Hammonds Pond, also known as Upperby Park, is a small local park in Carlisle with, as you might expect, a large pond in its centre! To the best of our knowledge it has not been used for orienteering for over 10 years, whilst even longer ago than that there used to be a permanent orienteering course. Now we have permission and a new map to try out so why not come along and give it a go.
This is a local orienteering event suitable for both experienced orienteers and beginners.
Assembly, travel & parking. Parking is within Hammonds Pond park off Blackwell Road: what3words: books.covers.longer, Grid reference NY403534, nearest postcode CA2 4RU. Access in and out of the car park is via a short single track road; approach and leave with care. The event will not be signed apart from an orange & white orienteering marker placed at the entrance gate. If the car park is full please park considerately on Blackwell Road.
Assembly/Start/Finish. Registration, enquiries, download will be based on the edge of the car park. Start & finish will both be very close by. Park toilets are closed and show no signs of being repaired so we will arrange for a portaloo to be delivered and collected on the day.
Start times are provisionally 11:00 – 12:15. We may well move this to 12:00 – 13:00 to allow for football matches and space in the car park. We will update start times nearer the event.
Courses. All courses are “sprint-style” park orienteering. The going will be fast, but fast running sometimes creates pressure all of its own! Subject to final checking: Long approximately 4km straight line (over 30 control points); Short 2.5km; Beginner (shortest & suitable for beginners with some off-path grass areas to be crossed) 1.9km. Courses will twist and turn within the park, with both Long and Short having a map flip. Expect some controls to be close together, courses will cross over themselves and you may visit some controls more than once….. So read the map carefully to identify your correct next control and do check control codes when you punch! Long and short may have routes that could take you across a marked football pitch….. if any game is in progress please go around the pitch area; it won’t add much extra distance.
Terrain. Hammonds Pond is a busy local park on the South east side of Carlisle. It is fairly flat with a large pond dominating the centre. There is a miniature railway in the central island (out of bounds for the event!) and a number of play facilities and pitches. A skatepark is about to be built in the park which may impact access to one or two paths and some grass – we’ll check before we lock down final courses. Please respect any marked out of bounds and uncrossable features as marked on the map. There aren’t many flower beds but those that are there are marked in the usual olive green, and whilst not splendid at this time of year they are nevertheless still out of bounds. Stay on paths when passing close to the pond edges.
Map. Resurveyed and redrawn Autumn 2025, printed at 1:2500 on A4 waterproof paper. Control descriptions will be printed on the front of the map, pictorial for Long and Short, text for Beginner. There is no space for a legend on the map so a copy will be available at registration/download. Non-standard symbols used on the map are here:
Clothing. Please wear appropriate footwear; your choice may be coloured by the fact that in places grass areas are currently fairly wet. Shorts may be worn.
Entries. Online entries via SiEntries will open on Saturday 17th January and will close at midnight on Friday 30th January. Adults £8, Juniors £4. If you are new to orienteering and would prefer to go round as a group just enter one person and use the option to select any additional maps the groups would like at £1 each. If you do not have your own dibber these will be provided at no charge, £30 if not returned; to pre-order, leave the SI number blank during the online entry process, and then collect dibber from Enquiries/Download on the day.
Controls & Punching. Controls will be hung on trees, benches, fences, play equipment etc, sometimes with a stake sometimes just secured to the feature. SportIdent punching will be used for the event. Controls will be enabled for contactless punching for those with SIAC cards. The start and finish will need to be punched manually by everyone. If you don’t have your own dibber these will be provided on the day.
Facilities. Toilet TBA. Tea, coffee and other small refreshments may be available.
Safety. First aid on a DIY basis will be at Assembly. A comprehensive risk assessment has been prepared for this event by the organiser. Participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety during the event. The nearest A&E is at Cumberland Infirmary. The nearest defibrillator is within the Park.
General. Please be aware of and courteous to other users of the park, particularly young children who may be in or around the play areas. There are likely to be dog walkers in the park. Dogs welcome.
Membership. If you are not a member of Border Liners do consider joining our club. Membership details are here.
Acknowledgements. Border Liners would like to thank Carlisle City Council for permission to use the park.
Planners/organiser. Keith Tonkin, Christine Kiddier, Border Liners, email keithATcoria.co.uk. British Orienteering registered event 87622.
Parkrun. If you are really keen you could also take on Carlisle’s Parkrun at Morton (Chances) Park beforehand. In winter this is a 5 lap course on paths within the park.
Border Liners Orienteering Club 