SW League – Affpuddle & Briantspuddle
Sunday 4th October
Regional (Level C) event on a recently mapped area in the heart of Dorset.
Wessex Orienteers invite you to our South West regional league event for 2026/27 at Affpuddle Heath, one of the last remnants of Thomas Hardy’s Egdon Heath. The area is now mostly forested, but includes some of the ancient woodland that was the setting for Return of the Native. It is also part of the old stomping ground of T E Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) who lived in nearby Clouds Hill. Expect classic Dorset terrain and enjoy this recent addition to WSX orienteering mapped areas.
Courses
Distances and climb values (subject to final confirmation)
Brown 9.7km 180m climb
Entered: 6
Blue 7.4km 135m climb
Entered: 8
Green 5.3km 110m climb
Entered: 17
Short Green 4.0km 90m climb
Entered: 6
Light Green 3.9km 80m climb
Entered: 0
Orange 2.5km 65m climb
Entered: 3
Yellow 2.4km 30m climb
Entered: 0
White 1.9km 25m climb
Entered: 0
Entry Fees
Senior: £14.00/£16.00
Senior Novice: £8.00
Senior Chip hire: £1.00
Junior: £7.00/£9.00
Junior Chip hire: £0.00
Juniors are under 21 on 31st December.
Senior Novice: £8.00
Senior Chip hire: £1.00
Junior: £7.00/£9.00
Junior Chip hire: £0.00
Juniors are under 21 on 31st December.
Event Information
Venue
The event centre is at the visitor's carpark of Babcock International Group, Napier Way, Bovington BH20 6JD. Google Maps or here What3Words
The event centre is at the visitor's carpark of Babcock International Group, Napier Way, Bovington BH20 6JD. Google Maps or here What3Words
Parking
Parking, registration and download are in the same place as the event centre.
Parking, registration and download are in the same place as the event centre.
Terrain
Due to a large number of out of bounds areas that have been imposed on us, the event will take place over quite a wide region of the woods. The eastern area consists of a mixture of open heath and woodland while the longer courses cross a minor road to access a more wooded area with a large number of depressions. Despite the very hot dry summer there has been considerable growth of bracken, through the routes have been planned to avoid the worst of this.
On some courses runners will pass through an OOB area, and here competitors must remain on the tracks that will be indicated on the maps.
Due to a large number of out of bounds areas that have been imposed on us, the event will take place over quite a wide region of the woods. The eastern area consists of a mixture of open heath and woodland while the longer courses cross a minor road to access a more wooded area with a large number of depressions. Despite the very hot dry summer there has been considerable growth of bracken, through the routes have been planned to avoid the worst of this.
On some courses runners will pass through an OOB area, and here competitors must remain on the tracks that will be indicated on the maps.
Maps
The area of Affpuddle woods (Forestry England) lies adjacent to the famous Culpeppers Dish. Until 2025, this area had not been used for orienteering for over 20 years, and is part of a larger forested area mapped during 2024 by Nick Nourse (The Mapworks).
The area of Affpuddle woods (Forestry England) lies adjacent to the famous Culpeppers Dish. Until 2025, this area had not been used for orienteering for over 20 years, and is part of a larger forested area mapped during 2024 by Nick Nourse (The Mapworks).
Entries
To guarantee a map you must enter before 23.59 on Sunday 27th September. Entries will then remain open until 23.59 on 3rd October, but only as long as maps are still available for that particular course.
Entrants are reminded that in order to score points in SWOA League events they must compete alone and unassisted.
To guarantee a map you must enter before 23.59 on Sunday 27th September. Entries will then remain open until 23.59 on 3rd October, but only as long as maps are still available for that particular course.
Entrants are reminded that in order to score points in SWOA League events they must compete alone and unassisted
Timing
Sport Ident using SIAC-enabled controls. All competitors must physically dib at both the start and finish.
Registration open from 10:15 for hire card collection (SI Card5 only) and any last minute changes to entry details.
Sport Ident using SIAC-enabled controls. All competitors must physically dib at both the start and finish.
Registration open from 10:15 for hire card collection (SI Card5 only) and any last minute changes to entry details.
