A message for newcomers and infrequent orienteers
We would be delighted to see you at this and other TVOC events. This event, like all our events, offers a range of courses to suit everyone from newcomers to experienced orienteers. If you are not sure which course to enter, please contact the organiser (contact details at the bottom of this page).
Please note that, if you’re not a member of British Orienteering, you won’t be covered by the organisation’s public liability insurance for this event. You’re very welcome to take part, but please be aware that you do so at your own risk. For example, if you were to accidentally injure a member of the public or damage property during the event, you would not be covered by British Orienteering’s insurance.
This Level C regional event is part of the SCOA League (SCOL03); see https://www.scoa-orienteering.org.uk/scoa-league
Parking for the event is limited. Please endeavour to share transport with a club mate. All entrants bringing a car will need to order a parking voucher; drivers arriving without a voucher will be turned away.
Most courses will run in Common Wood. The Start and Finish are both approximately 1500m from Assembly (downhill to Start, uphill return). There will be a clothing dump.
Shorter courses (White, Yellow, Orange) will run in Penn Wood. Their Start and Finish are both 400m from Assembly.
Helping
TVOC members – PLEASE contact your team leader to offer to help, or contact the organiser. They will give you the discount code to use when you enter.
Directions / Parking
Event parking is at Penn Street, which is signposted off the A404 between High Wycombe and Amersham, at SU924965, HP7 0QW.
Parking is at commercial premises at SU923956, adjacent to the Hit or Miss pub, Penn Street, HP7 0PX. No charge for parking – your entry fee includes a donation to a charity of the landowner’s choice.
Parking is very limited, so you are urged to share cars with other club colleagues. If you are bringing a car, you will need to book a parking space and provide your car registration when you enter.
Travel by public transport is via High Wycombe or Amersham, both of which have trains from London. There is then an hourly bus service to the Penn Street turn-off on the A404, followed by a 10 minute walk.
Terrain Description
Common Wood is an ancient woodland. It is located at the end of a gentle ridge, sloping down to the south and (more steeply) to the north-east. The woods are very varied with a mixture of conifer, beech and oak. There are many pits / depressions as a result of ancient clay and flint workings.
Common Wood is a particularly runnable mature Chiltern woodland which we have previously used only in conjunction with Penn Wood; as a result, only the longest courses made significant use of it. This event is an opportunity for competitors on the shorter technical courses also to explore Common Wood.
Penn Wood is also an ancient woodland, generally flat, with a mixture of types of wood and with some open areas.
Both woods were last used for the Chiltern Challenge in March 2024.
The Map
1:10000 with 5m contours.
Map updated Winter 2025 by Bob and Pattie Beresford and Rosie Walklin, using ISOM 2017-2
Courses
Common Wood
- Used for the longer and more technical courses
- Start and Finish are both approximately 1500m from Assembly. Please bear this in mind when selecting which course to enter, especially as the weather may be inclement at the beginning of January.
- Two marshalled road crossings between Assembly and the competition area, with light but potentially fast traffic. Under 16s are welcome to run the courses in Common Wood; however we ask that parents accompany them at least across the first road crossing to ensure they are heading for the correct Start.
- Start times from 10:00 to 12:00. Courses will close at 14:00.
Penn Wood
- White, Yellow and Orange courses only
- Start and Finish are approximately 400m from Assembly.
- One road crossing to reach the competition area, marshalled and with a 30mph speed limit. Again we ask that parents accompany them at least across the road crossing to ensure they are heading for the correct Start.
- Start times from 10:00 to 11:00. Courses will close at 12:30. (Note that a parent running in Common Wood and wishing to shadow a junior in Penn Wood are welcome to do so before their run.)
How To Enter
Entries are via SiEntries, using the link at the top of the page. There will be no entry at the event.
Note that all entrants bringing a car will need to order a parking voucher when entering the event; drivers arriving without a voucher will be turned away. Please share transport if you can.
Entry Cost
Up to Sunday 21st December
Senior BoF Member £12 Non BoF Member £14
Senior and Family Groups on White/Yellow/Orange £8
Juniors £4
SiAC Hire £2
Later entries
Senior BoF Member £15 Non BoF Member £17
Senior and Family Groups on White/Yellow/Orange £8
Juniors £5.50
SiAC Hire £2
Facilities
First Aid
Portable toilets
Note that TVOC will not be providing water out on the courses or at the finish/assembly – please come with your own supplies.
No catering due to limited space, but there are two nice pubs in the village who would welcome your business.
Dogs
TVOC’s policy is that dogs are not permitted on courses.
Well-behaved dogs allowed on their leads in the car park. Please clean up after your dog.
Officials
Organiser: Alun Jones
email organiser
07967 605307
Planner: Nat Skidmore
Controller: Mark Foxwell, BKO
