UBOC is hosting BUCS 2026

Friday Night Accommodation

If you're travelling a long distance you may want to book accommodation for Friday night. There are plenty of village halls and scout huts in and around Bridgend which are likely to be cheap to hire. UBOC has a lead for a hall located in Shirehampton, just off the M5 and about 1 hours drive to the day 1 event parking. Please get in contact with us for more information. We encourage groups to coordinate amongst themselves through the WhatsApp group.

Saturday 14th March - Individual Event at Merthyr Mawr

Final details will be provided in PDF format when finalised.

Details of associated public event can be found here

Key Information

• Courses close at 16:00. You must report to download by 16:15.
• Full leg cover is mandatory.
• Competitors must start at their allocated start time.
• You must punch both the start and finish.
• Bring some cash for the NGOC Café.

Car Parking

Parking for the event will be in a field about 900m short of the Candleston Car Park. The narrow lanes are unsuitable for coaches. Take care walking along the road to Assembly from the event car park, as it will be used by vehicle traffic during the day.

W3W: ///upon.plug.nation This is the entrance to the event parking field.

Postcode: CF32 0LS. Drive on past the church on arrival at the post code, and the parking field is 400m further on, on the left.

Please note that there is a Six Nations Rugby match between Wales and Italy at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on the 14th March, so traffic to be significantly heavier than usual. However, kick-off is at 16:40, and so it may be that the worst of the traffic will not materialise during the earlier part of the morning, and will not be leaving post-match until later into the evening. Check travel news before making your travel plans.

If you wish to park in the Candleston car park, adjacent to Assembly, the fee for a day is £5, payable by car or RingGo (code 29531).

Assembly, Start, Finish and Spectator Control

Assembly is adjacent to Candleston Car Park.

The Start and Finish will be in sight of each other, very close to this public car park. The spectator control is similarly close, but located to the north west of the car park.

Map

Seasonal water is mapped with horizontal blue lines. Significant rainfall over the winter means these will be very wet. Whilst impressive, when tested, the water is only knee deep on sensible route choices. There are dry routes to all controls.

A4, Scale 1:10,000, 2.5m contours, for A courses and Mens B. 1:7,500, 2.5m contours, for C courses and Womens B, all subject to final controlling.

Loose control descriptions will be available in the start lanes.

Maps for all courses and classes will not be collected from runners at download, but will be folded and taped to hide the course. All runners are trusted not to show their maps or discuss their courses with runners yet to start.

Terrain

Courses

Mens A and B and Womens A courses - 11 and 12 - include butterfly loops. If you are not familiar with these, there is a good description of them here.
Take special care to note the need to punch the common control as many times as needed to complete the loops.

Some controls may be placed very close together - check control numbers carefully. Where legs between controls are short, again, read overprint with care.

Start Procedure

Call up is at -4 minutes. The call up clock will show your START TIME, and so will be running 4 minutes ahead of race time.

Ensure that you clear your dibber before being called up. There will be Clear stations positioned in the waiting area before the Pre-start tapes. Please also try and keep the noise and chatter down around the call up official, so that runners can hear the names being called. Typically there will be one or two runners starting at a given minute, and fairly rarely more than two.

The procedure is as follows:

• -4 Minutes.
  Go forward to the caller when your name is called. If you are on courses 11 (Men A) or 12 (Men B, Women A), you will be told which course variant you will run. Move forward into the correct zone as appropriate. Runners on courses 13 (Women B) or 14 (Men C, Women C) likewise move forward into the appropriate zone. You will be asked to dib a Check Box. Note that the Clear station WILL NOT wake up your SIAC dibber; that is done by the Check station in this start box, so make sure you dib it if you have a SIAC (touch free) dibber.
• -3 Minutes.
  Loose Control descriptions will be located here, together with SIAC test stations for those using a touch free dibber. If passing your SIAC dibber close to the Test Station does not make it beep it means you have not dibbed the Check station and you should ask the Checker to let you dib the Check Station.
• -2 Minutes.
  Blank maps are displayed.
• -1 Minute.
  Move forward and stand by the map box marked for your course. Do not pull the map, but check that the course number visible on the map is correct for your course.
  At -10 seconds pull the map from the box, making sure you only pull one map. DO NOT look at it.

When the start clock issues the long beep punch the start station and follow the tapes to the Start flag, which is about 30m in front of you.

Start/Closure

One start for all courses.
Start window 11:30-14:30. Top competitors on A courses will be seeded.
Courses close at 16:00, you must report to download by 16:15 or risk disqualification.

