Event Outline Summary...
 

Objective:

Gain as many points as possible by visiting checkpoints on bike and on foot, or just on foot.

Teams:

Each team must consist of a minimum of 1 child  and 1 adult. The maximum number for any team is 4.

Timing:

Teams can start any time between 1300 and 1400. Once the team has started they will have 2 hours 30 minutes to gain as many points as possible.

There will be a briefing at 1240. All team captains must attend this briefing.

Location:

Wendover Woods, Bucks – near Wendover and RAF Halton. All checkpoints are within the confines of the woods. There should be no need to go outside the woods.

Start / Finish:

Will be on the road, near to the registration tent. This is based approx 500m south of the Café in the Wood (see sketch map below) . The Start / Finish checkpoints will be south of the barrier on the woodland road. There will be signs directing you to the Registration area. See map in detail section. Please park in main parking areas, then bring your team and bikes to the registration area.

Transition / Bike Park:

There will be a large transition area near to the registration tent for you to put your bikes in. This will be obviously marked. The transition area will have someone observing it through out the event, but bike security is the teams responsibility. So if you want to, feel free to lock up your bikes here.

Refreshments:

Refreshments are avialble from the Café in the Wood who do excellent food / drink / ice creams etc

Detailed Description Of Event:

On arrival teams will need to register with the registration tent to pick up their numbers, their maps and their electronic cards.

Once you have registered you should put your bike in the transition area, if you are cycling. All teams will start on foot, they can then pick up their bikes if they are cycling first.

There will be a briefing at 1240. It is important that all team captains are at this briefing. They will have explained how the event will operate, how to use the checkpoints, and all safety aspects.

Teams can start any time between 1300 and 1400.

You will have to register your start using your team electronic card in the start checkpoints. You have now started, and your time has started.

At the start you will be given a description card of all the checkpoints, their points value and those ones that are dummies i.e. do not exist.

You then need to decide whether you cycle or run / walk first, decide on your route and head off to your first checkpoint.

There will be a mixed number of cycling and  running checkpoints. They are all numbered differently. You do not have to visit the checkpoints in any particular order except you cannot visit a running checkpoint while you are cycling and vice versa.

Note: for those teams only on foot they will be able to collect cycling checkpoints as well.

You must get at least 50 points in each phase. So once you have finished your cycling or running you need to put your electronic card into the transition checkpoint which will be just by the entrance to the transition area. You can now start your second phase.  If you do not return to the transition checkpoint you will not have finished your first phase and will not score on the next phase.

When arriving at a checkpoint, the whole team needs to be together, or within 20m of each other. There will be roving marshals on the course. Any team found to be separated will have a 50 point penalty.

When you have completed all the checkpoints you want to visit return to the finish checkpoint by the registration tent and your final time will be taken when you put your card on this checkpoint control.

You have 2 hours 30 mins to get as many points as you can.

For every minute over the 2 hours 30 mins you will receive 5 penalty points. So make sure you are back in plenty of time.

If you have been to all checkpoints and still have time left, then your finish time will be taken into account in deciding the winner. i.e. the fastest team who finds all checkpoints without incurring any penalties will be the winner. However I doubt whether anyone will visit all the checkpoints in the time allowed !!

Equipment:

The following is the minimum equipment you will need:

For those cycling:

• Bikes (functionality of your bikes is your responsibility, as a minimum make sure the brakes work well, especially on children’s bikes)
• Puncture repair kit / tyre levers and a pump
• Cycle helmets

General Equipment:

• Suitable shoes for cycling / running or walking
• Waterproofs
• Mobile phone

 Optional but suggested:

• Compass
• First aid kit
• Snack food

Navigation:

The navigation is reasonably straightforward. You will be given a Wendover Woods Map. It shows all the main roads, tracks and paths. All checkpoint controls are on or near to paths or tracks within the woods, many on track junctions or prominent objects. The topology of the wood means that the start is at the top of the hill. There are many checkpoints on the flatter part of the wood to enable people with smaller children to achieve a good score. Once you go off the top of the hill everything else is down, and some of the up hills are extreme. So long as you stick to road / paths and tracks the ups and downs are not too hard. I have tried to indicate these on the maps you will be given.

Cycling is only permitted on roads and tracks marked with a cycle sign you may also cycle on bridleways.

You may not cycle on any paths. These are obvious and normally marked with a cycle in a circle crossed through, or marked with a purple foot on a post.

There are many many unmarked paths in the woods, you can use any of these whilst walking / running, just be sure you know where they are heading.

Scoring:

Each checkpoint has a points value. Your score will be a total of the checkpoint points you accumulate during the event minus any penalty points.

Penalty points will be incurred for going over the 2 hour 30 minute time, -5 points for every 1 minute over the time. Or for teams being separated or arriving at checkpoints more than 20 metres apart, - 50 points.

Prizes:

There will be prizes for the first team and runners up in the two classes and the two categories – 11 years old and under, 12 years old and over. (The age group will be determined by the age of the eldest child in the team).

There will also be spot prizes – such as the team dressed in the best “themed” dress (i.e. the Pirates dressed as pirates !!, or whatever else your team theme is.)

Prize giving will take place at approx 1645 once all teams are in and the scores calculated.

Safety:

Safety during the event is the responsibility of each team member. The checkpoints have been located in positions that are safe to approach using paths, tracks and roads.

The event is being run on roads, tracks and paths within Wendover Woods and near by areas. The ground is uneven, there are roots, stones, holes and hills. It is important that each team cycle and run / walk with care focusing on the terrain in front of them.

For the cycling wearing helmets is compulsory. You will not be allowed to leave the transition area with your bike, unless you all have a helmet on and done up.

When cycling, please cycle with care and attention for other people in the event and for other users of the wood. There are walkers / horse riders, other cyclists and cars all over the area, especially on the top near the café.

When cycling on the tarmac road be aware that it is one way for cars. Therefore if you are cycling against the traffic you need to keep out of their way.

In the event of an emergency you will be given a telephone number to call. If the situation is serious an ambulance will be called. For less serious injuries the nearest accident and emergency is Stoke Mandeville just south of Aylesbury.

Parking:

Parking in the wood is at a premium. It is important that as an event all our participants park sensibly.

There is a main car park near Go Ape and the Café in the Wood, and there is parking on the road heading towards the start. There is also a parking area on the exit road, and an exit car park at the exit of the wood. To reach these you drive past the Café and continue along the tarmac road. On your right is a parking area about 300 m along this road. At the exit to the wood there is a large car park. This is approx ½ mile from the start.

Please use all parking and don’t just try to park as near to the start as possible. This is important because if we don’t take into account other wood users we may not be able to run this event again.

It is also important to note that there is a  fee to park in the wood which is payable at the pay stations. There are payment stations in the wood, so please DO NOT stop at the entrance and pay here as there will be a queue of traffic going out the entrance gate. Come up the hill to the woods and pay when you have parked.

Sketch Map of Woods:

P = Parking

T = Toilets

Entrance Form:

Click the logo to download an entry form to this event...

Our Event Sponsors: