14APR23: Entries are still open, and will remain open until 11am Saturday morning subject to map availability. We still have maps available on all courses, though a couple are now looking quite low. So if entering on Saturday morning, enter from home before leaving to ensure you have an entry on the course you want.
11APR23: These web pages now constitute the FINAL DETAILS for the event.
13APR23: Some courses cross ditches that maybe wet and/or slippery depending on the recent weather conditions – please take particular care when crossing these ditches.
Entries still remain open for this event. And the weather forecast is dry and no wind!
Start block times are available from SIentries, using the link above. We will not allocate you specific start times. Please aim to arrive at the Start during the period of your allocated start block to avoid queuing.
Layout of car park, facilities and direction to Start (and Finish) are < here >
Copious help is available to newcomers at the Information / Inquiries area in the car park, and also at the Start.
Distances:
- Car Park (Download / SI Collection) to Start – approx. 600m
- Finish to Car Park – approx. 700m
Brown course has double-sided map
Important Safety Information
The route to the Start (and back from the Finish) crosses the Horspath Road. Please take care crossing this road, and follow the instructions given by road crossing marshals.
Please pay attention and avoid accidents or incidents with other users of the area:
– Walkers
– Dogs and dog walkers
– Cyclists
– Horse riders. Give horses a very wide berth
There are one or two very minor forest roads or tracks in the forest (one with a few residences along it) but car movements are rare. W/Y/O courses are designed to avoid these roads.
Take care around any ruined buildings on Brasenose Woods and near any fallen trees or branches.
There are deer in the area. It is therefore possible to pick up ticks that might cause Lyme Disease. Please check for ticks after the event.
Courses close at 14:00 (2pm). You must report to the Download tent by 14:00 latest
27MAR23: Information added to Terrain Description section (and Planner’s Notes) about some recent areas of clearing
23MAR23: Important safety information added
13MAR23: Some Planner’s notes, including confirmed course lengths, now available from < here >
A TVOC Saturday Series event giving newcomers an opportunity to try orienteering for the first time. See < here > for more details about our Saturday Series.
This event is also a Level “C” Regional and SCOA League event (SCOL7) with a full range of colour-coded courses for all developing and experienced orienteers.
Full First Aid, catering and toilets will be provided for this event
This event will be SIAC enabled.
Directions / Parking
Parking is at BMWs MINI plant car park, off Horspath Road, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 2RS.
Signed from the A4142 Oxford Ring Road East and Horspath Road junction (GR SP555046).
Entrance to car park: What3Words: ///short.usage.monks
Terrain Description
Shotover and Brasenose Woods are a woodland country park with an intricate path network. Brasenose Wood (near to the start and finish), is the flatter area crossed by a number of small streams. Shotover Wood, to the north and west, is hillier. It is generally an escarpment increasing in height to the north with some re-entrants along its length. There are also numerous clearings within Shotover Wood.
Note: in mid-March there has been some clearance of vegetation in the open areas at the eastern end of Shotover Wood. This may be seen on the Green, Blue and Brown courses.
The Map
Scale 1:7500. 5m contours. Pre-printed, waterproof paper. A4. Double sided for the Brown course.
Updated Spring 2023 by Martin Ricketts.
See Planner's Notes (link provided above) for non-standard symbols used on the map.
Start Times
Entries continue to remain open.
Start times will be from 10:00 until 12:00.
Registration is online via SiEntries. Click on the SiEntries logo at the top of this page to enter. There will be no physical Entry on the Day. But you will be able to enter using SiEntries for as long as maps are available.
Courses
This is a SCOA League event, and a TVOC Saturday Series event.
See link to Planner's Notes above for latest details of map and courses.
Course details:
Course Controls Length Climb
White - 12 - 1.6 km - 25 m
Yellow - 11 - 2.3 km - 35 m
Orange - 11 - 2.8 km - 70 m
Red - 10 - 4.7 km - 105 m
Light Green - 10 - 3.7 km - 110 m
Short Green -13 - 3.7 km - 150 m
Green - 15 - 4.5 km - 170 m
Blue - 21 - 6.4 km - 270 m
Brown - 25 - 8.2 km - 405 m with double-sided map
The Red course is an ideal start point for runners keen to try orienteering for the first time.
Courses Close strictly at 14:00. You must report to the Download tent by 14:00 latest, even if you retire or have not finished. Please ensure you are back well before 2pm. Controls will start to be collected from 2pm.
How To Enter
Entries are still open via SiEntries
Pre-entry is through SiEntries, by clicking on the SiEntries logo at the top of this page. WHILST THERE WILL BE NO REGISTRATION AREA AT THE EVENT, WE PLAN TO KEEP ON-LINE ENTRIES OPEN FOR AS LONG AS MAPS ARE AVAILABLE.
Note that by entering the event, you are accepting TVOC's Terms & Conditions; you can read those by clicking on the button immediately above the SiEntries logo.
When you enter, you will be asked to select a 15 minute start block.
You don't have to be a member of an orienteering club to enter this event. On SiEntries, just leave the club name field blank
Small family groups or other groups are very welcome, but we recommend you enter the White, Yellow or Orange courses. Please enter as a Senior and give a group name. Tick the box to say that you are entering as a group, and we will arrange a second map at no extra charge, so two of you can enjoy the navigational experience.
For children aged under 10 who want to navigate themselves, Yellow and White are the most suitable courses, though juniors new to the sport should be accompanied.
If you're a runner trying orienteering for the first time, the Red course is ideal - you will probably run 7 to 8km doing it; if that is too much, then Orange might be more suitable, or Light Green if you are confident about your navigation.
The Thames Valley Junior Orienteering League runs in conjunction with TVOC’s Saturday Series. This event at Shotover is the second Junior League event of 2023. Any junior aged 18 or under who enters this event as an individual on the Green, Light Green, Red, Orange or Yellow course, and who successfully completes the 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. More League details and full rules can be found at https://tvoc.org.uk/junior-league/
Please bear in mind that COVID is still in circulation. We encourage a continued responsible approach to COVID at our orienteering events. People have different risk tolerances and we ask you to respect others’ personal choices, particularly in maintaining inter-personal distance. Please do not attend if you or a member of your household has COVID-19 in the few days leading up to the event; we will offer a full refund in such circumstances – details at bottom of page.
Entry Cost
- All courses except White, Yellow and Orange: BOF members £14, non-members £16, Juniors & Students £5
- White, Yellow and Orange: Seniors £8, Juniors & Students £4
- Timing chip hire £2 (required if you do not own one). Lost timing chips charged at £65
Facilities
- Help provided for all newcomers to come and try orienteering for the first time
- First Aid: Provided by White Star Medical Services
- Refreshments provider: Tom and Julie's British and Continental Catering
- Toilets
There will be no clothing drop
Further Information
Cancellation
As set out in clause 7.3 of our Entry Terms & Conditions, we will provide a full refund if you have to cancel because you test positive for COVID in the seven days leading up to the event.
TVOC are very grateful for the support of the following organisations who have enabled this event to proceed:
– BMW for their permission to use the MINI car park
– Oxford City Council for permission to use Shotover Country Park and Brasenose Woods
Junior League
More detailed information about the Junior League that runs in conjunction with the Saturday Series can be found here.
Officials
Organiser: John Dalton, TVOC
email organiser
07767 362805
Planner: Mark Saunders, TVOC
Controller: Stuart Fisher, NWO
