Local Summer Series - Upton Country Park & Hamworthy
Sunday 16th August
The fifth physical event in the Dorset 2026 Summer League.
WSX & WIM are running a series of summer events consisting of 6 maprun (virtual) events (each lasting one month) and 6 physical (SI control) events. This is the fifth physical event in the Dorset 2026 Summer League. The course for the summer series league is a 60 minute straight score (no "odds and evens" or other variations) using SIAC enabled SI control stations with O kites. There will also be a Yellow linear course which is suitable for young juniors and beginners.
Entries will remain open while maps are still available
Entries will remain open while maps are still available
Courses
Senior Score (30 controls with multiple road crossings)
Entered: 0 of 45
Yellow (technical difficulty 2 out of 5) 2.5km
Entered: 0 of 10
Suitable for juniors and novices with controls sited on paths or other clear linear features (e.g.fences)
There is a 60 minute score course with a mixture of of urban running and in Upton country park. Unaccompanied under 16s may not compete on the 60 minute score course. The Yellow course is entirely contained within Upton Country Park and avoids any roads.
Entry Fees
Senior: £7.00
Senior Chip hire: £1.00
Junior: £2.50
Junior Chip hire: free
Juniors are under 21 on 31st December.
Competitors under 16 on the day may not compete on the score course.
Senior Chip hire: £1.00
Junior: £2.50
Junior Chip hire: free
Juniors are under 21 on 31st December.
Competitors under 16 on the day may not compete on the score course.
Event Information
WSX & WIM are running a series of summer events consisting of 6 (virtual) events in the Summer MapRun League (each lasting one month) and 6 physical (SI control) events in the Dorset 2026 Summer League. This is the fifth physical event in the Dorset 2026 Summer League.
Start and Finish
Start times are 11.00 - 12:30
Courses close 14.00 (when we will start to collect controls in)
The start and finish will be in the same place, about 150m from the SW corner of the main car park. The finish may not be manned after the last person has started.
Start times are 11.00 - 12:30
Courses close 14.00 (when we will start to collect controls in)
The start and finish will be in the same place, about 150m from the SW corner of the main car park. The finish may not be manned after the last person has started.
Timing
The SI controls will be in contactless mode except for the start and finish ones that must be physically punched. Small kites will be used (at least) in the urban area.
Dibber (SI Card 5) hire is available for £1 (£30 if lost)
Printed Score showing splits will be provided at download.
Results will be available on-line later on the same night.
The SI controls will be in contactless mode except for the start and finish ones that must be physically punched. Small kites will be used (at least) in the urban area.
Dibber (SI Card 5) hire is available for £1 (£30 if lost)
Printed Score showing splits will be provided at download.
Results will be available on-line later on the same night.
Terrain
Upton Country Park offers a mixture of open areas, some flower beds, thickets and deciduous woodland with a few ponds. There is an extensive path network and some buildings and walls in the central area. There are railway embankments to the South (live) and West (disused)
To the South of the live main SW railway line is an urban area mainly of housing estates either side of the main (busy) Blandford Rd.
Upton Country Park offers a mixture of open areas, some flower beds, thickets and deciduous woodland with a few ponds. There is an extensive path network and some buildings and walls in the central area. There are railway embankments to the South (live) and West (disused)
To the South of the live main SW railway line is an urban area mainly of housing estates either side of the main (busy) Blandford Rd.
Parking
TThe main gates and main car park (BH17 7BJ) are open daily from 8am-9pm, parking charges apply – Pay & Display Tariff from 25 March 2026
Up to 1 hour £2.60
Up to 2 hours £4.20
Up to 4 hours £6.20
Over 4 hours £8.20
If you don'tmind a 400m walk to the main car park, parking at the dedicated Poole Road short stay car park at Upton Country Park is completely free of charge, with a maximum stay limit of 2 hours. It will probably be busy on a Sunday morning.so spaces may be difficult to find.
TThe main gates and main car park (BH17 7BJ) are open daily from 8am-9pm, parking charges apply – Pay & Display Tariff from 25 March 2026
Up to 1 hour £2.60
Up to 2 hours £4.20
Up to 4 hours £6.20
Over 4 hours £8.20
If you don'tmind a 400m walk to the main car park, parking at the dedicated Poole Road short stay car park at Upton Country Park is completely free of charge, with a maximum stay limit of 2 hours. It will probably be busy on a Sunday morning.so spaces may be difficult to find.
Map
The Yellow map is A4 at 1:5000. The Score map is A3 double sided 1:5000. The Upton Country Park section is mapped to forest mapping standards, whilst anything South of the mainn Railway line is mapped to urban orienteering standards.
The Yellow map is A4 at 1:5000. The Score map is A3 double sided 1:5000. The Upton Country Park section is mapped to forest mapping standards, whilst anything South of the mainn Railway line is mapped to urban orienteering standards.
Course and Score Information
Yellow
A short linear course with all controls on paths or other clear linear features. this is very suitable for beginners
Score Course
A 60 min straight score event with 30 controls. 10 min penalty for every minute (or part thereof) you are late back. Both points and control code will be shown on the map.
The course will involve a mixture of of urban running, fields and Corfe Common. Reaching some controls will involve crossing the main road through Hamworthy; this can be busy so please take care. Unaccompanied under 16s may not compete on the Score course.
Scoring
You have 60 minutes from the Start to Finish via as many of the controls as you can (total value 600 points).
You gain points for each control visited but you lose 10 points per minute – or part minute over the hour.
Points per control may vary from 10 to 30 points as described above, so check your map and plan your route before you start.
Bonus points (10 per minute under the hour) are available but ONLY if you manage to visit every control.
Yellow
A short linear course with all controls on paths or other clear linear features. this is very suitable for beginners
Score Course
A 60 min straight score event with 30 controls. 10 min penalty for every minute (or part thereof) you are late back. Both points and control code will be shown on the map.
The course will involve a mixture of of urban running, fields and Corfe Common. Reaching some controls will involve crossing the main road through Hamworthy; this can be busy so please take care. Unaccompanied under 16s may not compete on the Score course.
Scoring
You have 60 minutes from the Start to Finish via as many of the controls as you can (total value 600 points).
You gain points for each control visited but you lose 10 points per minute – or part minute over the hour.
Points per control may vary from 10 to 30 points as described above, so check your map and plan your route before you start.
Bonus points (10 per minute under the hour) are available but ONLY if you manage to visit every control.
Facilities
Here is a link for the Tea Rooms . Toilets are also available at the entrance to the stable yard.
Here is a link for the Tea Rooms . Toilets are also available at the entrance to the stable yard.
Event Officials
Planner: Jason Falconer (WSX)
Organiser: Bruno Smith (WSX)
Orienteering is an adventure sport so all participants should realise that there is an element of risk in taking part in any event. People who are not members of British Orienteering are not covered by their insurance policy
Although it is a last resort in event the of any cancellation, Wessex Orienteering club reserve the right to retain a portion of the entry fee to cover any expenses that have been already committed
Planner: Jason Falconer (WSX)
Organiser: Bruno Smith (WSX)
Orienteering is an adventure sport so all participants should realise that there is an element of risk in taking part in any event. People who are not members of British Orienteering are not covered by their insurance policy
Although it is a last resort in event the of any cancellation, Wessex Orienteering club reserve the right to retain a portion of the entry fee to cover any expenses that have been already committed
