Yellow 2.5km
Controls (checkpoints) are very easy to find, mostly on paths, ideal for younger children and complete beginners.
Entry limit: 26
Orange 3.0km
Controls are on or near paths with some route choice. Good for progressing juniors and adults who are reasonably confident reading a map.
Entry limit: 16
Green 4.5km
Controls are away from paths giving more navigational challenge. Suitable for those with some experience.
Entry limit: 36
Blue 6.5km
As technically as hard as we can make it; for experienced orienteers.
Entry limit: 27
Score
21 controls. Visit as many controls as you can in an hour in any order. 7 easy controls numbered in the 60's, 7 moderate difficulty numbered in the 70's and 7 more difficult numbered in the 80's
All course lengths are approximate currently and will be as measured in straight lines. Actual distance travelled will be greater.
Entry limit: 11
You must not attend if you or a member of your household has COVID-19 symptoms.
You must adhere to the British Orienteering Participant Code of Conduct.
Event centre
The event centre is at the Buckmore Park Scout Campsite, Maidstone Road, Chatham ME5 9QG accessible from the Lord Lees roundabout junction of the M2 and the A229. Please see event information for information on how to get here and the parking arrangements
The event centre, start, finish and download are close to our parking. Please follow the red and white taped route from the parking area to the event centre
There are no refreshments at the event centre but there are toilets available for our use.
The woods
There has been recent extensive complete felling in several areas and in some parts.there is ongoing work. These areas are marked on the map as rough open with the denser undergrowth lines for walk as most of the logs remain on the ground.
Courses were planned to avoid this felling but in the last week or so, after course finalisation and map printing, some additional felling has been done which is beyond the areas that we understood were to be felled.
In addition to the recent rain making the area wet, especially the tracks, the machinery used for the felling has churned up some of the tracks very badly. This affects one particular leg on each of the Yellow and Orange courses.
The Green, Blue and Score courses will be less affected because the runability of the area and leg design on these courses mean that in many instances, keeping off the main tracks is likely to be faster than running along them, even without the additional deterioration in a few places of the main tracks.
The tracks primarily affected will be highlighted on maps in the start lanes but expect to encounter mud on other tracks in the area.
Start
Please make every reasonable effort to arrive at the event in time for your allocated start window
Electronic punching
Electronic punching will be used and the controls will be activated for contactless punching. Hired dibbers (not enabled for contactless punching) will be available for collection at Enquiries. Everyone must punch at the start and finish as these are not set up for contactless recording.
Control descriptions
Control descriptions are printed on the map. For those who prefer to also have loose control descriptions to save opening and refolding the map, these are available online as a pdf from the front event page of the DFOK website but will not be available at the event.
Finish and Download
After finishing, please proceed directly to Download. Your splits print out will be handed to you. Hired SI dibbers should then be deposited in a pink container nearby.
Results will not be on display at the event but we will be providing a QR code link to live results at the event. They will also be on www.dfok.co.uk after the event.
Refund policy
If you have entered but are unable to attend the event, if you contact the Organiser by email no later than 9pm on the day before the event, a full credit for a future DFOK event will be given or a refund of your entry fee minus the small entry system provider charges.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Buckmore Park Scout Camp and Buckmore Karting for permission to use the area.