All competitors will be assigned a start minute. You MUST start on this minute, which means you MUST be present at the start 5 minutes before this time to move through the start lanes. If you miss your call up you'll be placed in the next available slot. For seeded runners this will likely be after the end of the block.

Punching

SI touch free punching is enabled, but all runners must punch both Start and Finish.

Facilities

Toilets will be available in the event car park. There is also a small toilet block in Candleston public car park.

The NGOC pop-up café will be present in the Assembly area. This includes tea, coffee and potentially a selection of sweet treats. Please note that it operates a cash only honesty system. If you have no cash, you may be able to pay via card at registration, subject to a minimum charge of £1. The mobile signal in this vicinity is poor so we recommend bringing cash.

There will be a clothing dump in Assembly which is close to both the Start and Finish. You can leave valuables at Enquiries; an envelope will be provided.

Safety and Photography

Important: Please note that as from 1 January 2026 Non-members of British Orienteering are not insured under British Orienteering’s public liability policy. By entering this event, you acknowledge that you are participating at your own risk.

Orienteering is an adventure sport. All runners take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety.

The competition area is used by the public, in particular by horse riders, and, towards the Eastern edge of the map, race horse training jockeys. Please allow horses space and obey any requests from riders.

The road between the event car park and Assembly, which is next to Candleston public car park, is narrow and will be used by members of the public, and competitors prepared to pay and display (and who can find a space!). Please go carefully along the road between your car and the event.

A risk assessment has been completed, and a copy will be held at Enquiries and Download in case competitors wish to consult it before their run.

A first aid kit and trained first aiders will be available at Enquiries and Download.

It's highly likely a photographer will be present and photos will be distributed via British Orienteering media outlets. If you do not wish for your photos to be used in this way, please contact the organiser.

Orienteering is a great sport for young people. If you bring children, please help us to keep to our safeguarding policy and British Orienteering’s photography policy.

By entering this event, competitors agree to abide by the British Orienteering Code of Conduct.

When participating in our events/activities your name may appear in the results section of this website or in newspaper reports. To see how we look after your personal data, please read NGOC's privacy policy.

NGOC follows British Orienteering’s national guidance. This provides a sensible balance between the benefits and risks associated with the taking and use of images. If you are unsure about acceptable practice, please speak to the event organiser.

Officials

• Organiser: Pat Macleod (NGOC), pat@patsmail.uk
• Planner: Sophie Jones (TVOC)
• Controller: Richard Cronin (NGOC)

Saturday Evening

Showers

After the individual race, it’s an hour's drive back to Bristol where we’ve arranged for the use of University of Bristol sports hall showers located at University of Bristol's Indoor Sports Centre on Tyndall Avenue. What3words: ///common.ends.fuel (Available here)
There is on-street pay and display parking nearby (e.g. Tyndall Avenue, St Michael’s Park). Parking can be purchased through the RingGo app.
Access is available all afternoon and early evening but please aim to stagger your entry so we don’t overwhelm the facilities!

Accommodation

Accommodation will be near Bristol city centre (details will be sent to the WhatsApp chat prior to the weekend), on a hall floor, so roll mats, sleeping bags or similar arrangement will be needed. The accommodation is around a half an hour walk from the restaurant or alternatively there are plenty of buses. The accommodation is a large, old building, so it’s worth bringing extra layers to avoid getting cold just in case.

There are several terms of us using the building; no drugs, smoking or alcohol on the premises, no frying of food and be diligent of your valuables. We will give you info regarding fire exits and contact numbers for the owners of the building.

Please respect the rules of the accommodation. If you would like to drink before the restaurant, we would recommend the pub Walkabout – Bristol, as it’s super close to the restaurant for the evening.

Evening Meal and Social

The evening meal will be hosted at an Indian restaurant in the city centre of Bristol (details will be sent to the WhatsApp chat prior to the weekend). Entry will be staggered so please arrive with your university, at your allocated time below:

• 7:40 – Edinburgh, Bristol, Aberdeen, Cambridge
• 7:45 – Sheffield, Lancaster, Leeds, Loughborough
• 7:50 – Bath, Oxford, Plymouth, Stirling, Everybody else

Food options are as follows:

• Starters - platter of veg and non veg
• Mains - mix of curries: 2 Vegetarian, 2 chicken, 1 Lamb and 1 Fish

Both courses are shared across each table as a seated buffet.

Rice and naan will initially be served alongside, but people can order extra individually as they wish. Drinks are not included but are able to be paid for individually alongside. All the vegetarian options will be gluten, dairy and soya free, and all the food options will be kept nut free as well. If you have any allergies, please let the waiters know!

