Sunday 21^st May

Black Park, Slough

LEVEL C SCOA LEAGUE EVENT

Final Details

Travel:

Grid Reference: TQ005832 Nearest Postcode: SL3 6DT

The event will be signed from the A412 Uxbridge Road approximately 2 miles North of the junction with the A4. The final approach along Black Park Road is narrow and potholed. Be aware that some satnavs may direct you beyond the park entrance, however this is clearly signed.

Parking:

Parking is in the public car park at Black Park Country Park. This is a Pay and Display car park – fees for cars are £3.50 and £7.50 for Minibuses (Blue badge holders – free). Be aware that the parking wardens can be very active (as the Organiser knows to his cost!).

Assembly:

The Assembly and Registration area is at TQ 009 835, approximately 250m from the car park. Take the major path NW from the car park, passing Go Ape on your left and the refreshment kiosk on the right. After 200m turn left at a major junction and Assembly will be visible on the right. The route will be taped.

Dogs:

Allowed but must be under control at all times and on a lead in Assembly area.

Planners Notes:

Black Park is a country park consisting mainly of mixed woodland with a good path network. The area is fairly flat, with little climb on any course. There is a substantial area of open heathland in the NE part of the park - this is out of bounds as it is a SSSI. The tracks within the OOB can be used. The Green, Blue and Brown courses do go along tracks through it to get to the Northern end of the park - please keep to the tracks. There are other SSSI’s within the woods, also marked as out of bounds, most of which are very wet marshes. Please respect all of these - unfenced ones are not taped but are easily avoided by all courses. 

Some large depressions that have been mapped as containing water are not filled with water due to the dry spring.

There are some areas where the heavy undergrowth is high - courses have been planned to avoid the worst of these.  

There are quite a number of hides in the woods which have not been mapped. 

There is a woodchip pile in the area which are mapped as out of bounds - please do not climb on or attempt to cross it.

White and Yellow courses have some decision points that are not covered with a control. Smiley faces are used to guide them along the correct route.

Map:

Waterproof A4 map. Scale 1:10,000, 5m contours, surveyed in September/October 2014 and updated in March/April 2017. Map updates by Katy Stubbs and Alan Kersley.

The Brown course has a double-sided map. On reaching the last control printed on the first side of the map, turn the map over - that control will be depicted on the reverse as a start triangle. All other courses have a single sided map.

Control descriptions are on the map. White and Yellow courses use text descriptions; all other courses use IOF symbols.

Special symbols are used on the map:

 O represents a seat or picnic table

Courses

White to Brown (no string course)

Course

Length

Climb

No. controls

Descriptions

White

1.8km

5m

10

Text

Yellow

2.2km

5m

10

Text

Orange

3.2km

5m

10

Pictorial

Light Green

3.6km

15m

12

Pictorial

Short Green

3.6km

15m

12

Pictorial

Green

5.1km

20m

14

Pictorial

Blue

7.2km

25m

17

Pictorial

Brown

9.9km

35m

23

Pictorial

Starts:

Start times 10:30  – 12.30.  Start blocks (30 minute) will be pre-allocated on Fabian4 so please check the start list there.  Blank maps and control descriptions will be available in the start lanes. All starters must check their EMIT card using the MTR0 device as this provides a record of who is in the forest for safety purposes.

The Start is about 450m walk from Registration. The route will be taped. No clothing dump.

Competitors who have pre-entered with their own EMIT cards may go straight to the Start.

White and Yellow course maps can be collected at the pre-start so competitors may review them before starting their course.

Finish:

The Finish is approximately 300m from Assembly along a taped route.

Courses close at 14:00. Please ensure that you download even if you have not finished so that we don’t send out a search party.

Safety Notices:

The park will be busy on Sunday – please be aware of other park users, in particular dog walkers, mountain bikers and Segway riders, and avoid moving vehicles in the car park. Parents are advised to take particular care of children in the car park, around Go Ape equipment and near the lake. There is also a major road (out of bounds) along one side of the Park.

Full arm and leg cover is required and cagoules may be required if the weather is bad.  A whistle is advisable. It may be warm on the day so please ensure you bring a personal supply of water to keep hydrated.

All competitors are advised to check body and clothing for ticks after the event. There have been occasional reports of adders in the Park, mostly on the heath area (out of bounds). Cattle are likely to be grazing on the heath area.

The nearest A&E is at Wexham Park Hospital, Wexham, Slough, Berkshire, SL2 4HL.  Tel  01753 633000.

Facilities:

There will be toilets and first aid. There is a refreshments kiosk and a café within the park.

Entries:

Online entries are available via Fabian4, www.fabian4.co.uk, until midnight on 18th May.  Please enter online if at all possible.

Entry on the day is available subject to map availability.  Registration for EOD is from 10:00 to 12:00.

Fees:

Electronic Punching:

EMIT electronic punching will be used with a punching start. 

Lost EMIT cards will be charged at £45.

Photography

The club has designated photographer(s) and details are available from registration. Photographs from the event may be used by the club and made available on the internet in accordance with British Orienteering guidelines. Please speak to a club official at registration if you have any concerns

Officials

Organiser: Colin Godbold (BKO) events@bko.org.uk

Planner: Annika Greenwood (BKO) events@bko.org.uk

Controller:Alan Kersley (BADO)

IMPORTANT OFFICIAL NOTICES:

• Competitors take part at their own risk
• The personal data you give will be used by the event organisers only for the purpose of processing/publishing entries and results and as required by our insurers. Entry details will be stored in a computer. Submissions of an entry for the event will indicate your acceptance of this procedure.
• In the event of cancellation of the event, part, or all of your entry fee may be retained.
• The club has designated photographer(s) and details are available from registration. Photographs from the event may be used by the club and made available on the internet. Please speak to a club official at registration if you have any concerns.