NW Night LeagueTockholesSat 07 December, 2024
Local level event
Explanation of Event levels
- Training events are non competitive events used for training and coaching, aimed at members of the club, but they can attract people from neighbouring clubs, and are often ideal for newcomers to try the sport.
- Local events are usually low key and in the 'localised' area, ideal for newcomers to try the sport. Most clubs run some 'mini series' throughout the year as local mid week events.
- Regional events attract participants from around the local Region.
- National events are high quality competitions that will attract people from far away,
- Major events are Major Events such as a British Championships or the annual JK competition.
Results
Report
Routegadget to follow shortly
RouteGadget
Is a web browser app for sharing and comparing orienteering routes. You can draw your own route or upload a GPS track from your watch. It also allows you to watch an animated replay with a simulated mass start.
Go to the Pendle Forest Routegadget now
POST EVENT Reports:
Planner's Comments:
Having started planning unsure what was in store, the event(s) turned out very well in the end. It was great to see a good turnout and such a wide variety of experience, from those attending their first event at Tockholes, to those whose Tockholes history goes back a few decades!
Courses were well received, despite having some pretty technical controls from the very beginning and feedback was almost universally positive. The only remaining thing is to thank the many volunteers, without whom events like this wouldn’t happen at all. Thanks especially to Andy Quickfall for Controlling, George for Organising and Peter for coordinating the various put-out teams (for both night and day, all put out on Saturday).
Hopefully we'll see you all at another PFO event soon!
Stephen Horrocks, PFO
Organiser's Comments:
Well, that was fun! Organising two events on successive days, the NW Night League event and the day Regional. My thanks to all PFO members who put a days work to make this event a success. Thank you all.
We encountered two major problems, which I trust we resolved to your satisfaction:
- The parking arrangements, Normally we use John Smith's field for parking, but with all the autumn rainfall, this was out of the question, except for the 4x4 vehicles.
We decided on roadside parking, despite the obvious potential dangers. It worked well but used up a number of extra volunteer PFO members to ensure that everyone parked sensibly and safely. It worked. We ended the day with half-a-dozen spare spaces. - Storm Darragh, for scences of destruction elsewhere, see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0mvv4d014ko
We (Controller, Organiser and deputy planner Peter Stobbs) agreed earlier in the week to make the final GO/NO GO decision on Saturday c.1:00PM, giving us just enough time to contact participants to change or keep their journey plans.
Our decision was GO night / GO day, not on the basis of the weather warning (it had been OK putting out in the morning (no rain and quite calm in the woods), but on the basis of whether it was safe to cross the main stream/river. Water levels can rise and fall very quickly here and to our relief they were low and the stream fordable in many places of your choosing.
Many competitors actually thanked the team for going ahead with the event despite the dire weather warnings. The biggest difficulty in the woods turned out to be the muddy/marshy and leaf stewen terrain, not the objective dangers of falling tree branches or difficulot crossings.
To cut a long weekend story short, EVERYONE enjoyed their "well planned" courses through some very runnable and tehnical terrain with interest all the way. No wonder Tockholes has been used for orienteering since the very beginning of O-time in Egland, circa 1966. England World Cup year.
PFO are happy to be custodians of the forest and hosts to all orienteers in this very lovely area. Come again!
George Crawford-Smith, PFO.
Mappers notes:
I hoped you liked the new map of Tockholes. The previous version was drawn with the aid of Lidar data, on to which we have completely resurveyed the vegetation. There are many patches of holly that were previously mapped, in a very general way, as a sigle shade of green. Current mapping tools (tablet with GPS) enable sketching amendments to be made directly onto the previous map version, then uploaded back to the map in OCAD for editing. The end resuolt is a much improved repressentation of singular, linear and area featurs and runnability. I hope your found the resultant map to be easy to understand.
I received only one complaint: The scattered bushy area around 117 (Night: Blue and Day: Brown, Blue and Short Blue.) was difficult to interpret on the run, partly because some of the veg change symbol was partly obscured by the control circle for 117 and partly because of the complex nature of the large and small bushes within the veg change. I found it difficult to map, so shall try and get that rectified before our next event.
PS: You can orienteer at Tockholes Woods any day, on your own, or with your children/grandchildren/other by loging on to the GOORIENTEERING website at https://www.goorienteering.org.uk/course/Tockholes and downloading the POC (Permanent Orienteering Course) maps. Confusingly the area is called Roddlesworth on this website, as it is the water company (landowners) name for the reservoirs and surrounding area that we, as orienteers, have known as Tockholes for decades. You can download an Easy, Medium or Hard course, either to your phone or for printing. Good luck!
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Pre-event info below here:
5/12/2024 LATE NEWS: The weather forecast for the weekend is not great, though no worse than we have all experienced at other events previously. The Controller and Organiser will be assessing the terrain and streams on the Saturday morning before the night event. A decision will be made whether to go ahead or to postpone the event(s).
This decision will be communicated to all participants early on Saturday afternoon, so you have time to alter your travel plans if necessary.
Please check your inbox as notification will be sent by email to all participants and not via this website.
Note also some extra safety information in the Course Information section.
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This event is part of the North West Night League (NWNL) series for the 2024-2025 season. Tockholes will be extra challenging at night!
Safety: This is a winter event - WHISTLES and WATERPROOF JACKETS and RESERVE LIGHTING are MANDATORY and must be worn or carried - unless specifically relaxed by the Organiser. To cope with wind, rain and cold, carrying hats, gloves, additional thermal layers and waterproof trousers may also be necessary. Be prepared!
Mobile phones may be carried as a safety measure only. Emergency help numbers will be printed on your competition map.
Respect the fundamentals of orienteering and do not use your phone as a navigational aid, except if you have retired.
