Final Details
Parking close to Ulcat Row, Matterdale Parish Council Sports Field
Postcode: CA11 0LD
Grid Ref: NY 398 226
W3W: passing.snacking.painters
Terrain: Steep open fell with complex contour and rock detail, some marshy sections. Shorter courses on lower slopes. Map from previous event is here
Car Parking: At Ulcat Row, Matterdale Parish Council Sports Field. Please follow parking marshal’s instructions. £2 per car at the gate
Directions: If approaching from Dockray, drive north on the A5091 and take the right hand turn onto a minor road signposted for Ulcat Row at Thornythwaite church. The parking field is approximately 500m up this minor road on the right.
If approaching from the A66 at Troutbeck, take the A5091 through Matterdale End and turn VERY sharp left at Thornythwaite church. Please take care if approaching from this direction. The parking field is approximately 500m up this minor road on the right.
Toilets: In parking field.
Courses:
Yellow 1.9km 130m climb
Orange 1.9km 150m climb
Light Green 3.1km 175m climb
Short Green 3.2km 120m climb
Very Short Green 2.3km 80m climb *** See Note Below
Green 4.3km 200m climb
Blue 6.1km 250m climb
Brown 8.6km 275m climb
***VERY SHORT GREEN – this is the same course as the Short Green but with a loop at the end omitted. If you want to do Very Short Green, enter Short Green and pick up a Short Green map at the start. The map will show which controls to miss. You can decide while on the course whether or not to take the Very Short Green cut-off. The download system will work out which course you have completed.
The yellow course has 3 flagged legs marked with small yellow flags. You must follow these where indicated by a dashed line on the map. There are no flagged routes on any other courses.
COURSES CLOSE AT 2.30PM. PLEASE REPORT TO DOWNLOAD AT ASSEMBLY EVEN IF YOU DO NOT COMPLETE YOUR COURSE
Starts: 10:30 – 12:30
The walk to the high start is 1.4km with around 100m of climb. The walk to the low start (yellow and orange only) is 1.2km with around 50m of climb.
The finish for all is adjacent to the low start, so there is a 1.2 km walk back to download and the parking field. There will be a clothing dump at the finish.
Registration, toilets and download are located in the parking field, please follow signs to the start from the back of the parking field.
Please note that there will be no ferry service to the start for children and older competitors. This is because the distance from the nearest road and drop-off point and climb is similar to the marked route to the start.
Finish: Courses close at 14:30. Please ensure you download. Results will be displayed at download.
Controller’s notes:
Much of the terrain on the top of the fell is very tough going, with a lot of the flatter areas being particularly difficult to cross. Areas shown with the stony ground symbol can be very difficult to cross. The shorter courses have been planned to avoid as much of the difficult terrain as is possible.
Given the amount of rain that has fallen recently many of the linear marshes have become streams, and some new small unmapped streams have appeared.
There are many unmapped small paths.
The area has an abundance of rock features and only the more significant ones have been mapped.
Orange competitors should be careful if they go near the short section of stream marked with purple Xs.
Pre-entries: Now closed. Entry list available here
Entry on the day: for the Yellow and Orange courses only, subject to map availability (Senior £10, Junior £4, extra maps £1.00). Yellow maps will be at the start with some on display at Registration.
Maps: 1:7500 for all courses.
There is no need to cross any walls or fences on any of the courses. The perimeter walls and fences must not be crossed even if you retire.
Rough open is shown as white. Fast open fields are shown as yellow. All woodland is pale green.
Green circles (ISOM bushes or trees) are mainly small trees on open Fell.
Boulders are generally at least 1m high but may be smaller if significant or obvious. Descriptions give boulder heights.
Paths – there are too many semi-distinct and or temporary quad tracks and animal tracks to show on the map. Only engineered paths and those others that are distinct and obviously heavily used are shown.
Runnability – there is no runnability screen on the map but the flatter marshy areas on the top of the fell are quite tough going. The shorter courses avoid these as much as possible.
Control Descriptions: Loose in start lanes and on the maps
Timing: Sportident – Controls will be SIAC Enabled. You will need to punch the Start and Finish.
Dibber Hire: Free but £30 payable if lost. If you need to hire a dibber go to Enquiries/Download to collect it before going to the start .
SAFETY
- Clothing: Shorts are allowed, but competitors should be aware that on the longer courses they will encounter areas of heather and bracken. Please be tick-aware
- Weather: All courses are on exposed open fell and competitors should dress suitably. If conditions dictate competitors must carry a waterproof hooded cagoule. If cagoules are compulsory signs will be displayed informing competitors.
If warm, please take appropriate precautions, hydration, sunscreen and head cover. If you want to take water to the start a bin liner will be provided at the start for the disposal of plastic bottles. Water for emergency use will be available at the finish. - Whistles must be carried.
- There are cliffs and crags on the area, the rock can be very slippery when wet. The grass is surprisingly slippery. There may be streams to cross. At the time of writing, the streams are very full.
- There are some grazing animals, sheep and possibly cattle on the course and enroute to the start. If cattle are present, please run around them. Do not run directly at them.
- Safety bearing: North to wall, then West to finish.
- Yellow and Orange courses remain low on the fell.
- Other members of the public and farmers may be in the competition area. Please be mindful and polite as we are grateful for them allowing us to use the area.
- Ticks are likely to be present, please check for ticks after the event.
- Dogs on lead in Car Parking area. No dogs on route to the start as this is working farmland and not all on public footpaths.
Nearest A & E
Cumberland Infirmary
Newtown Road
Carlisle
CA2 7HY
NY 387561 What3Words : ///cool.pines.tribune
Penrith Hospital (Urgent Treatment Centre)
Bridge Lane, Penrith
CA11 8HX:
Nearest defibrillator: Royal Hotel Dockray:
Phone 999 for code.
CA11 0JY
Officials:
Organiser – Julie Ferris-Worth (BL) https://borderlinersorienteering.org/club-info/contact/
Planner – Paul Watson (BL)
Controller – Bob Barnby (WCOC)
Border Liners Orienteering Club 