Join us for the Northern Night Champs at Scholes Coppice. Used only once previously for orienteering, Scholes Coppice consists of ancient woodland and open common land and has interesting contour and vegetation detail. Alongside the championship courses, there are courses for newcomers and families, who fancy a go at night orienteering.

The rules for the Northern Champs have been updated and are attached above. A copy of the map is also available (click on the flyer above).

How to enter

Entries are now open on Fabian4.

To guarantee a map please enter by midnight Saturday 18^th January.  Late Entries will be accepted up to Friday 24^th subject to map availability at an increased price

Costs

£8 adults (£10 non BOF members), £4 juniors & students. Family £20.

Late Entries (after 18th January) - £10 adults (£12 non BOF members), £4 juniors & students. Family £24.

Pairs / family groups pay for one entry, extra map £1. Dibber hire £1.

Parking

Please park responsibly on residential streets near to the Kimberworth Park Pub.

Assembly/Registration

Outside the Kimberworth Park pub. Toilets and refreshments available. Please support the pub. Menu available here. Last orders for food 8.00pm. Pre booking a table for food is recommended.

Start / Finish

The walk to the start is 750m gently uphill along the side of a well-lit main road. The route crosses three minor housing estate roads at well lit crossing points. These crossing points will not be manned so under 16s should be accompanied to the start.  Please take care when crossing. The Finish is 200m from Assembly.

Timings

Starts 6.00pm to 7.00pm. Courses close 8.00pm promptly. If you think you might take a long time, please come early. If you have not finished your course by 8.00pm you must give up and report to the finish.

Courses

You can run any course you like but if you wish to compete in the Northern Night Championship you must select the course relevant to your age group.  You are also able to compete if you wish to ‘run up’ on the longer course.  It is recommended that only juniors with prior experience of completing a light green course at night enter the medium course. Those less confident can run a shorter course. M/W12s and under should be shadowed.

Very Short - 2.1k, 40m, 10 controls

Novices, families

Short - 2.2k, 50m, 11 controls

Ultra Veteran Women UVW (W65+)

Medium - 3.9k, 130m, 18 controls

Junior Men JM (M/W16), Junior Women JW (M/W16), Super Veteran Men SVM (M55/60), Super Veteran Women SVW (W55/W60), Ultra Veteran Men UVM (M65+)

Long - 5.6k, 170m, 21 controls

Senior Men SM (M18/20/21/35), Senior Women SW (W18/20/21/35), Veteran Men VM (M40/45/50), Veteran Women VW (W40/45/50)

Please note: Distances are based on the straight-line route measured between controls. You will run much further. Distances may change slightly after final checks.

Electronic timing with dibbers will be used. Controls will be SIAC enabled.

Control Descriptions

Control descriptions are printed on the maps.  Loose control descriptions will be available in the start lanes.

Map & Terrain

A copy of the map can be seen if you click on flyer.

Scale 1:7500, 5m contours. ISOM 2017-2. Mapped by Ian Cooper 2024

The area has four distinct sections. There are two areas of deciduous woodland used by all courses. One is a gently contoured slope including the remains of an iron age fort, with good runnability, a reasonable path network and some holly thickets. The other is flattish but with classic South Yorkshire bell pits (hills with depressions on top), a reasonable path network and some low bramble ground cover.

Long, Medium & Short courses will also visit a semi-open area. Part of this is a fenced enclosure. The fence is crossable with care, but we advise using the permanent gates (on marked paths) or the overprinted temporary crossing point. Finally, runners on the Long course only will get a taste of night urban orienteering in a small housing estate.

Volunteers

As normal, we need a couple of helpers on start and some control collectors. If you can help use the helper code syohelper, then please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Helpers receive a 50% discount on their run.

Northern Champs Prize-giving

The competition event is open to anyone, but to be eligible for the Northern Night Championships, orienteers must be members of an orienteering club within YHOA, NEOA or NWOA.

Presentation as close to 2000 hrs as possible. Trophies for the first woman and man on the LONG course. Prizes for the winners of the other age categories. The pub will be warm and cosy with food and drink available so it would great if you could stay for the presentation.

Results will be posted on the SYO website, once the event has occurred.  Please allow 24 hours.

Additional safety info

Full leg cover is required on all courses. Whistle mandatory. You must carry a headtorch and a back-up headtorch is advised.

Event Officials

Planner – Paul Taylor
Organiser - Paul Walwyn- paulwalwyn'at'gmail.com
Controller – Andy Preston