Helping

TVOC members – PLEASE click on the link below and sign up to help. The sign-up sheet contains the discount code to use when you enter.

Helpers

Directions / Parking

Hill End is an Outdoor Education Centre on the western outskirts of Oxford, approached on the B4044 from either Oxford or Farmoor. It is signed from the B4044 (and will have an orienteering kite at the entrance).

Parking is on site and is limited to 70 cars. To allow us to maximise the number of entrants, please car share if possible and park tightly if you do drive. TVOC marshals will direct you to a parking space.

Terrain Description

An Outdoor Education Centre, mostly open, with large rough meadows at the bottom of the hill and on the gently-sloping hillside itself. Small areas of mostly runnable woodland and several buildings are dotted around the site, with various man-made features. The area is closed to the general public and provides a safe environment in which juniors and families can hone their orienteering skills, whilst also offering seniors fast running with route-choice challenges.

There are fences within and around the site. These must ONLY be crossed at crossing points, of which there are plenty. Please do not jump or climb the fences as this would jeopardise our future use of the site.

There is a large marsh extending north-south down the hill. For reasons of safety this has been marked as ‘out of bounds’ and courses routed so that there is no need to attempt a crossing. Juniors should also be warned to stay clear of the ponds on site; again, courses have been planned to largely avoid these.

There is a cattle grid on the road at the bottom of the hill – this should not be crossed and can be avoided by using the adjacent gate.

The Map

Pre-printed, waterproof, at a scale of 1:4000 with 2.5m contours. A4 size.

The Light Green course has a double-sided map.

Map updated using LiDAR data, May 2025, by John Farren, Bob Beresford and Mark Thompson.

Courses

The course lengths are the straight line distances between control points. In reality, you will run further. How much further depends on both your navigation and the terrrain, but it will be more than the quoted course length.

Newcomers to Orienteering are most welcome. We will have helpers to explain the event, the courses and the map.

For youngsters trying orienteering for the first time we recommend the white course. For juniors, yellow is a good choice, although juniors new to the sport should be accompanied. For family groups, we recommend the orange course, or yellow if you want something shorter. If you’re a runner, trying orienteering for the first time, the red course is ideal – you will probably run 4.5km doing it; if that is too much, then orange might be more suitable.

Please bring a waterproof and suitable outdoor shoes. A compass (available for sale) is also recommended . Please bring your own drinks/water.

Please note the climb when choosing a course.

All course lengths are provisional until courses are finalised.

YOU MUST REPORT TO THE DOWNLOAD TENT BY 1PM AT THE LATEST AS CONTROLS WILL BE COLLECTED IN FROM THAT TIME.

A reminder to please only cross fences at crossing points.

Control descriptions will be on the map only.

Start Times

Start times are between 10:15 am and 11.45 am.

The assembly tent will be located on the west corner of the main lawn, up to 200m walk from the car parking. The start is a 30m walk from assembly and the finish is adjacent to assembly.

If you have your own SI card (timing chip) you can go straight to the start. If you are hiring an SI card then go to the assembly tent first.

IMPORTANT: Courses close at 1pm. You must report to the download tent by 1pm at the latest, even if you retire or have not finished. The controls will be collected from 1pm onwards.

How To Enter

THERE WILL BE NO ENTRY AT THE EVENT. You must enter via SiEntries – see the link at the top of this page.

Entry to the event will be available up to 11am on the day of the event.
However, please enter by Sunday 1st if you can; entries after that date will be subject to map availability and a steep price increase. Note also that we have limited parking space, which may restrict numbers; enter early to avoid disappointment. Please share transport if you can.

You don’t have to be a member of an orienteering club to enter this event.  On SiEntries, just show your club name as IND (for Independent).

Small family or other groups are welcome, but please enter only the White, Yellow, Orange or Red courses. Just one entry will cover your group. The lead runner must be a Senior (M/W 21+).  You will receive one map. However for maximum enjoyment we recommend that you have one map each – you can order extra maps (£1 each) when you enter.

Entry Cost

Early entries, up to and including Sunday 1st March:
   Red and Light Green:  BOF members £6, non-members and family groups £8, Juniors & Students £2.
   White, Yellow, Orange and Score:  BOF members £5, non-members and family groups £7, Juniors & Students £2.

Late entries, from Monday 2nd March through to 11am Saturday (assuming spaces are still available) incur a £3 surcharge, £1.50 for juniors.

Timing chip hire: £1 (essential if you do not own one).  Lost timing chips charged at £65.

 

Facilities

Toilets are available on site, about 75m from assembly.

No drinks or food available, please bring your own.

Dogs

Dogs aren’t allowed on site at Hill End. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Further Information

Junior League
More detailed information about the Junior League that runs in conjunction with the Saturday Series can be found here.

Any junior aged 18 or under who enters this event as an individual and who successfully completes a course on their own (or in a junior pair on the Yellow course only, or who is shadowed by a parent/carer on the Yellow or Orange courses only) will be automatically included in the Junior League standings. Please note that any junior who enters and participates as part of a family group, or other group, will not be eligible for the Junior League.

Officials

Organiser: Tim and Marissa Hughes (TVOC)    email organiser      07340244011
Planner: Tim and Marissa Hughes (TVOC)
Controller: Roger Thetford (TVOC)