17th February 2024
Venue: Ballykelly Wood
Parking
Parking will be the official forest car park on the south side of the A2 – entrance opposite Craig’s Costcutters.
Entries
Entries will be online only and will open shortly.
- Enter Online
- Edit your Entry
- View Entry Lists
Event Enquiries will operate from 17:45. Having entered online you can go directly to the start. Runners who have hired a dipper can collect them from Enquiries.
Entry Fees (night champs only)
- Senior £10 (non-members £12)
- Full-time Student £5 (non-members £6)
- Junior £5 (non-members £6)
- Family £25 (non-members £30)
Entry Fees (night champs and score champs)
- Senior £16 (non-members £18)
- Full-time Student £8 (non-members £9)
- Junior £8 (non-members £9)
- Family £40 (non-members £45)
Starts
First start will be as soon after 18:00 as light levels permit (twilight is 18:15).
Courses Close
Competitors must finish (or abandon) their courses by 8.00pm. This is particularly important to observe for night orienteering.
Map
An updated 1:5000 of Ballykelly Wood will be used by all courses.
Provisional course lengths
| Course | Length (Km) | Climb (Metres) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short | 2.7 | 90 | |
| Medium | 3.5 | 120 | |
| Long | 4.1 | 130 |
Competitor Safety
If you are new to night orienteering please be aware that night events are physically demanding and require a higher level of technical skill. Please choose your course accordingly.
As this is a night event competitors must be in age groups M/W16 and above.
All competitors must carry a whistle and head torch. Reflective clothes are strongly recommended (to aid location of lost / missing runners should this be necessary). Also carrying a spare torch is recommended in case of battery failure etc.
You may be required to carry a cagoule, depending on weather conditions.
Please also read the spesfic hazards section at the foot of the page.
Toilets
There will be no toilets at the event. Competitors previously attending the Score Champs / AGM in St Columb’s Park should use the facilities there.
Dogs
Dogs must not accompany runners on courses.
Terrain Notes
While Ballykelly is a small forest, it has a complex network of tracks and small paths running through a diverse patchwork of forest types. Around the periphery there is a band of naturally regenerating traditional mixed forest with the core being comprised of blocks of coniferous plantation. This central area has matured well in recent years and now offers a good degree of runnability. Visibility varies, particularly in the natural forest area where Holly bushes etc. make straight line running difficult and careful compass work will pay dividends.
The area is used by mountain bikers who have contributed to the path network and provide a number of rough bridges across ditches – these should always be treated with caution.
Hazards
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There is a steep sided old quarry, quite close to a main internal forest road (sse map segment above).All courses have been planned that competitors, should not be approaching from above as part of their route choice, should anyone approach , they will see yellow/ black tape cordoning this off
If competitors see black/yellow tape, then they should check their location, this will confirm their position -
Bridges made by Mountain bikers – there are a number of these, we cannot guarantee how well built they are, they are mostly composed of wood, and can be particularly slippery
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Usual slip/trip hazards of a forested area, that are less visible by night