Northern Orienteering Urban League - YourOMaps

Event Summary

YourOMaps Northern Orienteering Urban League for 2025

Welcome to event #2 of this year's Northern Urban League, kindly sponsored by YourOMaps.  This event will use an updated map, and will be held around the town of Fochabers.  It promises to be fast and furious!  

Two courses (long and short) have been planned which encounter estate roads that could be busy with other road users.  All competitors must check for traffic and other road users before crossing them.  Juniors under the age of 16 on the day of the event must be accompanied (rather than merely shadowed) by a responsible adult.  That adult will be responsible for their junior's safety.

This year's Series has six events, organised by BASOC, INVOC and MOR.  The event dates and locations are as follows:

  • Event 1: Thursday 12 June 2025 - Nairn West - INVOC.
  • Event 2: Wednesday 18 June 2025 - Fochabers - MOR.
  • Event 3: Wednesday 25 June 2025 - Aviemore - BASOC.
  • Event 4: Wednesday 2 July 2025 - Kinloss Barracks - MOR.
  • Event 5: Friday 22 August 2025 - Dalneigh - INVOC.
  • Event 6: Wednesday 27 August 2025 - Grantown-on-Spey - BASOC.

Series Coordinators: Andrew Campbell (MOR) (fixtures@mor.scot) and Colin Salisbury (INVOC) (colinsalisbury65@icloud.com)

Urban
Local
SI AIR
1745-1845 hours
1800-1900 Hours
2000 hours
86575
On Leads
Online
SiEntries

Directions and Parking

Directions.  From the West and East, head along the A96 towards Fochabers. 

Parking.  Parking of vehicles will be in the vicinity of Fochabers cricket pitch.  From the West, turn right towards Fochabers at the western-most roundabout and then the first right (w3ws: tabs.rewarded.claps) towards the Cricket Pitch.  From the East, continue around Fochabers via the A96 bypass to the western-most roundabout.  Turn left at that roundabout and then first right towards the Cricket Pitch.  Please self park.  The area is tight for parking, so please share lifts if possible.  Given the limited space, no larger campervans are allowed.  However, there is plenty of on-street parking in Fochabers for larger vehicles.

Registration/Assembly.  The event registration will be from the back of a car or campervan by the Fochabers Cricket Pitch.

Toilets.  The nearest public toilets are by the sports fields.  From the western-most roundabout, continue into Fochabers and up the Main Street, past the co-op on your left.  Then take the first right by the chip shop and carry down the road for 250m until you arrive at the playing fields.  The toilet block is on your left.

Start and Finish

Start and Finish.  The start and finish will be close to registration and 150 metres apart.

At registration

Courses

Two courses will be on offer:

  • Long: 4.8 Km, 26 Controls.
  • Short: 2.7 Km, 16 Controls.

Distances are measured via the straight-line legs on the map, so actual distances run will be longer.

Competitors aged 16 and over can run any of the two courses on their own.  Juniors under the age of 16 on the day of the event must be accompanied (rather than merely shadowed) by a responsible adult.  That adult will be responsible for their junior's safety.  

Participants must report to download by 2000 hours, even if you retire.

Points awarded for each race and prizes after the final sixth of the Series.

Terrain

Planner's Notes

The village of Fochabers has a population of around 1,800 people. The village is split in half by a small burn that runs from the east to the west running into the river Spey down by the cricket pitch.  The Main Street running through the village will only be crossed by the long course (several times).  When you are out on your courses there are various road crossings, some of which may be busy.  Please also be aware of your surroundings, as it can be busy with dog walkers, cars and cyclists. Cross any road with due care and be careful going around buildings not to bump into anyone coming the other way.

The courses will be using trestles, T-Bars and hanging (lockable wire) kites as control sites.  There will be an example of the controls at the start.

Running shorts are permitted and road shoes recommended.  Please note that if the weather is particularly wet and windy, then a waterproof may be made compulsory (so please bring one!).

1:4000m, with 2.5m contours.

Entry Details

Entries:

  • Open online, via SI Entries, from Thursday 3 April and will close at 2359 hours on Sunday 15 June. 
  • Entries can also be edited/changed/cancelled until this closure again subject to map availability.
  • There will be limited entry on the day, subject to an extra £1 and map availability.

Entry Fees:

  • Senior Non-Member - £7.00.
  • Senior SOA Member - £6.00.
  • Senior BOF Member - £5.00.
  • Junior/Student Non-Member - £3.
  • Junior/Student Member - £2.

Sign up to all six events and receive a 10% discount:

  • Senior Non-member: £42 down to £37.80.
  • Senior SOA Member: £36 down to £32.40.
  • Senior BOF Member: £30 down to £27.
  • Junior/Student Non-member: £18 down to £16.20.
  • Junior/Student Member: £12 down to £10.80.

Dibber Hire available - £1 (non-SI Air).

SiEntries

Final Details

Safety Information

  • Competitors take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety.
  • Juniors aged under 16 on the day of the event must be accompanied (rather than merely shadowed) by a responsible adult.
  • Participants are advised to be mindful of other competitors and users in narrow passageways (particularly entering them via a blind corner).
  • Participants are advised that the long course will cross the main street passing west-east through Fochabers multiple times.  This street can be busy, so competitors are advised to be mindful of traffic and other road users and to cross with due care and attention.  'Caution runner' signs will be displayed on the main street to warn drivers of the presence of runners. 
  • Participants are advised of potential trip hazards, including tree roots, stony and broken ground, litter, kerbs and steps.
  • Participants are advised that a waterproof may be made compulsory if inclement weather.  The organiser will update the event webpage and place a sign at the start and at registration, as required.

Event Officials

Laurie Parmenter
Dougie Condy
laurieparmenter@btinternet.com
David Ritchie

COVID-19

COVID-19 Guidance (Updated March 2025)

If you have symptoms of COVID or have tested positive to COVID, then do not attend the event or activity to help avoid spreading infection.  

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