners on the Yellow or Orange courses:     £2.50 

The entry deadline is midnight on Thursday 19‑Jan‑2023.  After that, you will still be able to enter until midnight on Thursday 26‑Jan‑2023, but your choice of course may be limited by map availability.

Starts:

11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.       Courses close at 2:30 p.m.

In order to allow time to get the controls put out and checked, the first start has been put back to 11 a.m.  Starts are now between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

The Start is approximately 15 minutes' walk from the car park.  The route to the Start follows a good track.  There is 50m climb.

Returning from the Finish to the car park is approximately 15 minutes' walk back along the same track at you used to get to the Start.  Please note that the route back from the Finish passes through the Start.  Please keep to the left hand side of the track at this point.

Facilities:

Contrary to what was said in an earlier version of this flyer, there will be a portable toilet in the car park.
There are also public toilets are in the Fountain Street car park, off Rectory Lane in Guisborough.  The postcode is TS14 6QF and the What3words reference is ///reckoned.proclaims.locate.

No drinks will be provided.  Please bring your own refreshments or join us in the nominated pub (see below).

First aid at Download, which will be in the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust offices car park.

Nominated pub for after-event socialising
The Three Fiddles, 34 Westgate, Guisborough  TS14 6BA  (map)
It appears that the Three Fiddles is closed at the moment.  We are working to identify an alternative venue for post-event socialising.
Dogs: Sorry.  Well behaved dogs are welcome in the car parking areas, but must be kept on leads.  (The car park entrances open directly on to a road that has fast-moving traffic.)  Dogs must not be taken out into the competition area.
Officials:
Organiser:  Joe Trigg  01642-279668
Planner:  Alan Cranke
Controller:  Ray Barnes (NOC)
First Aider:  Joe Trigg
Photography: Anyone taking photos or videos at this event must do so in accordance with CLOK's Photography and Filming Policy.
Covid-19
and other
respiratory
infections:

Covid 19 and other infections – e.g. influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus) continue to circulate at high levels in the community.

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 virus transmission during the pre- and post-run activities.

Please:-

  • Do not attend this event if you have respiratory infection symptoms.
  • Maintain good hand hygiene.
  • Be mindful of other people's space.  Some people may be more concerned than you are about avoiding close contact.
Safety:

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

If you have a relevant medical condition, please add this to your competitor details in Racesignup.  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.

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