We would like to emphasise mixing between unis to meet lots of new people, so each table will have people from different universities! Tables will be labelled with the universities assigned to them eg, 3 people from Bristol, 4 people from Edinburgh, 4 people from Oxford. You can still choose who you sit with, please decide on groups of 3–4 before arriving at the restaurant so seating runs smoothly.

At around 9:30, after the meal we’ll be heading to a pub (details will be sent to the WhatsApp chat prior to the weekend), with a private room booked until 11:30, to complete the most important competition of the weekend, the boat race!

The night will then finish at a club (details will be sent to the WhatsApp chat prior to the weekend). We will post a link to buy tickets on the WhatsApp group chat. Tickets must be bought in advance to guarantee entry.

Costumes

Costumes are back! The evening’s theme is ‘Childhood Tales’ and we’d love you to be as creative and coordinated as possible in your magical transformations. To get you started we’ve included some suggestions for each theme for characters you can dress up as, but of course use your own creativity as well. We'd like to see lots of glitter and fairy wings on the night - look forward to seeing you there!

Sunday 15th March - Relay Event at Clevedon Court

Details of associated public event can be found here

Car Parking, Arena, Start and Finish

Parking and Assembly:
Clevedon School Sports Centre, Valley Road, Clevedon BS21 6AH.
What3words: ///aside.town.gates (Available here)
The entry to Valley Road is off the B3124 Clevedon to Portishead Road.
Signed to ‘Sports Centre’. Park in the school car park as directed.
Toilets are in the School Sports Hall, open from 09:00. These will be the only toilets, so please go at the accommodation if you can, or at least before you make your way to the Arena.
The route to the Start is about 1.5km, as shown by the map below.

There is a ‘shortcut’ to get to Walton Road, however this is quite a busy and fast-moving road with no formal crossing points, so it is highly advised to go down to the Pelican Crossing to cross, then come back up before turning onto Norton Woods Lane. This only adds 400m to the route, which is included within the 1.5km.
Please take care on Norton Woods Lane, UBOC marshals will be there to direct you. Continue down Norton Woods Lane. There will be a Large Gate on your right, where you enter a Quarry. Continue up the track – and you will now be in the Arena.

Terrain

Arena

The Arena will be in a Quarry. The route to the Start, changeover and Finish will be here.

Upon arrival, teams will receive their team pack – with team sheets, bibs, and hired dibbers.

If you have hired dibbers – please do not switch them, these are assigned to you particularly.

Please bring safety pins for the bibs.

Below is a simple layout of the arrangements. To the right of the changeover will be a warm up area.

The Finish must be Punched.

Remember to Clear and Check before collecting your map.

Do not open your map until you have started, whether by mass start or by handover.

The winner will be who crosses the Finish Line first.

Please punch the finish control in the order you crossed the line.

Remember to Download when exiting the Finish area.

Map

1:7,500 scale with 5m contours.
Drawn by Trevor Crowe in 2017, but updated by special request for BUCS 2026!
Waterproof size A4 with courses overprinted.
Please Note: For reasons of map clarity, the control circles are smaller than the BOF guidelines.

Courses

All legs of both courses are gaffled.

Men’s Relay: 5.4 – 5.6km with 220m climb.
Women’s Relay: 4.3 – 4.6km with 180m climb.

Estimated winning times for both is 30-35 minutes.

All runners MUST follow the tapes to the Start kite.

There will be a Spectator Control at 85% of the way through the course.

Remember to smile and wave, there will be a good view!

Note: Traditionally, an Ad Hoc relay course has been offered at BUCS. As the area can only really offer TD4 level courses we won’t provide a separate course. Instead, we encourage novice runners of all genders to enter non-competitive teams on the Women's course (this should be done by your captain).

Women are competitive in men’s teams. Teams of competent orienteers from different universities should enter as non-competitive on the men’s course.

Start/Closure

Men's mass start: 10:00
Women's mass start: 10:10
Mini mass start for all remaining legs: 11:40, subject to change
Course closure: 14:00
Prize giving will be at 12:30 (subject to change). All prize giving for both days will happen after the relay.

Punching

SI and SIAC (contactless) electronic punching.
All competitors must punch the Finish, and then Download promptly.

Facilities

Toilets and changing rooms are available at the School Sports Centre.
Please remove dirty O-shoes before entering the building.
A First Aider will be in attendance based at the Quarry.
The nearest Hospital is Clevedon Hospital and Minor Injuries, located about 1.6km from the Parking.

Safety

Please Note: Competitors will encounter some scaffolding on a path a short way after the start, which is marked as a fence - please take care climbing over, through or around this.