Retirement: If retiring, proceed to the east of the competition area to the Tockholes road. Follow this to the venue. You MUST report your retirement to Download.
Control descriptions: They will be on the map and available as loose descriptions in the start lanes.
Permissions:
We are indebted to United Utilities (landowner) for permission to use the area.
NWNL night events for 2024-25: (All subject to confirmation.)
- SAT 7th Dec PFO Tockholes Woods (alias Roddlesworth Woods)
- SAT 11th Jan LOC Tarn Hows, Coniston (TBC)
- SAT 25th Jan SELOC Alkrington, Middleton << Note date change.
- SAT 1st Feb MDOC Venue TBC (Hopefully Alderley Edge)
Location Info
Near: Blackburn Lat,Lng: 53.68932,-2.50883 Postcode: BB3 0PA
Open an interactive map in:
GoogleMap -
Streetmap (OS 50k)
OpenStreetMap -
BingMap (OS 50k)
Directions / Parking
LATE INFORMATION 5/12/2024: The public car parks at Tockholes Royal Arms and Rambler's Cafe will be available for your use. Please park sensibly to allow as many competitors to park on hard standing. There is also the bus turn-area immediately next to the main car park, available for your use.
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Event venue will be inside the Royal Arms pub. Dibber collection and Download here.
facebook "The Royal Arms - Tockholes".
https://theroyalarms.co.uk/ The Royal Arms, Tockholes Road, Ryal Fold, Darwen. BB3 0PA. 01254 705373. info@the royalarms.co.uk
Open till 23:30 for drinks, but food available normally till 8:00PM. If you order pay for your food before running, it will be ready for you on your return
Hardstanding parking areas (cars & campavans) next to, and right of, the Royal Arms. Entrance W3W ///cried.tungsten.surfaces.
Best approach from north, east and west is via the M65. Exit at J3 and follow the A675** for (7km/4.5mi) past Tockholes Woods on your left to the next minor junction left, signposted Tockholes. Proceed for 2.7km/1.6mi, to parking, which is an easy turn on your right. Park as directed. The alternative route via J4 through Tockholes Village is steeper, bumpier, twistier and slower - and is not recommended.
** Average speed cameras are in operation on the A675: from J3, first 50mph, then 40mph, then 30mph through Abbey Village and then 50mph.
From the south (Bolton direction) follow the A675 through Belmont village then after 2.5k/1.6mi turn right at the junction noted above. Average speed cameras in operation.
Map / Terrain
Tockholes has been used for orienteering for more than 50 years! It is excellent mixed terrain that is 90% woodland. This is a popular area for recreational walkers and bikers and as such there are many incidental paths and tracks, in places too numerous to map. Only the main and through paths are marked.
Registration and Start times
Start times from 6:00PM to 7:00PM. When entering choose your start time in one of 4 x 15 minute blocks.
Courses close at 8:30PM.
Course Information
NWNL standard courses:
| Course: | Length: | Climb: | Controls: | Map: |
| Blue | 5.0k | 165m | 14 | 1:7500 A4 |
| Green | 3.5k | 105m | 12 | 1:7500 A4 |
| Orange | 1.5k | 75m | 7 | 1:7500 A4 |
Control descriptions will be on the map and available as loose descriptions in the start lanes.
Safety Notes:
Slippery underfoot: The ground is saturated after more than usual autumn rain, so many parts are muddy and waterlogged. Also the ground is covered with autumn leaves which obscure minor paths and and other features.
Please take great care. Wear only O-shoes with good cleats. DO NOT wear flat soled trainers.Dangerous high crags and earth banks: Marked as uncrossable using a thick purple line along the top edge. Some crags are 10m high!
- River crossings: Advice will be given on the Start line. There are 3 options:
- Foot bridges (marked on the map as a crossing point). Unaffected by water levels.
- Easier fording points (marked on the map as a crossing point). Depending on water levels a hand rail rope may be fixed to trees on both banks.
- When water levels are low, it is possible to ford at many points. Cross safely at your discretion.
Entry Details
On-line pre-entry only via SIEntries. No EOD.
Standard pricing will apply up to midnight Wednesday 4th December. Entry will remain open after this, subject to map availability, until midnight Friday 6th December, with a late entry surcharge of £2.00 Adults / £1.00 Young Adults & Juniors.
Entry fees for BOF-members:
| Senior (26+) | Young Adult (21-25) | Junior (U21) | |
| Up to 04/12/2024 | £7.00 | £5.00 | £3.00 |
| From 05/12/2024 | £9.00 | £6.00 | £4.00 |
Entry fees for non-members:
| Senior (26+) | Young Adult (21-25) | Junior (U21) | |
| Up to 04/12/2024 | £8.00 | £5.50 | £3.00 |
| From 05/12/2024 | £10.00 | £6.50 | £4.00 |
Dibber hire £1.00 (£40 if lost/broken). Hired dibbers must be collected from Download before heading to the Start.
£1.00 Discount per person if entering both the night and day events.
Dog restrictions
No dogs on courses. You may exercise your dog, under control, after your run.
Facilities
Toilets, drinks and food at the Royal Arms.
Offer to competitors is as follows:
- Meat Hotpot, followed by Apple Crumble @ £16.00
- OR: Mediterranean Tart (vegetarian), followed by Apple Crumble @ £16.00
Please indicate your choice on SIEnties when entering, by ticking the appropriate box and submitting by midnight on Wed 4th December.
Alternatively choose from their extensive evening menu (see facebook The Royal Arms - Tockholes).
Order and pay for all the above options before running.
Miscellaneous
General enquiries -
BOF event: 83438
Contacts / Officials
Planner - Stephen Horrocks PFO
Organiser - George Crawford-Smith PFO