The event will be the second of 3 events as part of the 'Northumberland Spring' weekend, which starts with an Urban Sprint race at Cramlington on Friday, then Sunday will see NATO hosting the Northern Championships at Dukeshouse Wood. Results will also gain points for the UK Orienteering League.

GB Junior Selection - The results of these races will inform selections to the Great Britain teams for the European Junior Orienteering Championships (Hungary, 2nd-4th July), the Junior World Orienteering Championships (Portugal, 11th-16th July) and the Junior European Cup (Germany, 30th September-2nd October). The races will also assist in making decisions on the invitations to the Pre-JWOC 2023 tour to Romania in the summer of 2022 and the make-up of the Talent Squads for the 2022/3 season. Applicable age classes are (M/W16-20).

The event will be signed from a junction on the Belsay to Scots Gap road at grid reference NZ070823, nearest post code NE61 4DZ, 'what3words' - ///proposals.unloaded.raft. About 1km to the north west of Bolam Lake, turn left at Bolam West Houses.

Please drive carefully through the houses and show courtesy to the residents - this is a rough narrow lane with many potholes.

Parking will be on a firm field at grid ref NZ062823, nearest post code NE61 4DZ, 'what3words' - ///lightens.strength.caps.

When wet it is not really suitable for campervans, motorhomes and heavier vehicles - please contact the organiser for alternative arrangements.

There has been a larger than expected entry and we request that competitors share transport where possible.

Due to the narrow entrance track all competitors are asked to arrive before 12:00 and vehicles will not be allowed to leave until after this.

When leaving the event please take great care at this junction and have a safe journey home.

Entries have now closed. There will be NO entry on the day.

will be situated in a large white van near the entrance gate and will be open for enquiries and dibber hire from 9:30 - 12:00.

If you requested a dibber on pre-entry then pick it up from registration before proceeding to the start.

Changes to courses CAN NOT be made due to limited maps, but alterations to start times may be possible.

Please avoid congregating around registration and try to comply with social distancing guidelines.

Lone competitors should leave their details with registration and car keys may also be left here.

The start will be just to the west of the parking area and will be a timed, punching start. Call up will be start time -4 minutes.

Please try to arrive at the start in time as most of the courses are quite busy, especially the Green and it may be difficult to fit you in if you miss your allocated start time.

A full start list can be viewed shortly in SIentries or can be downloaded here in pdf format, or here as an Excel worksheet.

Helpers and Yellow course competitors have not been allocated start times and can start when there is a free slot.

Juniors vying for GB selection have been seeded and allocated start times at 3 minute intervals starting from 10:00, but must still punch to start.

There will be a separate SIAC battery check box as well as the normal clear and check boxes situated before the start lanes.

Blank maps and control descriptions will be available in the start lanes.

There is plenty of room for warming up before you start.

The finish will be approximately 1km away and will be manned - don't forget to punch the finish control (particularly SIAC).

There will be two finish control boxes and either one can be used.

Once finished, please do not congregate around the finish control but follow the orange tapes northwards to a gate in the wall (gate must be left closed), cross the open pasture eastwards to another small gate by the pond at the bottom of the hill, then back to download.

All competitors must report to download before leaving the area, even if they do not finish or retire.

The event has been planned to BO Middle Distance guidelines. Basically courses are shorter than normal but with more controls and constant changes of direction.

To be competitive in the UKOL you must have entered the course for your age class.

    Yellow - 2.2km, 40m, 7 controls

    Orange - 2.4km, 60m, 10 controls

    Light Green - 3.0km, 60m, 11 controls

    Short Green - 3.2km, 75m, 16 controls - M75-M80, W16, W55-W80

    Green - 4.0km, 95m, 19 controls - M16, M65, M70, W18, W20, W45, W50

    Blue - 5.0km, 100m, 23 controls - M18, M20, M55, M60, W35, W40

    Brown - 5.8km, 130m, 24 controls - M21, M35, M40, M45, M50, W21

However, Juniors wanting to be considered for selection to the Great Britain team must have entered the following courses, they will be running a slightly shorter course than normal for a middle distance, in order to align with expected JWOC winning times (estimated 20-25 minutes):

    Blue - M18, M20

    Green - W18, W20, M16

    Short Green - W16

This event will use the SportIdent electronic system. Control stations will be enabled for touch free punching (SIAC) but competitors will need to punch the start and finish control.

All control sites will have a backup punch attached to the stake, which should be used to mark your map in the event of a control failure.

Fast, runable, open grassy moorland, with some rough pasture, small deciduous woodland and complex rock features.

Due to the recent dry weather many of the smaller water features may not be as prominent and shouldn't be used for fine navigation.

There are some steep slopes and impressive rock features (see photo), although courses have been planned to avoid the steepest slopes.

The southern part of the area has many large rock features and some smaller ones have been omitted for clarity

Walls must NOT be climbed, all courses will use a crossing point dividing the north and south of the area - this is a gated crossing involving 2 gates which will be tied open.

Although the area is a relatively low level moorland area it can be particularly exposed if the weather turns nasty. Whistles are advised, cagoules may need to be carried and if necessary a sign will be diplayed at the entrance to parking.

Most of the area is fast running on sheep-grazed grass, with some patches of dead bracken and the odd bramble so shorts may be worn.

There are a few dangerous crags where the straight line route crosses from above and these will be taped with black/yellow tape.

The farmer has a single wire electric fence on the north side of the dividing wall but this will be turned off for the competition and safe to touch.

A full risk assessment has been carried out. Competitors and those accompanying them to this event do so at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety.

First Aid will be available at registration/download together with information and directions to the nearest A&E facility.

Portable toilets plus a urinal will be located near the entrance gate. Sorry there will be no water at the finish, please bring your own supply.

There will be no traders at the event, but the NEJS will be hosting a cake stall in aid of funds for the Junior Squad. Please try to support them by donating or buying from them.

It is hoped to publish live results on the day using WiFi - you will be able to follow the progress of the event on your smart phone - link to follow.

If you require a paper copy of the results, please leave your details at registration with 70p to cover postage.