WycollerSat 28 September, 2024

Local level event

Results

• • Results and Splits
• • Routegadget

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Planner's comments:

As a first time planner, it was good to see the variety of people, of all ages, attending on the day, from experienced, not so experienced and first time orienteers, out on the courses, 68 in total.
Feedback on the routes, seemed very positive across all routes, to my relief.
The day was complimented with the appearance of the Beat The Street, mobile controls, to add points and fun to people participating in the Fitness challenge.
This could not have been done without the support of the club, from advertising the event through all types of social, club media, ‘word of mouth’, facilitated by all club members, to the boots on the ground, giving their free time to help facilitate the event, from setting and checking courses, setting up the Starts and Finish, timing, placing and collecting controls, ensuring all the equipment is in place to run the day.
To give people the opportunity to enjoy these type of events, without PFO club members, the fun and friendliness is invested to keep events like this running,
Maybe you'd like to join our club to experience more of what Orienteering is all about.
A special mention for George, who supported me throughout planning the event. Thank you.

Garry Alexander PFO - Planner.

Organiser's comments:

Wycoller is a great area in which to learn the basics of orienteering, It is a small but lovely area, full of interesting O-features. Courses were well planned, by Garry, to the correct navigational standard. As a first time planner, Garry received good reviews for 'interesting' courses. One complaint I heard was "too many contours", but that can't be helped at Wycoller.

The event facilities were somewhat dispersed due to the Parking, Start, Finish/download/toilets being distant from each other and there being no mobile signal for any on-the-day queries. We managed with dibber issue at the car park and toilets at the Finish rather than the usual en route to the Start. On the day, all 3 parts worked very well independently.

We are indebted to Lancashire County Council (owners of Wycoller Country Park) and their tenant farmer, who gave permission for the event. On our part we asked competitors not to climb stock-proof fences and walls, but to use any of the numerous gates, stiles and natural gaps. The security of farm stock is vitally important, so thank you for following our request.

One last minute surprise was that our exclusive reserve car park facilities (beyond a locked gate) was being used for pebble storage destined for footpath maintenance and upgrade. Stone piles occupied about one third of the area, so we had to compress the remaining spaces. It all worked out OK, with only a muddy entrance to contend with. Only a few O-cars had to park in the main public area. It wasn't a busy public day so we managed without inconveniencing anyone.

Special thanks to: Wendy and Ginny for car parking and dibber issue, Kay and Emma on Start duty, Garry (planner) on Finish and Andy & Helen +1 on Download and results, Judith and others for control placing and control collecting. I'm sure other club members chipped in on the day, so thanks are due to you too.

In short the event was set up, run and dismantled all-done-in-a-day. What a result!

Thought for the future - it would be possible to plan a good Blue course at Wycoller, but it would require two circuits of the area, with an old style map exchange, to accommodate the required length. Alternatively, a map extension, out onto the moor beyond, would also provide extra terrain variety, and maybe even a Brown course.

PS: There is a permanent O-course (POC) at Wycoller for juniors, novices and everyone else wanting to practice their skills. You can download and print 4 course maps (Yellow Easy, Orange Moderate, Green Hard and Score Hard) from the GoOrienteering website at https://www.goorienteering.org... and search for Wycoller)

Thanks to all for taking part.

George Crawford-Smith PFO - Organiser

RouteGadget

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Go to the Pendle Forest Routegadget now

Last updated: Tue 01 October, 2024

Wycoller Country Park and Wycoller historic village are in the heart of Bronte country, with a link to Jane Eyre.

Classic orienteering courses for beginners to seasoned competitors all in superb orienteering terrain, with many rock, water, woodland and landform features.

Location Info

Near: Colne
Lat,Lng: 53.85200,-2.11393
OS Grid Ref: SD926395
Postcode: BB8 8SY

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

Directions / Parking

Parking will be at the Wycoller Country Park car park (there is no charge at present): Wycoller Rd, Colne BB8 8SY.