Start and Finish
Starts: 10:30-12:30
Courses Close: 14:30
Start and Finish are situated about 4km from the car park, so we will be operating 2 minibuses between the main car park and a drop-off point, which is a small car park that the start and finish will be adjacent to. The minibuses will shuttle approximately every 15 minutes, starting at about 10.00. As a result of this additional cost, we are charging slightly more than usual, but feel that it is still excellent value.
Starts: 10:30-12:30
Courses Close: 14:30
Start and Finish are situated about 4km from the car park, so we will be operating 2 minibuses between the main car park and a drop-off point, which is a small car park that the start and finish will be adjacent to. The minibuses will shuttle approximately every 15 minutes, starting at about 10.00. As a result of this additional cost, we are charging slightly more than usual, but feel that it is still excellent value.
Finish
Courses close at 14.30, at which time we will start to collect in the controls. Therefore you should not expect to be able to complete your course after this time
All competitors must report to download even if you fail to complete your course. Failure to do so may result in a search being mounted for you.
Courses close at 14.30, at which time we will start to collect in the controls. Therefore you should not expect to be able to complete your course after this time
All competitors must report to download even if you fail to complete your course. Failure to do so may result in a search being mounted for you.
Facilities
Portable toilets in the car park. There are no toilets at the start/finish area
Portable toilets in the car park. There are no toilets at the start/finish area
Safety
Orienteering is an adventurous activity and all participants must accept there is an element of risk involved in taking part.
All competitors should carry a whistle. In bad weather the organiser may decide that cagoules must be either worn or carried while competing. In this case a notice to this effect will be displayed at the registration area.
The longer courses will twice cross a minor road. Due to the low level of traffic it will not be marshalled so please take care crossing it
There are sometimes cattle in this area. If you do come across any, please give them as wide a berth as possible especially if they have any calves with them.
An emergency phone number is printed on all the maps.
Orienteering is an adventurous activity and all participants must accept there is an element of risk involved in taking part.
All competitors should carry a whistle. In bad weather the organiser may decide that cagoules must be either worn or carried while competing. In this case a notice to this effect will be displayed at the registration area.
The longer courses will twice cross a minor road. Due to the low level of traffic it will not be marshalled so please take care crossing it
There are sometimes cattle in this area. If you do come across any, please give them as wide a berth as possible especially if they have any calves with them.
An emergency phone number is printed on all the maps.
Dogs
We may not have permissions for dogs in some areas, so please do not run with a dog. Any dog mess in the assembly area must be picked up and removed from the site.
We may not have permissions for dogs in some areas, so please do not run with a dog. Any dog mess in the assembly area must be picked up and removed from the site.
Cancellation
In the event of cancellation, a message will be placed on the Wessex Orienteering Club’s web site and an email sent via Race Signup to all entries.
If there is a cancellation, Wessex Orienteering Club reserves the right to retain a fraction of the entry fees to cover expenses already committed.
In the event of cancellation, a message will be placed on the Wessex Orienteering Club’s web site and an email sent via Race Signup to all entries.
If there is a cancellation, Wessex Orienteering Club reserves the right to retain a fraction of the entry fees to cover expenses already committed.
Withdrawal policy
In order to encourage earlier entries, WSX are happy to offer a no/low-cost withdrawals policy. You can withdraw at any time up to the night before the event and your entry fee will be credited to your account, ready for your next entry to a Wessex OC event. If you are unlikely to be able to redeem that credit, please contact the organiser and we will be able to arrange a refund, although we will retain a small sum (usually less than £1) to cover processing and any map costs incurred.
In order to encourage earlier entries, WSX are happy to offer a no/low-cost withdrawals policy. You can withdraw at any time up to the night before the event and your entry fee will be credited to your account, ready for your next entry to a Wessex OC event. If you are unlikely to be able to redeem that credit, please contact the organiser and we will be able to arrange a refund, although we will retain a small sum (usually less than £1) to cover processing and any map costs incurred.
Event Officials
Planner: Roger Crickmore (WSX)
Controller: Karen French (WIM)
Organiser: Nicola Brooke (WSX)
Planner: Roger Crickmore (WSX)
Controller: Karen French (WIM)
Organiser: Nicola Brooke (WSX)
