Saturday Series – Hill End
Saturday Series
22nd March 2025
Entries
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
Directions / Parking
Hill End is an outdoor education centre on the western outskirts of Oxford, approached on the B4044 from either Oxford or Farmoor.
Parking is on site and limited with a cap of 70 cars, so please car share if possible and park tightly if you do drive.
TVOC marshals will direct you to a car park space.
This event will be SIAC enabled.
Terrain Description
An outdoor education centre, mostly open, with large flat (and somewhat damp at the moment) meadows at the bottom of the hill and gently sloping fields on the hill itself. Small areas of mostly runnable woodland and several buildings dotted around the site.
There are a lot of fences around the site, these are ONLY to be crossed using crossing points, of which there are plenty, please don’t jump the fences as this might jeopardise being able to hold an event at Hill End in the future.
There is a cattle grid between on the road at the bottom of the hill – this should not be crossed and should be avoided by using the gate adjacent to it.
The Map
Pre-printed waterproof at a scale of 1:3500. 5m contours. Size A4.
Map updated in 2025 by John Farren.
Courses
The course lengths presented are the straight line distance between controls. In reality, you will run further. How much further depends on your navigation, but this could be up to 20-25% more than the quoted course length depending on the terrain.
Please note the climb when choosing a course.
All course lengths are provisional until courses are finalised.
| Course | Length (km) | Climb (m) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 1.0 | 15 | Suitable for young beginners. |
| Yellow | 1.5 | 35 | Suitable for juniors with some experience or for supervised newcomers, and for family groups. |
| Orange | 2.6 | 70 | Suitable for adult beginners and experienced juniors. Also suitable for family groups. |
| Red | 3.6 | 90 | Longer (expect to run more than 5 km), but less challenging navigationally. Ideal for runners new to orienteering. You still need to be able to read a map, but it is more like an unmarked trail race. |
| Light Green | 3.6 | 80 | More challenging; for improvers and those with a bit of experience. Most controls away from paths and more route choices. |
| Score | Ideal for adult beginners. 26 controls. Find as many as you can in any order and get to the finish within 60 minutes. Controls are worth 10, 20 or 30 points. Lose 10 pts per minute (or part of minute) late. |
YOU MUST REPORT TO THE DOWNLOAD TENT BY 1PM LATEST AS CONTROLS WILL BE COLLECTED IN AT 1PM.
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 and 11:45.
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 dibber you can go straight to the start. If you hire a dibber go to the assembly tent first.
IMPORTANT: Courses close at 1pm. You must report to the download tent by 1pm latest, even if you retire or have not finished. The controls will be collected from 1pm onwards.
How To Enter
Entry only through SI-Entries – see link at the top of this page. There will be no entry on the day.
You don’t have to be a member of an orienteering club to enter this event.
Newcomers to Orienteering are most welcome! We have helpers to explain the event, the courses and the map.
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. You will receive one map. However we recommend you have one map EACH – you can order extra maps (£1 each) when you enter.
Entry Cost
– 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
Timing chip hire £1 (essential if you do not own one). Lost timing chips charged at £65.
Facilities
Toilets are available on site, about 75 m from assembly.
No drinks or food available, please bring your own.
Dogs
Dogs aren’t allowed on site at Hill End at all, sorry for any inconvenience.
Further Information
This is the third event in the 2025 Thames Valley Junior Orienteering League for anyone aged 18 or under, who is competing on the White, Yellow, Orange, Red or Light Green course. Full details can be found here.
Officials
Organiser: Mark Tarrant - TVOCSee the Saturday Series page for more information about the series and the full list of events.