Online entries are now closed. Entries can be checked on Fabian4. Entry on the day will be available, subject to map availability.
Prices:
British Sprints vouchers: for those wanting to use EA Run Vouchers from the British Sprints, do not enter online. Instead, please email Helen giving your name, age class, club, course and dibber number to reserve your map, then bring your voucher to registration on the day.
Rushmere Country Park is south-west of the village of Heath and Reach, and is signposted from the Flying Fox roundabout on the A5.
Postcode LU7 0EB.
What3words: sardine.balconies.erupts
Leighton Buzzard station has a good train service. From there it's about 3.5km to the event location. The bus to Heath and Reach does not run on Sundays.
Standard Greensand Trust car parking charges apply. Pay on exit at the machines near the cafe. Cards and coins accepted.
We do not plan to marshal the car park.
Registration, enquiries and download will be in the Meadow (north of the car park), and close to the visitor centre.
Public toilets are available inside the visitor centre.
The Tree Tops Cafe in the visitor centre will welcome your custom. Please change your shoes if necessary.
| Course | Distance | Climb | Controls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | 8.5km | 220m | 28 |
| Blue | 5.2km | 180m | 21 |
| Short Blue | 4.0km | 170m | 16 |
| Green | 3.3km | 150m | 13 |
| Short Green | 2.9km | 110m | 12 |
| Light Green | 3.0km | 80m | 12 |
| Orange | 2.2km | 95m | 12 |
| Yellow | 2.3km | 60m | 13 |
| White | 1.6km | 50m | 13 |
The start is approximately 600 metres from the car park. The route will be signed from the southwest corner of the Meadow. Follow tapes.
There is one road crossing on the route to the start, and this will be marshalled. Parents and carers should accompany younger juniors to the start. Please watch out for traffic and follow marshals’ instructions.
The route to the start includes a section of path that is also used by some of the junior courses. Please watch out for, and give way to, competitors on course as you walk to the start.
The finish will be in the Meadow close to enquiries and download. Please don’t forget to download, even if you retire!
The terrain is attractive forest, mostly runnable, and quite hilly. The area was used for the British Middle Distance Championships in 2022 and can be recce'd on Routegadget.
Map: 1:7,500 A4.
Loose control descriptions will be available.
Electronic (SI) controls will be used, with contactless punching enabled. Punching start and finish.
Registration and enquiries will be open from 10:00. The start will be open between 10:30 and 12:30. We will not be allocating start times.
Please stick to your chosen start block if you can, to help us avoid queues. Start blocks are:
Last start: 12:30. Courses close at 14:00. Please consider this when choosing your start time.
Results will be available at www.smoc.info as soon as possible after the event.
Please keep dogs under control in the car park and assembly area. Dogs are allowed on courses provided you can reliably control them; if "just being friendly" might appear threatening to horses, other dogs, runners, children or bicycles, then please don't bring them.
The mapped area has several cycle tracks (marked with red posts). Courses have been planned so that runners should not need to run along them, but please stay alert and look both ways when crossing them.
Rushmere is frequently used by horse riders, dog walkers, mountain bikers and walkers. Please treat all forest users with courtesy.
In particular, please remember that horses have evolved to escape from predators. If you emerge suddenly and unexpectedly from the woods, particularly at the periphery of vision, this may cause a horse to start or bolt.
First Aid is available at Enquiries.
Nearest A&E is at Milton Keynes University Hospital, Standing Way, Eaglestone MK6 5LD, roughly 15 km from the event.
In case of extreme weather on the day of the event please check the event is still on at www.smoc.info
SMOC members are encouraged to help out and earn a discount on their run. If you'd like to volunteer, please contact Ros for the helper discount code before entering.
If you are new to orienteering and wish to join SMOC you can join online via the BOF website here.
We want everyone to feel safe and welcome at our events. As a club, we support and follow British Orienteering's safeguarding policies, which can be found via the links below:
Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy
Find out more on our Safeguarding and welfare page.
A risk assessment is carried out by the organiser in advance of each event, but participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety during the event.
If you have participated in three orienteering events/activities and not joined an orienteering club that is affliated to British Orienteering then you are not covered by our public liability insurance.
In line with the policies of British Orienteering, the organisers of this event request that any person wishing to take photos or videos showing children other than members of their family should register their details with event volunteers before taking any such photos or videos. The event organisers reserve the right to ask people to refrain from taking photos or videos and may, if such warnings are ignored, refer the matter to the police.