COVID-19
There are no longer any formal restrictions around Covid-19. However we encourage you not to attend if you or a member of your household has Covid-19 symptoms.

Please make yourself aware of and abide by the British Orienteering Participant Code of Conduct (revised August 2021).

Dogs
Dogs allowed under control in the car park and Assembly area but not on the courses please.

Facilities at Assembly (in the car parking field)
Toilets
Tom's food wagon
First Aid

Southern Championships Eligibility
You can enter any age class, but to be eligible for Championship trophies and podium places you must enter the age class matching your age and sex, or 'run up'. Eligibility also requires that you are a member of British Orienteering and a member of one of its southern regional associations: SCOA, SEOA or SWOA. Furthermore trophies and other prizes are only awarded to competitors in the highest category (Elite, Long or A) of each Age Class.

Running up
M class competitors can only run up to M class courses.
W class competitors may run up to W or M class courses.
Competitors in age classes from 10 to 18 may run up to an older age class.
Competitors in age classes from 35 to 90 may run up to a younger age class.
The British Orienteering Trans policy applies.
When you run up you are not competing in your 'own' age class.

Championships Courses (by Age Class)
Those with trophies/medals
Elite courses: M/W18E, M/W20E, M/W21E
Long courses: M/W35L - M/W70L, M75L, W75 - W90, M80 - M90
A courses: M/W10A - M/W16A

Those without trophies/medals
Long courses: M/W18L - M/W21L
Short courses: M/W18S - M/W70S, M75S
B courses: M/W10B - M/W16B

Mapper's notes
This area occupies a north/south sandy ridge, sloping fairly gently on the top but steeply on either side, so you can expect plenty of climb. Much of the area is commercial forestry, resulting in a full range of runnability. At this time of the year the widespread bracken presents little hindrance - for all ages. A particular feature is many small stands of western hemlock, leading to numerous patches of saplings which vary between fast run and impenetrable, indicated by undergrowth and runnability screens.
Tracks cut across steep slopes result in even steeper earth banks several metres high. These are indicated by the “comb” symbol; only the most hazardous are shown as out of bounds.

Planner's notes
The variety of woodland and steep slopes provide interest in route-choice, but, as in most southern forests, there is an extensive network of paths. Superimposed on this are innumerable bike paths, old and new. Because of their ubiquity most of these bike paths are not mapped - most competitors will be able to distinguish them from ordinary mapped footpaths; a few are shown and marked as out of bounds. Several steep slopes have been torn up by bikers.
Courses are planned to minimise danger from bikes. A general principle is that likely route choices cross bike paths in an upward direction, so that descending bikes are in view. By the nature of orienteering, it is obviously impossible to plan for all eventualities: competitors are encouraged to be continuously vigilant.
Forestry England has identified several ecologically sensitive areas, marked as out of bounds both on the map and, in some cases, by red and white tape and policed on the ground. You must not cross these, or risk disqualification. On a few courses these will materially affect route-choice.
Owing to out-of-bounds restrictions being imposed more extensively than expected, it has not been possible to meet fully the EWT (Estimated Winning Times) criteria of BO Area Championships Rule I, albeit courses will be physically more demanding than those with a standard Level B status.

Medical conditions
Competitors take part at their own risk. If you have an existing Medical Condition of which the Organisers should be aware, please complete a Medical Form which can be downloaded from the British Orienteering website and hand in at Download/Enquiries in a sealed envelope marked with your name and "Confidential Medical Form for GO 04/02/24 event only". This will be opened only if you require medical treatment and are not conscious. It will be destroyed at the end of the event.