The second part of EPOC’s double header weekend takes place in the multicultural suburb of Birkby in Huddersfield. Assembly and the Finish are located at the historic Fartown sports ground which hosted an FA Cup Semi Final in 1882 and the Rugby League Cup Finals in 1908 and 1910 as well as several first class cricket matches. The original 19th century cricket pavilion is still there, now the Bait ul Tauhid mosque. The Arena is a large grassed open area with plenty of space to sit and watch the run-in. After your race, why not replace those calories by sampling the desserts at the BBC Apprentice-winning Oh So Yum, less than a 10 minute walk from Assembly.
Prayers may be held in the mosque during the event; please be respectful to users of the mosque. In view of cultural sensitivities, COMPETITORS SHOULD NOT GET CHANGED WHILST STANDING OUTSIDE THEIR VEHICLES. If this will be an issue for anyone, please email the Organiser prior to the event.
Dogs are not permitted either in the car park or on courses.
Public Transport:
The nearest railway station is Huddersfield, approximately 25 minutes walk or a 10 minute cycle.
Assembly:
Fartown Arena, immediately to the east of the car park where you will find enquiries, registration, download and the finish. Hired SI cards can be collected from Enquiries. There will be a first aid box at Enquiries for any minor injuries and directions to the nearest A&E hospital (Huddersfield Royal Infirmary) for anything more serious.
Toilets/Facilities:
Portaloos in the Arena. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has kindly agreed to supply water and will have a stall in the arena with information about their message and charitable work . Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK | Love For All Hatred For None
Terrain:
Birkby is a largely residential area with traditional grid iron streets of Victorian terraces and plenty of back alleys but there are pockets of more modern properties as well as a small wooded area and an urban park. Being a suburb and a weekend, there will be many parked cars. Please take care crossing all roads. Hopefully you will find plenty of route choice and you should expect to run 50% to 60% more than the published distances.
Shorts and singlets may be worn (please do not change your clothes whilst standing outside your vehicle). Please dress appropriately for the weather.
Entries:
Entries via Fabian 4. Online Entries are now closed
There will be limited entry on the day on a first come first served basis whilst maps last.
Fees:
On the Day entries: £14 Adults, £7 Juniors and Helpers,
Dibber hire £1
Start:
Cycle path south of Cobcroft Road. Start will be signposted from Assembly - allow for a 10 minute walk. The route to the start will be taped and crosses residential streets which are likely to have many parked cars – please take care when crossing. Under-16s must be accompanied to the start by an adult.
Start Times:
Starts between 10.30 and 12.30 (10.30-11.30 for Junior courses due to road crossings)
There will be a punching start. Please try and stick to your allocated start time as far as possible although we will try and accommodate change requests as best we can. Loose descriptions will be available in the start lanes as well as on the front of all maps). Competitors on the Yellow course will be given their map prior to entering the start boxes – please do not show it to any other competitors. Some courses may share a lane.
Finish:
A punching finish will operate for all competitors. You must report to the Finish even if you retire. Please go straight to the Download tent from the finish. Courses close at 14.30 and controls will be collected promptly.
Punching :
SI Punching. SIAC touch free punching will be enabled. Competitors must punch Start and Finish.
Maps:
New map for 2022. Drawn at 1 to 4000 with 2.5 metre contours. Survey and cartography by Richard Payne. Single sided and slightly larger than A3 size for all courses.
The busier roads have been marked with the darker paved area colour. Being a suburb and a weekend, there will be many parked cars. Please take care crossing all roads.
Courses F and G have timed crossings to cross the busiest roads. Crossings on these courses will be marshalled.
Controls and SportIdent:
The event will use a punching start and finish for all competitors as a safety check. SIAC touch-free punching will be enabled at all other control sites.
The majority of kites will be grippled to convenient street furniture (lampposts, benches, fences etc.) There are no back-up punching devices at any controls. It is your responsibility to ensure you punch correctly. Please report any issues with malfunctioning control units or missing controls at download.
Courses:
To count in the YHOA Urban League , competitors must enter the appropriate course for their age group.
Course
Distancekm
Climbm
Age Group M
Age Group W
A (Black)
8.1
220
MO
B (Brown)
7.1
170
MV 40+
WO
C (Blue)
5.8
150
MSV 55+
WV 40+
D (Green)
4.6
110
MUV 65+
WSV 55+
E (Short Green)
3.8
90
MHV 75+
WUV 65+, WHV 75+
F (Light Green)
2.8
70
MJ 16-
WJ 16-
G (Yellow)
1.9
45
MYJ 12-
WYJ 12-
All competitors must download, even if they do not complete the course.
In the event of bad weather, the organisers may insist that cagoules be worn. Please bring one to the event with you.
Safety:
This is a residential area with all the usual hazards presented by traffic and members of the public. Take care when crossing busy roads and roads with parked cars, where there are trip hazards such as kerbs and steps and run wide at blind corners. Surfaces may be loose or uneven and slippery following rain.
Courses F and G have been designed to avoid traffic hazards as far as possible. Most roads have adjacent pavements or verges which should be used where available.
There will be 3 marshalled crossings on Course G and 3 on Course F with controls immediately before or after each crossing. All marshalled crossings bar one on Course G will be timed out. Please obey the instructions of marshals at all times. Please be extra vigilant, even where traffic is slow and infrequent, and ensure that junior competitors are aware of the potential hazards posed by vehicles (both stationary and moving).
You are very likely to encounter dog walkers, cyclists and other pedestrians on many of the traffic free paths which connect the area, in particular in the Start area. Please give way to pedestrians and cyclists, show them courtesy and take care to avoid collisions.
If you have a medical condition that first aiders should know about in an emergency, please contact the organiser with details before the event in confidence. These details will only be used for the purposes of this event and will be deleted/destroyed afterwards.
If you are involved in any accidents, damage, injury or a dispute with a member of the public, please let us know when you report to download.
Lone competitors are advised to leave car keys at registration so we have an added check that you have returned, even if you forget to download.
A comprehensive risk assessment will be carried out by the organiser, but competitors take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety. All competitors who start must report to download even if they retire. In the unlikely event of cancellation, details will be posted on the EPOC website – www.eastpennineoc.org.uk Information can also be obtained by emailing the organiser.
If you have a complaint about your course, or any other aspect of the event, please come and discuss it initially with the Organiser or Planner at download/enquiries. We will involve the Controller if necessary if the issue is related to the fairness of the course. We will try and resolve all issues on the day.
Insurance:
Please note that if you are not a member of an orienteering club affiliated to British Orienteering then you are not covered by our public liability insurance except if you are a newcomer to orienteering, in which case you are covered for three registered orienteering events without joining. Please ask any of our club officials for more information if you would like to join EPOC.
COVID-19 The event will be organised in accordance with British Orienteering and Government Guidance in effect at the time of the event.
IF YOU HAVE ANY COVID SYMPTONS PLEASE STAY AT HOME – STAY SAFE
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