Travel: Use the Durham University campus entrance on Stockton Road, DH1 3LE, using the A177 from the South East (Shincliffe) or the South (Croxdale). Traffic from the North, approach Durham on the A690, turn South onto New Elvet from the Leazes road intersection, branch left onto Hallgarth Street at the second traffic lights, then right onto Stockton Road at the roundabout – the university entrance will be on your left.

Parking: Parking at Upper Mountjoy (W3W: ///next.rear.stones)
The parking will be signed from the University Campus entrance on Stockton Road, W3W:///visit.luxury.beats

Registration: will be open from 10.15 till 10.50.    Start :  Mass start at 11.00.

Entries: No pre-entry, donations in lieu of entry fee to go to a local charity, Refuse (https://refusedurham.org.uk/). Festive treats available afterwards.

Fees: There are no set fees for this event, but suggested donations of seniors £3, juniors £1 would be welcome – or whatever you can afford.

Start / finish: There will be a Mass start at 11.00. The start and finish will be adjacent to registration. Maps will be issued just before the start.

EPS: This event will use the EMIT TFP (Touch-Free Pro) electronic system. For security reasons the controls may be attached to the nearest fixed object to the control location – generally a tree. The Pro system is more reliable than the standard training boxes and can be passed faster. E-tags will be available free of charge on the day, but competitors will be charged for any loss. Unlike previous systems the E-tag is worn much like a wrist watch and needs to be passed within about 10-15cm of the control box, there is a small red LED on the E-tag which flashes for about 10 seconds indicating a successful pass – it will be your responsibility to check. There is no clear station for this system but the E-tag is cleared at the start control and stopped at the finish. There will be a sample control near registration for you to see the E-tag in action and instruction in the use of the system will be available on the day. Lost or non-returned E-tags will be charged at £55.

Map: The event will use the Durham University Estates map. Drawn at 1:5000 with 5m contours (RA4) by Rob McKenna in 2021 using LIDAR data and based on previous maps by Dave Caudwell. The map has been updated to ISSprOM 2019 (sprint standard) and modified in December 2022. Maps will be overprinted with course on waterproof paper. A sample map will be on display at registration

Terrain: Quite a mixture of terrain from urban, around the University grounds, to the delightful open mature deciduous woodland of Houghall Woods. The woods can be fairly demanding both technically and physically, with some steep slopes which at this time of the year can be quite slippy, please take care. Houghall Woods are also well used by local residents, please be courteous.

Control descriptions: Control descriptions will be in IOF pictorial format and will be on the back of the map. There will be NO loose descriptions available on the day.
Click here for a copy of the IOF control descriptions.

Safety: All competitors that have registered to start must report to download before they leave the area, even if they have not finished. Lone competitors should leave their details at registration.

Facilities: Unfortunately there are no public facilities near the parking area, please try to go before you come to the event.
There will be no water available at the finish – please bring your own supply.

Dogs: Dogs will be allowed but under close control – please clean up after your dog especially in the parking area.

Officials:

• Organiser – Nigel Wright
• Planner – Kate Hampshire
• Controller –