Autumn Series, event (4/4)Witton ParkSat 14 October, 2023

Regional level event

Results

• • Results and splits
• • Routegadget

Report

Planner's Comments:

A good turnout, with numbers swelled by the NWJS (North West Junior Squad) enjoying a 'day at the races' together with siblings and parents.
Conditions were very wet and slippery underfoot and occasionally very wet overhead too. However, everyone declared they had enjoyed their courses, despite a few navigational mishaps.

Witton is characterised by areas of excellent natural woodland separated by grazing land or playing fields. My goal was to have short, snappy legs in the woods, more sprint style than classic, with direct (compass) running across the open areas. The most difficult area to plan for routechoice and interest is Billinge Hill (Brown, Blue and Red only) where much of the hillside is covered in impentrable rhododendrons, leaving only path options. However, there are areas of beech, amongst old quarry workings to add technical interest. Take a look at Routegadget to see that many legs had multiple route choices.

My thanks go to everyone who competed, to every PFO member who helped in one way or another, to Hannah Dabbinet PFO for organising so ably and to Stephen Horrocks PFO for controlling and offering advice. He found all but two of my tags! Also thanks to Blackburn Borough Council for permission to hold the event. Every step you took was on their land! The Brown, Blue and Red courses ran close to a memorial plaque to Alfred Wainwright (of Lake District walking guides fame), who was Blackburn born and bred. On a clear day you can see the Lake District from his memorial view point.

Map: The map of Witton has been updated, progressively over the last 3 seasons, to Lidar stadards, to the benefit of navigational accuracy. There's another 10% to go, but no courses visited these remaining areas.

Printing: Due to a misfortune with our in-house printer we could not complete the event map printing. An outside printer was enlisted late on Friday but the result was very dark maps which reduced readability. Our apologies. I hope it did not spoil your fun.

Contactless dibbers: Early would-be starters noted that some dibbers would not register in the Start box. After much scratching of the head it was discovered that the SI Battery Check box was actually switching off these dibbers. The remedy was to remove the Battery Check from service. I'm sure the technical guys will get to the bottom of this odd occurance and make sure it never happens again.

George Crawford-Smith PFO - Planner.

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

Last updated: Fri 27 October, 2023

The competition will be within the Witton Park estate which includes both parkland with play areas and sports fields on the river plain, plus extensive and well featured areas of surrounding woodland, and all the wooded and open areas of Billinge Hill to the north.

Location Info

Near: Blackburn
Lat,Lng: 53.73917,-2.51366
OS Grid Ref: SD662270
Postcode: BB2 2TP

Open an interactive map in:
GoogleMap - Streetmap (OS 50k)
OpenStreetMap - BingMap (OS 50k)

Directions / Parking

Witton Country Park, Blackburn, Lancs. BB2 2TP.
Use the main public car park. Entrance at traffic lights on Preston Old Road, the A674. Car park coordinates, What3Words ///dangerously.pint.scans

This is a Pay & Display car park. Pay £2 at the machine, cash or card, for all day parking. Distance to Dibber issue, Download, cafe and toilets is 350m on the level.
Junior adventurers may like to try the newly opened Go Ape treetop adventure course and zip wire, immediately next to the cafe. For safety reasons, participants must be at least 1m tall to take part.
Details at https://goape.co.uk/locations/...

Map / Terrain

The map is 1:10000 on A4, for all courses. The map has been redrawn in 2023 using Lidar data.

Control descriptions will be on the map and available as loose descriptions in the start lanes.

Registration and Start times

Start times from 10:30 to 12:00. When entering, choose your 15 minute start block.

Courses close at 14:30PM

Course Information

Regional Courses: (Length & climb subject to final controlling)

All courses use the same start, which is a 900m taped route, with 40m of climb, from Dibber collection / Download.
Allow 15 minutes walk on easy terrain.

Entry Details

On-line pre-entry only via SIEntries. (https://www.sientries.co.uk/ev...).
Online entries will remain open until midnight on Friday 13th. However, these later entries (see below), up to the number of available maps, will be at the premium rate. EOD entries cannot be accepted.

Start times from 10:30 to 12:00.

Courses close at 14:30PM

Standard entries will close at midnight on Wednesday 11th October.
Adults (M/W21+) £8.00 (Non-BOF £10.00)
Juniors (M/W20-) £3.00
Dibber hire £1.00 but £40 if lost! Collect hired dibbers from Download.

For later entries on or after Thursday 12th October, until midnight on Friday 13th:
Adults (M/W21+) £10.00 (Non-BOF £12.00)
Juniors (M/W20-) £4.00

Dog restrictions

Under control in the park, but not in the competition area until after your run. Please clear up after your dog.

Facilities

Public toilets and cafe (including full meal menu) are both near to the Finish and Download.

Miscellaneous

General enquiries -

Event number 82296

Contacts / Officials

Planner: George Crawford-Smith PFO
Organiser: Hannah Dabinett PFO
Controller: Stephen Horrocks PFO