Found Property:

Thumb Compass - contact petergorvett via hotmail.co.uk.

Planners Comments:

Well, that was tough - probably tougher than I or many of you would have liked. First of all I'm sorry that a number of people had to retire and I hope nobody had their day completely ruined by the experience. I'd enjoyed a glorious Saturday & Sunday morning putting out all the controls and then the weather turned foul just as the first coach arrived at Assembly. Having spent many, many days on the area which included running the Black and Brown courses myself 2 weeks prior to the event I knew the bracken and heather were going to be tough, but in combination with a biting cold Northerly wind, rain, sleet and snow (all in the first hour) it made for very heavy going, so everyone has my admiration for turning up and giving it a go.

I'd like to thank all of you who passed on your comments - even a couple of people who retired told me they'd actually enjoyed the technical challenge but the physical aspect had just been too tough. I was asked about the use of the birch woodland and the quarry below Millstone Edge so I'd like to comment on this and some other aspects of the planning.

I made the decision to base the event in close proximity to the Assembly car park as soon as I knew we were bussing people from Dysons. Having a compact Start / Finish / Assembly area makes a huge difference to the organisation of any event, especially one where parking is a bit of a challenge, but the most important aspect for me as Planner was that it allowed full use of the very technical birch wood area adjacent to the Start which is one of the best parts of Burbage I think. It also gave me the opportunity to use the complex boulders area for the longer courses, and the quarry below Millstone Edge as a tricky area in which to place the final few controls. We haven't really used this area before and I think it made an interesting variation to the usual Burbage event. Linking these complex areas together with some long route-choice legs completed the planning for the technical courses. This was easier said than done with the bracken causing one or two revisions to the courses during the summer, and up until 2-3 weeks before the event I was still quite concerned about the undergrowth; so much so that Brian Shaw (Organiser) and I spent a few hours clearing the path out of the Start.

I think Ian Cooper did a superb job with the map for which I am very grateful, and I know he spent a huge amount of time on the area through all the seasons, painstakingly mapping some areas which I didn't even use(!). I did receive some comments about the scale of the map and this is something I will pass on to the next person who plans on Burbage. In the comfort of your living room when you look at a map you've been working on at an enlarged scale for 12 months, everything appears crystal clear and you know the difference between a small crag and a boulder which are 15m apart. However when you're on the ground, flailing around knee-deep in undergrowth, in the teeth of a howling gale, with rain / sleet / snow, and fatigue setting in, I can see the case for a 1:5000 extract on the more complex areas. I believe there were also some issues with the map falling apart on the folds after prolonged exposure to the rain, which is a shame. I hope nobody had their run ruined by that. Having said that, I must pass on my thanks to Mick Lucking at Hassall & Lucking printers who was exceptionally helpful in setting the maps up for printing.

Finally a few additional thanks - to Brian Shaw for organising the event as efficiently as ever, to Martin Ward for his expert advice and relaxed approach to Controlling which was very much appreciated, to Mark Chapman and Peter Tryner for collecting controls, and especially to Colin Lynch who went above and beyond the call of duty in helping me collect the final few controls as night set in and by which stage I was a broken man. And of course thanks to you all for coming.

Event details

5th Nov: Pre-entries are closed.  Entry on the day is available on all courses.
Please make sure that you bring a cagoule as it will be compulsory to wear or carry one.

Final details available via link above

A level C event with courses from White - Black. This event is also part of the YHOA Superleague.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Parking (apart from split starts) is several miles from the Start & Finish, competitors will be bused to the start & finish.
Burbage is at 1000ft and can be exposed.  Please bring a cagoule as it is compulsory to carry one.

Location

Burbage Moor 9km SSW of Sheffield.

IMPORTANT: Due to very limited parking at the Start / Finish parking and busing has been arranged.  Parking will be on hard standing at Dyson Technical Ceramics site (GR 296790, Postcode S17 3BJ) on the A621 Baslow Road 1km N of the Owler Bar roundabout. No parking fee.

Busing to and from Burbage from 9:30, the start and finish are close to the bus stop at burbage.  A marquee is available to leave kit etc.

There will be limited public parking near the Start/Finish ONLY for parents with split starts (£3.50 CARD ONLY!). This facility is only available for pre-entry, please tick the appropriate box on your Fabian entry form.

Public transport is available, bus 272 stops at Surprise View once an hour, next to the start/finish area.  Grindleford railway station is around a 30 minute walk.

Terrain & Map

The event utilises the western part of Burbage which includes some of the most technical bits as well as some new areas. Burbage is mostly open heather moorland with some coniferous forest, felled areas and detailed rocky terrain. Some bracken but courses have been planned to avoid the worst..

Map is 1:10000 A3 or A4 with 5m contours. Map updated by Ian Cooper autumn 2016. Printed by Hassall and Lucking.

Times

Registration: 10:00 - 12:00
Starts anytime from 10:30 - 12:30
Courses Close: 14:30

Costs and Entry

Pre-entry is now closed.  Entry on the day is available at no extra cost subject to map availability, pick up a registration form at Dysons before boarding the bus.

Adults £12 (£10 for members of an orienteering club)
(Adults running White - Orange £7)
Juniors / Students £4
Families (2 Seniors + 1 or more junior) £28 (£24 for members of an orienteering club)
If you do not have an SI card (dibber) you will have to hire one for £1.  Lost SI cards will be charged at £30.

YHOA Superleague

All courses are open to all, however the event is also part of the Yorkshire and Humberside Superleague. For your run to count in the Superleague you need to do the appropriate course as indicated in the table. More information on the league can be found here YHOA Superleague.

Orienteering Courses Available

If you complete a course and there is still time you are welcome to try another.

Competitors take part at their own risk. Burbage is above 1000ft and can be very exposed.  Pl
All courses are open to all.

Other Information

Dogs: Welcome in the car park but not on the buses or on courses.

Officials

Organiser:        Brian Shaw (SYO) 07768 928432 email: drgbshawATgmaildotcom
Planners:          Karl Marshall  (SYO)
Controller:       Martin Ward   (SYO)