Night Sprint Foot-O

Event Summary

With thanks to the landowner, Hamish Lochore, welcome to the second event of this year's Northern Night Cup at Burgie Arboretum.  Please make yourself familiar with the Northern Night Cup guidelines: NNC General Guidance - Nov 2021.docx.

Please note that the car parking area is limited to about 20 vehicles, so please share lifts where possible or park at the nearby Forres Enterprise Park and arrange a lift from there.  Given the space, no campervans or motorhomes will be permitted.

The area has deer, so please keep any gates closed to prevent them entering the adjoining gardens.

As with all NNC events, a spare headtorch is compulsory and a whistle must be carried.  Please also dress appropriately for a night event in winter in Northern Scotland.  

Night
Local
SI AIR
1745-1845 hours
1800-1900 hours
2000 hours
87680
On Leads
Online
SiEntries

Directions and Parking

Directions.  From West or East, the event will be signed off the A96 between Forres and Alves at the sign 'Burgie Mains - Burgie Arboretum': Grid Reference: NJ088604; w3w///lofts.heartened.plots. Turn to head south at this junction and continue straight for about 800m (including passing a crossroad). This road has a number of pot holes, so please pick your route carefully to avoid damaging your vehicle. Then turn right into the small car park and grassed field.  This will be signed. 

Parking.   Parking will be on hard-standing and a grassed area.  There is sufficient space for about 20 vehicles, so please share transport or park at the nearby Forres Enterprise Park and share a lift from there.  Motorhomes and campervans will not be permitted.

Toilets.  There are no toilets.  So, please use the nearest public toilets in Forres.

Start and Finish

Registration/Download.  The event registration and download will be from a suitably signed car in the car parking field.  You MUST register (at registration at the car) before going to the start.  You MUST report to download by the course closure time of 8pm.  Any hired dibbers can also be collected at registration.

Start and Finish.  The Start and Finish will be a short walk from the event registration/car park and accessed via a gate at the north-western end of the car park.

At registration

Courses

Two courses on offer:

  • Long (TD4-5); 
  • Short (TD4-5).

Shadowing and Juniors.  Please note that anyone under the age of 14 MUST be accompanied on the course by an adult, unless the parent/guardian can convince the organizer of the young orienteer's proven competence at night orienteering.  If you shadow a junior on the Short/Long course, you should declare yourself non-competitive to the organiser, if later running one of those courses.

Terrain

Burgie Arboretum contains a mixture of tracks, runnable woodland and areas of slower run with brambles.  There is a small lake in the area which must not be crossed or entered.  The area has deer, so please keep any gates closed to prevent them entering the gardens.

1:4000m, with 2.5m contours.

Entry Details

Entries are online via SI Entries only.  

  • Entries open online from 12 November 2025 and will close at 23:59 pm on Sunday 30 November 2025 at normal prices.  Online entries can also be edited/changed/cancelled until this closure, subject to map availability. 
  • Sorry, but no Entry on the Day. 

Entry Fees: 

  • Senior (21 and older) BOF Member - £5.00.
  • Senior SOA-only Member - £6.00.
  • Senior Non-Member - £7.00 
  • Junior (20 and younger) and Student BOF/SOA Members - £2.00 
  • Junior/Student Non-Member - £3.00 
SiEntries

Final Details

Safety Information

  • Competition Area.  Participants are advised that the competition area is bounded by a stone wall and fence.  The safety bearing is to head either due north or due east until the main boundary wall or fence of the competition area is reached.
  • Water Hazard.  Participants are advised that there is a lake and two smaller ponds (one enclosed by an uncrossable fence) in the competition area.  These must not be crossed or entered,
  • Vegetation.  Participants are advised that the area has some brambles.  
  • Trip Hazards.  Participants are advised of potential trip hazards including tree roots, stones and low lying vegetation.
  • Ticks.  The area has deer, so please check yourself for ticks and remove them, ideally within 48 hours of finishing the event.
  • Crags.  Participants are advised that there are crags in the Western part of the map. 
  • Other Runners.  Participants are advised to be mindful of other competitors to minimise the risk of collision.
  • Inclement Weather.  Participants are advised that a waterproof may be made compulsory if inclement weather.  

Event Officials

Nikki Howard
Anna Howard
littleblervie@icloud.com
Peter McLuckie

Ticks and Covid

Ticks

  • Risk Awareness:   Please be aware that ticks are common across many of the areas we run in and can carry infections such as Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Encephalitis.  Ticks are active in the UK primarily from March to October, but year-round vigilance is recommended.

  • Prevention Strategies:   

  • Wearing full leg and abdomen cover in the forest.  

  • Applying insect repellent to exposed skin and clothing.

  • Checking yourself for ticks after your run.  Common areas for ticks include behind the knees, underarms, hairline, and any pressure points.

  • Considering vaccination against TBE, if visiting high-risk areas in Europe or Asia.

  • Tick Removal and Symptoms:   Consider using a tick removal tool to ensure the tick is removed quickly and completely.   If a tick has attached, it should be removed as soon as possible.
  • Health Action:  If symptoms develop, such as a rash or flu-like symptoms, individuals should seek medical advice promptly and mention the tick bite, as not all doctors may be familiar with the conditions.

  • Key Resources:

 

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.