The University of Ulster is the perfect sprint orienteering area, blending intricate buildings, different levels, and passageways. Fast-running sections are interspersed with areas of vegetation, creating a technically challenging area ideal for testing navigation and speed.

This event is also part of the 2025 UK Urban League.

Travel Directions

You are advised to approach the University from the Coleraine Ring Road and avoid Coleraine Town Centre on a Friday afternoon.The event will be signposted from the Portrush Road roundabout where the Ring Road meets the Atlantic Road to Portrush.

Car Parking

The parking area will be available from 14.30. This MUST be approached from the North Entrance to the University. Parking is on the right before the barrier into the University.

Bib Collection

Bibs will be available in the corner of the car park closest to the Start. These bibs will be used for all events except Relays.

Toilets

Toilets and Showers are available in the Pavilion. Please follow the taped route to the Sports Pavilion and Finish.

Enquiries

Enquiries will be located to the West of the Pavilion beside download. Please follow the taped route. Loan SI-cards can be collected from enquiries.

Elite Runners

Elite runners will be seeded and start times allocated in advance. The selection of Early, Middle or Late Start Times will not apply to Elite runners.

Terrain

The area is a University Campus with a mixture of fast-running open parkland areas and vegetation. All windblown trees are mapped.

The event will feature artificial barriers to help intensify route choice. All Courses will feature these.

In the terrain, they will be physically marked with a double line of red and white tape with notices attached.

On the map artificial barriers will be clearly marked using a purple line.

These all are all singular strands, ie not ‘maze’ type barriers. Above are a few examples of how these will appear on the map. There are approx 4 of these across the whole area.

These barriers are strictly uncrossable and must be treated as such throughout the course. Runners must navigate around them—plan your routes accordingly!

There are a number of obvious pipelines in the campus which have been mapped as prominent line features. They are above head height and can easily be passed underneath.

Competitors should be aware that narrow passageways will be used. Please approach these with caution, and KEEP LEFT to avoid collisions.

Map

All Courses will use an ISSprOM 2019 standard A4 1:4 000 scale map with 2.5m contours. The map was resurveyed in 2025 by Stephen Gilmore.

Special Symbols
In addition to the purple line indicating uncrossable artificial barriers, special symbols used are:
X = Sport Equipment and
O = Floodlights

Code Descriptions

Code descriptions will be overprinted on the front of the maps and loose copies will be available at the Start at -3. Code descriptions will be given in IOF format. There will also be written loose descriptions for Course 8 at the Start

Start

Start times will be from 16.00 to 19.00.

The start for all courses is approx 100m from the parking. The all-weather pitch can be used as a warm up area. All other areas are out of bounds.

Start Layout

-4	Call up
-3	Code Descriptions
-2	Blank Maps
-1	Check Box

Competitors must punch the Start Box before they pick up their maps.

Start times will be allocated and available early on the week before the Competition.

Finish

The finish will be located to the West of the pavilion. Please make sure that you manually “punch” one of the Finish SI Base Stations. Beacon mode is not enabled.

Loan SI-cards must be handed in at SI download unless you intend to use them for the Middle, Classic or Relay Events.

Spectators

Spectators can stand along the North side of most of the taped run in to the finish

Dogs

In common with the other days, dogs are not allowed in the area

IOC Sprint Classes / Prizes

The Irish Sprint Championships will use standard Orienteering age classes from M/W10 to M/W90.

While this is an open event, to win the Irish Championship you must meet the Irish Championship Eligibility Rules.

Mementos will be awarded in each age class to

• The Irish Champion
• The first placed runner (if different from above)
• up to two others depending on the entry numbers in the class.

UK Urban League

Results from this event will be used to award points in the 2025 UK Urban League.

Officials

• Organiser: Rachel Reid (NWOC)
• Controller: Richard McCourt (LVO)
• Planner: Allan Bogle (NWOC)
• Assistant planner: Ross Walker (NWOC)
• Start Organiser: Ruth Blair

Contact Form

If you have any queries about this event please use the contact form below:

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