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

Parking by kind permission of the Earth Trust. Space is very limited, so please park as close together as practical. Once this area is full, there is additional parking at the public car park further along the road.

Terrain Description

Generally open pasture land, with small wooded areas, streams and interesting contour features from the large Clumps (hills) that give the area its name. Expect to be climbing these hills on your courses! Longer courses will visit Wittenham Woods.

We can’t currently confirm if the cows will be back on fields by the 10^th but it is likely.  If they are on the hill please give the cattle a wide berth, they are used to people but don’t really want to be approached.

Please also avoid going off paths within Little Wittenham Wood as Earth Trust only conduct tree safety work along the boundaries of the footpaths and there are potentially dangerous trees within the woodland blocks themselves. You may go straight on open areas – where grass is cut there is no advantage of using paths, unless for navigation. However they are not very prominent there. Grass on Light yellow, rough open land, may be high in places.

The Map

Map will be 1:7500, significantly updated for this event. Green dots typically represent small bushes or trees, that are very visible.

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.

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

Control descriptions will be on the map only. On some courses Legends are obstructed with control descriptions. Please ask for Legends at Assembly if you need them

Start Times

Start times are between 10:15 and 11:45.

The assembly tent will be located in the field opposite The Earth Trust Centre on the other side of the road.
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

All entries are through SiEntries online only. Click on the link at the top of the page.

Entry to the event will be available up to 11am on the day of the event, Saturday 10th October
However entries after Sunday 4th October will be subject to map availability, so we advise earlier entry.

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)

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 Yellow, Orange or Red courses. You just need a single entry. The lead runner must be a Senior (M/W 21+).
You will receive one map for the group. However we recommend you have one map EACH – you can order extra maps (£1 each) when you enter.
If you enter as a group, SiEntries will ask you for the name of your group to appear in results – eg Jones family.

Entry Cost

Early entries up to and including Sunday 4th October

– Red and Light Green courses – BOF members £6, non-members and family groups £8, Juniors & Students £2
– Orange, Yellow and White courses – BOF members £5, non-members and family groups £7, Juniors & Students £2

Later entries from Monday 5th October (assuming spaces are still available)

– Red and Light Green courses – BOF members £9, non-members and family groups £11, Juniors & Students £3.50
– Orange, Yellow and White courses – BOF members £8, non-members and family groups £10, Juniors & Students £3.50

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

Facilities

Toilets are provided in the Earth Trust Centre.

Dogs

TVOC’s policy is that dogs are not permitted on courses.
Dogs are allowed but MUST stay on a lead throughout, which is a condition of our permission due to this being a nature reserve.

Further Information

This is the latest event in the 2026 Thames Valley Junior Orienteering League for anyone aged 18 or under, who is competing on the Yellow, Orange, Red, Light Green or Green course. Full details can be found here.

Officials

Organiser: Mikhail Gryaznevich    email organiser      07827 914654
Planner: Mikhail Gryaznevich
Controller: Mark Thompson