Croydon Hill Deer Park

Directions / Parking

Parking is above the public car park at Nutcombe Bottom on surrounding forest roads and signed from the A396 south of Dunster village. Access to the parking is up a, very steep in places, single track road. This is passable to vehicles up to a medium campervan size maximum. If anyone is intending bringing a minibus or similar, please contact the organiser beforehand to discuss options available. No coaches can access the area. The access road leads to a marked high level forest road entrance. Follow signs/marshal instructions to park facing downhill on good forest roads. A one way exit system will be in place departing through the event centre and out via the lower car-park exit. Due to the single track access road, no exit will be possible before 12.00pm. Please watch for pedestrians/cyclists/horses etc at all times.

Assembly to the start is 300m, white and yellow finish close to the start, other courses finish approximately 500m away returning partly along a very quiet road.

Course Information

Course lengths and climbs:

Colour coded courses explained (with thanks to Berkshire OC)

Courses may initially appear to be on the short side but all of them feature significant amounts of climbs (but do actually avoid the steepest!)

Please avoid entering any marked out of bounds area. Courses are all planned to avoid them.

Suitable courses available for all ages and abilities.

Helpers will assist beginners choose an appropriate course and provide advice. Any newcomers/parents wishing to have a go are recommended to try the yellow course.

Map

1:10000 scale (1:5000 for yellow and white courses) 5m contours, converted to OCAD, ISOM2017 and extensively updated where required in 2018/2019.

Overprinted courses on A4 waterproof paper.

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

Entry Details

Entry fees

* i.e. you belong to a club registered with British Orienteering

** effectively no charge for the juniors in the family

Helpers qualify for a half price run.

Entry on the day will be available for as long as limited map stocks last.

Please use the registration form here.

It must be checked to ensure it is fully completed. This is important for safety, back-up, and speed of entering details.

This form can also be obtained on the day from parking marshals.

Electronic punching

SportIdent (SI) being used. Both contact and contact-less (SIAC) options will be enabled.

Standard dibbers can be hired for £1, SIAC dibbers £2- limited numbers available on first come basis

Back up pin punches will be available at control sites.

Lost dibbers will be charged for at the replacement cost of £40 standard, £60 siac

note: for all competitors it is a punching start and punching finish- these need to manually punched by all users- even those using a siac card. All courses controls otherwise are contact-less mode enabled.

Event cancellation policy

Please note: QO will make every effort to ensure the event goes ahead as planned. However, should the event be cancelled, the club reserves the right to retain part of the advance entry fees to meet event costs already incurred or committed.

Registration & Start Times

Registration from: 10:00 to 12:30

Start times from: 10:30 to 13:00

Courses close: 15:00

Competitors must download by the course closure time to avoid the organiser initiating a lost runner search, even if you retire early.

Terrain Description

The area is, typically for a QO event, hilly with steep sided mixed forest and woodlands and areas of grazed and rough open moor. There is a good path and track network throughout. All significant tracks and paths are mapped but many unmapped animal/MTB tracks exist on the ground. The eponymous deer park fence is high, extensive and therefore uncrossable at any point other than those shown on path/track crossing points.

Dog restrictions

Allowed in the car park area (this is a public dog-walking area) but please clean up if necessary. No dogs allowed on courses please.

Toilets

Portaloo in event parking area.

Nearest public toilets in Dunster village main car park.

Other facilities

The first aid team will be in attendance. There is a children’s play area near the car park.

Full café/restaurant services are available in Dunster Village 2km away.

Safety

All competitors take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety. ‘No whistle, no go’ will be in force for all juniors and recommended for seniors. To call attention in an emergency use 6 long blasts.

The area is high and exposed in places. Please wear clothing suitable for the prevailing conditions on the day. Suitable waterproof clothing is recommended in bad weather. In very bad weather cagoules with a fixed hood will be made compulsory for all. Competitors should wear shoes with good grip and full leg covering. Old quarries exist in the area- one, although fenced is passed by the orange course- this will be marked with additional safety tape.

Please note that in severe weather due to high winds, ice, snow or any combination thereof, there is a distinct possibility of event cancellation. Please check this site for any final information prior to traveling on the day.

Other users

The area is popular with the public - please take care and show respect to all other users of the area.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Rosie Wych 01823 400744 secretary@

Controller: Andy Reynolds (Devon OC) treasurer@devonorienteering.co.uk

Organiser: Andy Rimes 07866 686435 results@

Important Event Information

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.