Chiltern Challenge 2026, Christmas Common
Level B
22nd March 2026
RouteGadget Please do add your route; the planner is always keen to see where competitors went, and competitors find it useful to see where others went.
Please refer any queries with these results to Robin
Planner's Comments
I was disappointed that the Forest Enterprise areas were not available for this event. They have provided space for some good orienteering in past years.
However, the newly mapped National Trust woodlands meant we could extend out some of the longer courses, rather than them looping excessively in the central area.
Those courses enjoyed something possibly unique to orienteering; an 8 minute timed-out navigational leg to a map exchange.
Overall I found this a good area for planning courses with minimal path running.
Neville
Controller's Comments
A whole lot of work on the courses by the planner Neville, was being done before Christmas. Courses were created and checked.
Only one pre check was required by myself prior to the event, 63 controls and 4 hours later, everything was checked and agreed.
On the morning of the event, Neville and his team had the controls in place prior to me starting at 0630hrs. Again everything was in place and I was happy with locations and control numbers.
I would like to thank all of the helpers for their time and efforts, but especially Jon and Neville for their prompt communications and for the huge amount of work they put into the event.
Regards,
Davey
Organiser's Comments
I hope the fine weather, new map and clean forest floor compensated for the truncated area and unconventional start time arrangements. Courses 1, 2 and 3 utilised an entirely new (NT) area, with an 8 minute time-out. Is this a record?
The main area has not been used for a Regional or National event for 13 years. So for many people, it will have been a new area. The compressed start time arrangements led to record pressures on the loos, which I had not anticipated. Sorry!
I had to cancel the last Chiltern Challenge I organised on this area in deep snow. We were lucky today!
We hope to be back at Christmas Common next year, hopefully using the Forestry England area denied to us today.
Jon
Lost property: Orientsport thumb compass found near south start. Contact wheatcroftjon17@gmail.com