Please be aware and courteous of other users including dog walkers.
Please look out for all the large crags in the area. Some will be taped with black/yellow tape which must not be crossed. Others may also be unsafe to climb so please be sensible and do not take unnecessary risks.
The large quarry in the north of the map is now in private ownership and is marked as out of bounds. Please stay well clear. A former quarry in the middle of the map will be taped.
Competitors take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety. If travelling alone or with relevant pre-existing medical conditions you may wish to notify the Organiser.

Officials

• Organiser: Kate Bosher (BOK), kbosher99@gmail.com, 07342 782953
• Planner: Adam Potter (BOK)
• Controller: Charles Daniel (BOK)

Emergencies

If there is an emergency – please call Kate, the Organiser at the number above.

Photography

There may be a photographer at this event and at the prize giving for the BUCS event. If taken these pictures will be available on the BOK website after the event.
Please contact the organiser if you or any member of your family does not wish to be included in any photographs or have them displayed on the club’s social media.

Entries

Entries closed 17th Feb.

Instructions for every competitor:

1. Use the website or download and sign up to BUCS Play app (Web, IOS (Iphone), Google Play (Android)) if you haven’t already.
2. Navigate to “BUCS Orienteering 25-26”.
3. Sign up to either/both of “Orienteering Individual Championships 2025-26” and “Orienteering Relay Championships 2025-26”. This is to confirm your eligibility for BUCS points. You will not be charged any money at this stage.
4. Go to pre-entries and enter the “BUCS Individual Championships 2026” event. This is to collect orienteering specific information. You’ll be charged through your club at a later date.
   1. Your club should be set as your institution - let your captain know if yours isn't on there.
   2. If you expect to be out for a long time, please request an early or very early start. This preference will be ignored for seeded runners.
   3. Please write your dietary requirements for the meal in the "special requirements" box.
   4. Confirm your attendance to the meal and accommodation with the checkboxes at the end. Prices for these can be found below.
   5. Make sure to press "Set up payment" to confirm your entry.

GDPR: Sensitive information (e.g. dietary requirements) will be stored by UBOC and deleted after the weekend. Event specific information will be passed to NGOC for the purposes of running the event. This will be deleted after the weekend. Information relating to your meal and accommodation costs will be passed to your captain.

Instructions for captains and sole members of an institution:

None of your club’s entries will be competitive unless your institution’s BUCS administrator approves them. They have 2 extra days to approve your entries (19th Feb). In our experience, you need to find who this is and tell them to approve your entries. BUCS will give no leeway on this. If you miss the deadline, your team won’t be competitive. Ensure they enter all your individuals AND relay teams.

Relay Entries

Please read the "Courses" section of the relay details before continuing.

Competitive relay team order declaration: All members from your institution wishing to compete in a competitive team at the relays need to sign up via BUCS Play (even if they are a "substitute" runner). You will choose how many competitive teams to enter for your institution and assign individuals to each team with your Institution Administrator. Competitive teams can only be made up of individuals who've signed up via BUCS Play. We will not use these team declarations on the day, rather the declaration you make on pre-entries. You’ll be charged by BUCS for the number of teams you enter (rather than the number of individuals who sign up) so we'd encourage everyone who'll be present on the day to sign up on BUCS Play.

To declare your competitive team orders, navigate to pre-entries “BUCS Relay 2026” and fill out the form.

Non-competitive relay team entry: Non-competitive and partial teams should also be signed up via the same pre-entries event, marking the team as non-competitive. UBOC will invoice captains for these entries at the same rate as competitive teams less the 12.5% BUCS cut (£39.16 per team or £13.05 per individual). You may assign non-competitive teams formed of individuals from different universities yourselves. UBOC will randomly join partial teams to form full non-competitive teams after the declaration deadline.

You must assign every individual who wants to run (competitive or not) to a team within pre-entries by the 17th of Feb for invoicing. The deadline for final team order declaration will be Saturday 14th of March at 6PM.

Payment

Your institution will be invoiced by BUCS at a later date. £19.25 per individual entry, £44.75 per competitive relay team. We believe you won’t be charged for individuals who sign up for the relay via BUCS play but aren’t assigned to a competitive team.

UBOC will invoice each institution for the meal, accommodation and non-competitive relay entries before the 22rd of February. This will be at the per person rate of:

based on the answers given in the pre-entries form. We hope to receive payment by 1st of March.

Instructions for WUOC Eligible Athletes:

As the individual race is the WUOC selection race, those eligible for this but not BUCS should enter as follows: enter the pre-entries event as usual, but within the special requirements box write "WUOC Selection". We'll invoice you at the BUCS rate less 12.5% (£16.85).
Note, BUCS eligibility rules can be found here.