We recommend that you do not follow your satnav up the very steep and narrow (due to parked cars) road through Winewall. Instead carry on, in the valley bottom, south east through Trawden on Skipton Road (B6250) to the junction with Keighley Road. Turn hard left here, passing The Old Rock Cafe, then uphill past the recreation ground, then right onto Wycoller Road.

Roadside signs will guide you into the car park on your right. Keep right, then directly ahead is a gate into the reserve car park, which will be open exclusively for orienteering competitors from 11:00AM till 4:00PM.
What3Words ///simmer.grub.shame for the reserve car park gate.
Park as directed, but please do not leave large gaps to adjacent vehicles as space is limited.

Dibber issue at Wycoller Road parking only.

Walking routes from Wycoller Road car park:

• The Start is 500m on paths, cross a stile on your right, then 100m across the field.
• The Finish and public toilets are 500m as above, then an extra 450m on the village access road, across the stream (ford or footbridge). Public toilets are behind the Cruck Barn. Then reverse the 450m to return to the road/field stile and then 100m to the Start.

There is a second parking option, which is suitable for competitors approaching from the East (Crosshills) or South East (Oxenhope/Haworth) directions. You can park at the Atom Panopticon car park (///takers.auctioned.duplicate) and then walk down to Wycoller village, 500m, where the Finish and toilets are located. Then 450m + 100m to the Start. There will be no event marshal here, and there will be no dibber issue here. For dibber issue, use the Wycoller Road car park.

Map / Terrain

Map scale 1:7500. A4.
Wycoller Country Park consists of grazing fields, rough pasture, woodland, open moors, with many large rock and water features. The historic village of Wycoller forms the backdrop to the event.

Wycoller Country Park is both a public recreation area and a working farm. Stock animals may be encountered in some fields. Please give them a wide berth.

Registration and Start times

Starts: 12:30 to 14:00. Courses close at 15:30.
When entering, choose a 15 minute start block window from the drop-down menu. On the day, arrive at the Start during your window. Starts will be allocated by the Start marshal at one minute intervals.

From parking to the Start, allow 10-15 minutes for the direct route, or 30 minutes if you go via the public toilets.

Courses close: 15:30.

Course Information

Course details above are subject to final planner's adjustments.

General rules at Wycoller: Competitors are forbidden to cross any stock-proof walls or fences. Competitors are only permitted to use marked stiles and gates of which there are many, (either by climbing or opening), On the map the majority of crossing points are not highlighted with the ) ( symbol. However, a few are so marked for clarity. Course lines are generally drawn straight, or bent to avoid obscuring important detail.

Please observe these rules as permission to use the area is dependent on our activities not causing any damage.

Entry Details

Registration: ALL entries must be made through SI-Entries.
If you are entering as a pair (or small group), it is only necessary to register one lead name, pay for one entry and hire one dibber, if required.

Entries will close on Friday 27th September at 12:00 (midday), but entries made on or after 26th September will be subject to map availability and will be at a higher price.

Dibber hire: If you do not possess a dibber** (SI-card) you must book and pay £1 when entering on-line.
Your hired dibber can only be picked up at the Wycoller Road car park location.
[**Note: £40 charge if dibber is lost or broken during the hire period.]

Entry fees for BOF-members:

Entry fees for non-members:

Dog restrictions

No dogs on courses. This is sheep country. You may exercise your dogs at parking or after the event. Usual doggy etiquette.

Facilities

Public toilets are close to the Finish. However, the shortest route to the Start DOES NOT pass the Finish, and a total detour of about 900m is required.

As an alternative, visit The Old Rock Cafe in Trawden (BB8 8RW or ///strict.unite.scan), en route to parking. Toilet available in exchange for the purchase of food and/or drink.

Miscellaneous

Local A&E - Burnley General - Casterton Ave, Burnley BB10 2PQ

For general enquiries -

BOF event: 85244

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Garry Alexander PFO.
Organiser: George Crawford-Smith PFO.