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NI Night Champs (2024)
17 February, 2024 @ 18:00 – 20:00
Venue: Ballykelly Forest
Parking is to the south of the A2 road
Parking
Parking will be the official forest car park on the south side of the A2 – entrance opposite Craig’s Costcutters.
Event Enquiries
These will operate from 17:45. Having entered on-line 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)
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 (even if this is not the course linked to your age class for the NI Champs).
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 specific hazards section at the foot of the page.
Course lengths
| Course | Length (Km) | Climb (Metres) |
|---|---|---|
| Short | 2.7 | 90 |
| Medium | 3.6 | 120 |
| Long | 4.1 | 155 |
Night Championship Age Classes
Paid up 2024 members of NI Orienteering Clubs are eligible to compete to be NI Champion in their age groups. There are trophies for some of these classes:
| Class | Course | Trophy |
|---|---|---|
| M16+ | Short | |
| W16+ | Short | Cedar Cup |
| M Open | Long | Horn Bean Cup |
| W Open | Long | White Beam Cup |
| M40+ (Vet) | Medium | |
| W40+ (Vet) | Medium | |
| M55+ (Super Vet) | Medium | |
| W55+ (Super Vet) | Short | |
| M65+ (Ultra Vet) | Short | |
| W65+ (Ultra Vet) | Short |
Adult competitors should choose to “run down” on a shorter course if that is more appropriate to their ability / fitness. If you do this will not be eligible for your Championship class.
Entries
Entries on SI Entries are now closed and map numbers have been sent to the printers. However we have ordered some spare maps so if you would still like to run please contact us using the forms on the event pages below and we will facilitate if possible.
- Enter Online
- Edit your Entry
- View Entry Lists
Entries close at 11:00pm Sunday 11th February.
Starts
Starts will be between 18:00 and 18:30.
The start is 100m from the parking.
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 map of Ballykelly Forest will be used by all courses.
Queries
Please use the form below for any queries or special requests:
Officials
- Anthony McGonigle
- David Blair
- Des Fletcher
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
- Quarry: There is a steep sided old quarry, quite close to a main internal forest road (see map segment above). All courses have been planned that competitors should not be approaching from above as part of their route choice. The top of the crag is cordoned off by yellow and black tape.
If competitors see black/yellow tape, then they should stop and check their location. - 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
- Slip and Trip: Usual hazards of a forested area, that are less visible by night