Brimham Rocks & Adam’s Ale – Yorkshire Night League results
Photos from Andy Johnson here on Flickr
This is the first event of a weekend of orienteering in the heart of Yorkshire. For the second event, on Sunday morning at Ellington Banks, Ripon, see HERE.
We are using two parts of Brimham Rocks: The main area for the Long and Medium courses (yes decidedly interesting at night and concessions will be made to help you navigate, stay safe and be in bed before day break) while the Short and Novice courses will use a beautiful adjacent area called Adam’s Ale (still rocky and wooded however more contained and well suited to somewhat easier courses). If night orienteering on Brimham excites you, great. If you think it might be a bit much or you are new to night orienteering, please enter either the Short or Novice course and we believe you will have a lovely outing.
ENTRIES
Entries for Brimham Night event via Racesignup HERE
Enter by end of Sunday 13th November. Late entries between 14th and 17th November at higher cost and while space allows. The Long course is proving popular so prompt entry is advised.
Start times will be from 5-6pm. You will be asked to choose a start block when entering. Please stick to it if possible to help spread out the headlamps. Courses close at 7.30pm.
LOCATION
Car and cycle parking is at the main National Trust car park at Brimham Rocks (what3words clip.carpentry.runners). Car parking is free for National Trust members or £6 per car in cash – do try to share transport. It is not possible to do this event by public transport however you can indicate on RaceSignUp that you are seeking a lift and be directed to someone who can help. The start and finish will be near the car park. We hope to provide a toilet.
MAP
1:4000. A4 waterproof paper. Descriptions loose and on the map.
Quentin Harding has been busy creating a new map of Adam’s Ale to the same specification as his 1:4000 Brimham map (which is also being updated as Lidar has finally reached North Yorkshire).
TERRAIN
Brimham Rocks and Adam’s Ale are stunning areas of unique rocky landscape. Many rocks and crags are vast. For map clarity these are not always drawn with the thickest of black lines. Assume all crags are uncrossable.
You will need to take great care. While the courses are planned to avoid you running towards the top of a large crag there are still numerous opportunities to fall over or off things. If you are lost, you will need to be particularly mindful.
Vegetation includes runnable woodland and semi-wooded areas, rough open moorland (still quite runnable) and grassed areas between rocks. Vegetation is dying back and is unlikely to greatly impede progress. The courses are planned so that you only have to take on small amounts of undergrowth.
Notes for the Short and Novice Courses:
Where a control line is bent, this indicates that you should go round the fence or wall between control circles (even if the fence or wall is marked as crossable).
You will encounter a large pond surrounded by a large marsh. Do not attempt to cross either. There are paths round.
Your course requires you to cross some gates and stiles. Please leave all gates as you find them, whether open or closed. We are hoping to be able to prop some open for ease.
Notes for the Long and Medium Courses:
There is a control description which may be a first! Significant Tree; Underneath. This is well worth a pause to admire when you get there. There is also a rock passage junction which may be an unfamiliar description for some.
REQUIRED KIT
A cagoule and a whistle will be required.
Two sources of light are highly desirable in case one expires.
Grippy running shoes are best (dobs are ideal).
Note – it is always colder at Brimham than outside your house when you set off for the event.
COURSES
Do not be deceived by the apparently short course lengths. There will be rocks, crags, rock pillars, boulders, rock passages and enough controls to keep you challenged for a while out there. Running up from your normal night course is not recommended unless you particularly relish the thought.
The courses are planned so that (if you choose a suitable course for your technical and physical ability) you should find the orienteering to be challenging yet do-able and therefore highly satisfying when you get it right.
Visit the Yorkshire Night League webpage to see details of how the league works, how to maximise your scoring chances and future events for this winter.
Note: the Army are holding their Inter Corps Championships here. They are running different courses with different course names. There is one start for all. Take care to embark on the correct course with the correct map at the Start.
| COURSE | PROVISIONAL LENGTH & CLIMB | APPROX NUMBER OF CONTROLS | TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY |
| Long | 3.0k 140m | 22 | TD5 – Really Tricky |
| Medium | 2.2k 115m | 19 | TD4 – Tricky |
| Short | 1.6k 70m | 14 | TD3 – Quite tricky given it’s dark |
| Novice | 1.5k 55m | 8 | TD2 – Largely, though not entirely, on paths |
RESULTS: It is intended to have live online results. Final results will be posted on the CLARO website www.claro-orienteering.org.uk.
When entering our events your name may appear in the results section of this website or in newspaper reports.
DOGS: No dogs on courses please, although they are accepted on a lead at the event centre
INSURANCE: Please note that if you are not a member of an orienteering club affiliated to British Orienteering then you are not covered by our public liability insurance except if you are a newcomer to orienteering, in which case you are covered for three registered orienteering events without joining. Please ask any of our club officials for more information if you would like to join CLARO.
PHOTOGRAPHY: In accordance with the British Orienteering Policy Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults, the Organiser of this event requires that any person wishing to engage in any video, zoom or close range photography should register their details with the Organiser before carrying out any such photography. The Organiser reserves the right to decline entry to any person unable to meet or abide by the Organiser’s conditions
THANKS: Our thanks to the National Trust, Mr Wiseman and Mr Burton for the use of their amazing land.
OFFICIALS:
Organiser: Liz POtterton (fixtures@claro-orienteering.org.uk)
Planner:Ruth Ker (CLARO)
Controller: Quentin Harding (CLARO)