Type of event: Race
What a great day we had at Blackborough. Weather in the morning was perfect for those of us in the sun. UPDATED WITH COMMENTS AND PHOTOS.
Blackborough is hugely variable with some excellent runnable mature forest but also areas of thick bramble. The map shows big blocks of green, some of which remain impenetrable, but others are in the process of turning into useful runnable areas, which should allow useful new options in the future. It has an excellent path network, which means plenty of scope for junior courses. For the adults I tried to keep you in the better parts of the woods, but inevitably there was going to be lots of path running.
Apologies to yellow and orange where you were wrongly shown as mis-punching, we have sorted that out and you all completed successfully.
Thanks to Forest Glade for hosting us, Mike for controlling, Karen for Organising, and all the team for doing your jobs cheerfully, especially Andy for doing my map updates and setting up the SI timing even though unable to stay for the day.
What a great day we had at Blackborough. Weather in the morning was perfect for those of us in the sun. Apologies to those car parking or running the starts as they were in the shade and quite cold.
Thank you very much to all those that turned out to run and help.
Also, thank you very much to Spencer Modica for coming along to oversee the SI for the day.
Only a couple of little issues otherwise a pretty good event.
Well done to Richard Sansbury for planning excellent courses and Mike Kite for his controlling and for taking so many photos.
QO people are such a friendly bunch and I was very pleased to control at Blackborough. Richard was great to work with – a meticulous planner who listens astutely and carefully weighs up advice. Unsurprisingly, his courses were well received by competitors and median times on senior courses were in the 60-89 minute range, reassuringly ‘normal’.
The backbone of Blackborough is a steep western escarpment with an intricate complex of spurs, re-entrants, gullies, depressions – brown features galore to challenge all on Orange to Brown! Bill Vigar originally mapped this long ago with amazing accuracy. Vegetation needs some updating. One block which had become dark green was corrected but two were overlooked. Apologies to Brown & Blue runners whose route choices may have been affected. We’re delighted that feedback was nonetheless extremely positive. It was fascinating to learn about the canny decisions that conquered this most difficult woodland!
Thank you to everyone who helped make this such a happy & successful day. And thank you for the pasty!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/67740141@N06/albums/72177720329892827
Photos from today uploaded to Flickr. You're welcome to download, edit, use any of them wherever you like. The down arrow by each photo offers a selection of sizes.
Our league events are open to all, beginner or experienced orienteer, young or old and there are colour-coded courses suitable for all.
We have six of these events a year and together they form the Forest League (QOFL). The series starts in the Autumn and continues at approximately one event per month until the spring.
Please note that all our league events will be Regional events (Level C).
Anyone can get a result for an event, but for it to be included in the league scoring you have to be a member of a British Orienteering affiliated club at the time of entry.
Please make sure you have read and comply with the Participant Code Of Conduct and, if applicable, the Parent Code Of Conduct.
Directions
The event is at Forest Glade Holiday Park, Broad Road EX15 2DT.
Orienteering sign will be placed to the SE of the Keeper's Cottage inn on the A373 Honiton Road and from Golden Lane Cross (which has a small brown sign for the park), NE of the holiday park.
From the West: turn left after Keepers Cottage, straight on along Broad Road to gates of park on the plateau. Along the way, frequent brown signs for a fishing attraction and to Sheldon indicate you are heading the right way.
Parking
Parking will be on a level grassy field 200m from assembly. Please follow the instructions of any parking marshall
£1 per car and £2 for .camper van size or larger, with funds raised going to Devon Air Ambulance.
| Course | Controls | Length | Climb |
| White | 13 | 1.5 km | 5 m |
| Yellow | 15 | 2.4 km | 25 m |
| Orange | 14 | 3.1 km | 35 m |
| Light Green | 13 | 3.2 km | 45 m |
| Short Green | 12 | 2.9 km | 25 m |
| Green | 16 | 4.3 km | 60 m |
| Blue | 20 | 5.4 km | 105 m |
| Brown | 28 | 8.0 km | 130 m |
All the above are subject to final controlling.
| Class | Pre-entry | Late / On the day entry |
|---|---|---|
| Senior | £10 | £12 |
| Senior Novice | £5 | £6 |
| Junior | £5 | £6 |
| Group | £7 | £9 |
A standard SI dibber can be hired for free (or £2 for a contactless SIAC dibber). Failure to return it will incur the cost of a replacement (£30 for SI, £60 for SIAC).
Please note that if you enter on the day you run the risk that we have run out of maps for your preferred course.
Please consider buying a pack of pre-entry credits in advance. This costs you the same but saves the club a lot in credit card fees.
Registration from: 10:30 (helpers from 10.00)
Start times from: 11.00 to 13.00 (helpers can start from 10.30)
Courses close: 14:30
Well behaved dogs welcome,
There are facilities available on the campsite. Please remember to remove orienteering shoes before entering. Thank you.
Forest Glade are offering hot refreshments and pasties.
| Bakery Goods Available | Price |
| Traditional Steak | £4.00 |
| Lamb and Mint | £4.40 |
| Chicken and Chorizo | £4.00 |
| Potato, Cheese and Onion | £3.20 |
| Roasted Vegetable (vegan) | £4.40 |
| Ruby Murray Curry (vegan) | £4.40 |
| Steak Slice | £2.30 |
| Sausage Roll | £1.75 |
Pre-orders being taken.
Planner: Richard Sansbury chair@
Controller: Mike Kite (WIM)
Organiser: Karen Lewis secretary@
Safety and Risk: A comprehensive risk assessment will have been carried out by the organiser, but participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety during the event. All participants must report to download whether they finish their course or not.
Privacy: when participating in our events/activities your name may appear in the results section of this website or in newspaper reports. Read our data protection page to see how we look after your personal data.
Photography: QO has an agreed policy on the taking of photographs at events, based on national guidance. This provides a sensible balance between the benefits and risks associated with the taking and use of images. If you are unsure about acceptable practice, please speak to the event organiser.
Safeguarding: QO is aware of it's responsibilities in safeguarding and child protection. To comply with The Child Safeguarding Practice Review and Relevant Agency (England) Regulations 2018, we now provide an email address for individuals to report concerns to the Lead Safeguarding Officer. This address is safeguarding@britishorienteering.org.uk.
IMG 20251024 100139 HDR
IMG 20251024 100146 HDR
IMG 20251024 100718 HDR
IMG 20251024 101120 HDR
IMG 20251024 101133 HDR
IMG 20251024 110810 HDR
IMG 20251024 134557 HDR
IMG 20251024 125953 HDR
IMG 20251025 091122 HDR
IMG 20251025 093332 HDR
IMG 20251025 095708 HDR
IMG 20251025 095623 HDR
IMG 20251025 110511 HDR
IMG 20251025 112457 HDR
IMG 20251025 114645 HDR
IMG 20251025 114721
IMG 20251025 092851 HDR