Skip to Content

Staple Hill

QOFL 5

Sun 14 Apr

Near: Staple Fitzpaine
Level of event: Local

Type of event: Race

Results

Results
Photos
Routegadget

Toughing it out on the trail, Staple Hill

Toughing it out on the trail, Staple Hill
Credit: Jim Pearson

Planner, Tony H

Planner, Tony H

Planner's comments

Well done to all who took up the challenge that is Staple Hill for QOFL5. The weather was kind if somewhat chilly in that breeze....all right once you were moving.


Near summit, Staple Hill

Near summit, Staple Hill
Credit: Richard Webb

There were some issues with some courses - demolished hides, suspect crossing point position (Green, Blue) and a path junction covered on the map by course closing information (Short Green)....apologies for this and I hope it did not impede your progress too much.

At the other end of the scale of comment was one that thought the early controls were lovely pleasant woodland running, building into a crescendo of technical and physical difficulty at the end....dramatic but nice!

Cap'n Chris powering home

Cap'n Chris powering home
Credit: Jim Pearson

What a support team.... thanks to Pete Akers (controller), Angela Modica (organiser) and her group of volunteers, Bill Vigar for maps, Roger and Judy Craddock for essential help and advice and all others who had an input.

Thanks also to the control collectors who are a great help at the end of an event. If you are an improver or experienced and have the time and energy, collecting can be a great addition to your day....perhaps try the other route choice, spot that feature you missed, or visit an area of the forest that your course didn’t.

- Tony Hext


Organiser Angela M

Organiser Angela M
Credit: Wendy Carlyle

Organiser's comments

I was always taught to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. My team of helpers did their best and I’m grateful. Asking Roger to bring the JOG printer to the event was preparing for the worse.

- Angela Modica

The short JOG presentation

The short JOG presentation

JOG presentation

Besides the main action, we had a presentation to mark achievements at JOG (our junior group) this year- see some of the photographs in the gallery below taken by Jim Pearson.

Forest League (QOFL) Series Info

A local event 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.

Link to QOFL team lists - members, please check which events you are down to help at

Directions / Parking

Alongside forest road. Please follow the signs and the instructions of the parking marshals. Please do not use the Forestry Commission car park (which you pass on the way in).

If you are part of a large group (e.g. scouts) or intend to bring a minibus, please inform the organiser in advance of the event, preferably a week ahead so sufficient maps and suitable parking can be arranged.

Course Information


Suitable for all ages and abilities.

Course lengths and climbs:

CourseLengthClimb
Blue 5.3 km200 m
Green 4.1 km155 m
Short Green 3.1 km110 m
Light Green 3.1 km110 m
Orange 2.9 km110 m
Yellow 2.6 km60 m
White1.6 km15 m


Colour coded courses explained (with thanks to Berkshire OC)

Map scale is 1:7500 for all courses except White and Yellow, which are at 1:5000.

Courses have been planned to avoid the steepest climb and fenced areas - please use crossing points where available.

Other users, walkers, dogs, cyclists will be present especially on the plateau in the Start and Finish areas, so please be courteous and not alarm them unduly.

Planner Tony Hext says:


The terrain is the usual mix of coniferous plantation, deciduous woodland and open with gorse to almost meadow, beautifully runnable to downright messy....enjoy!

Entry Details

Category of entry

Orienteering

Beat the Trail
Adult810
Junior35
Family*- separate runs16n/a
Group (1 dibber and up to 2 maps)8n/a

*The family rate is a concessionary rates. Maximum two adults per family.

SI card (dibber) Hire - standard is £1, contact-less is £2 (only if contact-less mode is activated)

Additional runs (for all)- £1 each

Charge for lost dibber - £40 (SI), £65 (SIAC)

Filling out a Registration form (link) in advance will quicken up the entry process on the day.

The non-member premium has been dropped for 2019/20.

Electronic timing

The Sportident (SI) timing system will be used but contact-less punching (SIAC) will not be enabled, unless stated otherwise.

Those of you who have your own SI card please bring it to registration to speed up the registration process.

Registration & Start Times

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

Terrain Description

Mixed wood, steep scarp in places with areas of semi-open

Previous events at Staple Hill

Routegadget (2017 event)

JOG information

This is an area we used for JOG and it's a great area to try one of our Forest League events.

You can run a similar standard of course to the ones your run at JOG, or try a selection of harder and more technical courses.

A presentation will be made to mark achievements at our spring junior series, probably at around 2pm.

We will have some ‘special’ JOG badges for any junior who completes a QOFL course today!

Braunton Burrows event, May 19

A great area and the day after our Blackborough event, making a brilliant local double-header.

The deadline for the 'early bird' entry fee is this evening.

After that, prices increase by £2.

Entries via Fabian 4 (click here)

Last year's event there- report


Contacts / Officials

Organiser: Angela Modica 01823 451647 buddyinfo@

Planner: Tony Hext

Controller: Pete Akers

Photo Gallery

Badge awards

Badge awards

A pairing - or a close tussle?

A pairing - or a close tussle?

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.