East Pennine Orienteering Club

EPOC are pleased to invite you back to the Castle Carr Estate, after a 10 year break!

Terrain: The central part of the area is used by all courses - it consists of a valley with pockets of woodland and open areas which are very runnable although there are some steeper slopes and some marshy sections. The large areas of open moorland surrounding this valley are used by the longer courses and are, generally, runnable. The courses have been planned to avoid most of the serious tussocks and deep heather. The area is part of the private Castle Carr Estate, including landscaped gardens, the remnants of it's demolished mansion and extensive moorland.
Assembly: Folds Edge GR 027295. Parking: We will be using roadside parking with minibus transport. The car parking will be signposted from Wainstalls. GR 048 282. Follow signs along narrow roads to the event. Please share transport if possible. Those with full minibuses will be directed to park at assembly. Families having split times will park near assembly. If you have split starts, Print off page to display to parking officials. Pre-entry is strongly advised so that you can go to the start ready to run.

Refreshments: Before you get back on the minibus, please visit Mytholmroyd Scouts and Venture scouts, who are raising money for their trip to Poland and other good causes! They will provide hot soup and cakes!

Dogs: Sorry not at all on the Estate and courses, this is a working sheep farm. OK for those roadside parking.
Map: New 2009 map resurveyed by Rod Ryall. For White; Yellow; Orange; Light Green; Short Green and Green courses, the map is 1:7500 scale. Other courses use 1:10000 scale with 5m contours. There is no legend on the maps but this may be downloaded here. All maps are pre-marked on waterproof paper (not bagged). The area is used by shooters, walkers, mountain bikers and sheep creating a complex and changing network of paths. Note that not all of the tracks on the ground are mapped.

Control Descriptions: are printed on the map, not on the web. All courses have pictorial descriptions using IOF symbols except for White and Yellow which have written control descriptions. Loose, waterproof copies of the control descriptions will be available at the Start.

Crossing points: will be marked on the map to indicate places where competitors are able to cross walls and fences more easily (although the condition of many of the walls and fences does allow passage elsewhere). Uncrossable walls and fences are mapped as such.
Courses:

String Course to be confirmed........ Unlikely due to logistics.

Fees:  NB. Slightly higher than usual to cover access charge and Minibus. Pre-entry Senior, £11.00. (£9.00 BO members); Juniors; £2.50. Students with valid card £2.50. Families £24.00.
Entry on the day, limited by map availability. £1.00/50pence extra. Adults on white - light green £7.00. 
Pre-entries preferred: Fabian Preentries available online, up to midnight Friday 12th, subject to availability of overprinted maps. Fabian4
Postal entries on a standard BOF entry form, closing date postmarked Friday 5th Feb to;-
Martyn Hodgson, 'Stonefield', Waters Road, Marsden, West Yorks. HD7 6NG. Cheques payable to EPOC.
email
EOD will first use up the overprinted maps for their course, then choose a course with spare maps.
Electronic Punching:  Will be used at this event for all courses. Please be sure to insert your Dibber number on the entry form if you have one. If you do not have your own Dibber they can be hired and paid for on-line, or on the day at Registration for £1 senior. £0.50 junior.
EOD Registration and Dibber hire/collection: 9.30am - 11.00am. If you are parked outside the area, and you are EOD, please go to registration ready to run. If there are changes to your pre-entry details, eg new dibber or different course/class please go to registration before you start, and fill in a new form.
Starts: 10.30am - 12.30am. Located within 800m of assembly. Allow 15mins to walk.

At the Start, lanes will be divided into two sections - White, Yellow and Orange courses in one section and all other courses in the other section. Start officials will give appropriate instructions in relation to the two separate Start kites. White and Yellow maps and loose control descriptions for all courses will be available in the Start area.  

There will be some flexibility with start times. You may start early 1030-1110, medium 1110-1150, or late 1150-1230, provided there is a gap on your course. Please assist the start team in ensuring that you do not start within four minutes of a member of your club. Please state your start block preference when entering the event.
All courses will close at 2.30pm. Competitors are encouraged to take account of this when choosing a start time.

Safety: Competitors will be responsible for their own safety. A buddy system will be in operation. People travelling alone should leave their keys at Registration with their particulars. This is an exposed moorland area. The carrying of a cagoule and whistle is strongly advised. The longest 4 courses all go onto exposed moorland. The carrying of cagoules may become mandatory on the day. Please check the website before you leave for the event.

The route to the Start passes close to deep water and climbs steep, stone steps (slippery if wet). Parents are asked to advise children of these hazards and to supervise accordingly. Note also that, on the courses, the stiles can be very slippery when wet and competitors should take due care when using them.
Cancellation: If the weather is dodgy for any reason check EPOC’s website- www.eastpennineoc.org.uk or ring the Organiser.
Officials:   Controller Chris Burden AIRE
                Planners  Ian and Julie Couch EPOC
                Organiser Rebecca Lloyd EPOC 01422 882899.