Thank you all for coming, and enjoying the evening sunshine. Wheata and Wharncliffe are not easy, technically and physically challenging. Sorry about the recent growth of brambles, but that came with the bluebells. Very well done to Jonny and Joe on blue, and to Lotte Sykes who unexpectedly ran green for the first time and did well, and those who ran in shorts (ignoring the brambles). Thanks to those who made nice comments about Monika’s planning - although now 75 with arthritis and poor eyesight, she knows what makes good courses for young and old, and can still manage to hang the Wheata controls. Would love to know why the retirements were higher than we would have liked, especially on blue. Great thanks to the 4 control collectors (Joe W, Joe T, Tom and Dave T) who enabled us to have an early night. 

Thank you to all the helpers (Jonathan, David T, Tony, Robyn, Mark C, Dom, Peter G and Pete) who helped Pauline's organisation run smoothly.

Ian (and on behalf of Monika) Cooper

Join us for what promises to be a great evening of racing around the lovely ancient Wheata woodlands. 

How to enter

All entries must be made in advance on the SYO Entry System. Entries open Saturday 1st May and close on Monday 17th May at 7pm. There will be no entry on the day. Queries via email to the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To complete your entry you will need to agree to "abide by the Participant Code of Conduct".  This can be found here.

Location and Parking

The car park (normally closed) is on the east side of Woodhead Road about 1km north of Grenoside Village, and just before the Wharncliffe/Greno Woods car park on the west side of Woodhead Road.  

Exiting the car park at the north end, the start location is about 100 metres away across the road - PLEASE TAKE CARE CROSSING THE ROAD TO THE START AND FROM THE FINISH, CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED.

We have permission to use this car park for the event. The gate will be locked at 2030 hours so please remove your car before then.

If this car park is full you will need to try the public car park across the road or roadside parking (take care).

Start / Finish / Download

Starts 1730 to 1900 hours. You should select your start block when you enter. Please stick to your start block. Courses close at 2000 hours prompt. Please choose an early start time if you think you will be out a long time.

The finish is adjacent to the start. Download is situated in the car park. Please collect hire dibbers from download.

Courses

Yellow        1.8km, 9 controls

Orange      2.8km, 11 controls

Green        3.7km, 13 controls

Blue           6.0km, 18 controls

The blue and green courses also use the south east part of Wharncliffe Woods. The blue course is printed on both sides - remember to turn over your map!

Map and Terrain

1:7500, 5m contours.

A4 extract from the Wharncliffe/Wheata Woods map. Magnetic North lines are 300 metres apart.

Although Ian Cooper has made updates  to the map in 2021 it is a well used public area so new small paths can be created. There may be new motorcycle tracks in Wharncliffe Woods.

Wheata Woods has a good path structure, with many scattered holly bushes. Wharncliffe has fewer paths and holly bushes, but has brambles although  these are currently low. Both areas are fast run for the M21s.

Entry Cost

£6 Adults
£5 British Orienteering/SYO Members
£3 Juniors & Students

Pairs pay for one entry, extra map £1. If you are shadowing a junior, just pay the junior entry fee. Dibber hire free, but must be ordered in advance.

Facilities

There is a composting toilet in the ca park. It relies on bacterial action. Only human waste and toilet paper should be deposited in the toilet. Anything else must go in the separate bin provided. Continued use of these facilities depends on following this. 

Volunteers

We need volunteers to enable this event to go ahead. Control collectors also required.

If you can help in any way, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Helpers receive a free run. Please enter using code HERE2HELP.

COVID Guidance for Competitors and Volunteers

Some key points from the code of conduct:

• You must not take part in any form of orienteering if you or any member of your household have had recent Covid-19 symptoms.
• Minimise contact with people from outside your household before, during and after your run.  Practise social distancing at all times, including before and after your run as well as when you are out on your course.  Take particular care to keep the required distance from other people in the vicinity of the Start, at download and when passing other competitors or members of the public on narrow paths, going through gates, etc.
• Do not congregate in groups greater than 6 at the event.
• Sanitise your hands before and after your run.
• Do not touch the controls. If using a SIAC dibber hover your hand above the SI unit. If dibbing, just place the dibber in the hole, without touching the box.
• Please be super courteous to any members of the public that you come across before, during or after the event.

Event Officials

Organisers and Planners - Monika and Ian Cooper (email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., mobile 07739 089174)