Purbeck Hill Challenge

• Enjoy a challenge?
• Fancy a day out in one of the most scenic parts of England?
• Want an event that will test your mind as well as your body?
• Like trail running/hill walking and orienteering and want to combine them both in one event?
• Want to choose how far you run/walk and level of navigation challenge?
• Want to compete as a pair or solo?

If the answer to the above is yes, then Wessex Orienteering Club & Wimborne Orienteers have the event for you!
This is the inaugural Purbeck Hill Challenge starting and finishing at Knoll Beach, Studland on the Isle of Purbeck.
Our event is based on the Grampian Mountain Challenge, run every 2 years by Grampian Orienteers. We are seeking to offer a softer southern version that still holds true to their mantra of a high quality, relaxed, affordable and fun event.
Event Format and Maps
The format of the event is a one-day long distance walk/run navigating on a 1:25,000 map using public rights of way to find various checkpoints. However, at some point or points during the event, you will have to undertake detailed orienteering on a 1:10,000 or 1:7,500 map or maps printed on the other side of your map.
Entries
You will be able to enter as a pair or compete solo.
Start Times
Starts will be from 09:00 in the morning with courses closing at 16:00, giving you up to 7 hours to complete the course at the pace that best suits you.
What you need to carry
The event will be self-supported i.e. you will need to carry everything you need for the day, including mandatory safety equipment (likely to be waterproof clothing, compass, whistle, head torch, phone and cash) but you will be free to resupply on-route using local shops, cafes and hostelries as you feel fit.
The event area will encompass the Purbeck Hills and the Jurassic Coast and the courses will look to fully exploit the fantastic scenery this area has to offer.
Entries will be limited to a total of 100 people whether running as pairs or solo.
Choice of Course
Whilst this event requires navigational skills it is designed to accommodate not only orienteers and those with mountain marathon experience but also hill walkers as well as trail, hill & ultra runners who have good navigational skills.
All the courses are mix and match i.e. you can mix any length of course with either the technically easy or difficult orienteering options to suit your preferences/abilities.
The technically easy orienteering option will require the competitor or at least one of a pair of competitors to have a familiarity with an orienteering map and understanding of its scale & symbols, to be able to use a compass to orientate a map and navigate using predominately line features such as paths. The technically easy orienteering option will be of an Orange/Light Green orienteering standard
The technically advanced orienteering option should only be chosen by competitors or at least one of a pair of competitors who is an experienced orienteer able to navigate using advanced orienteering skills such as taking bearings, pacing etc. The technically difficult orienteering option will be TD5 orienteering standard
Outwith the detailed orienteering sections, competitors or at least one of a pair of competitors will need to be familiar and able to navigate using an OS 1:25,000 maps. The checkpoints will be on obvious features but competitors will need to be able to recognise and use public rights of way shown on the map to choose and navigate the optimum route between controls.
The short course is intended for competitors who intend to predominantly walk around the course or want a shorter course. Competitors will still need to have a good level of fitness with an ability to undertake the climb and cover the terrain involved, some of which will be off path especially during the detailed orienteering elements.
The medium course is intended for competitors who intend to run significant elements of the course e.g. flat and downhill sections. Competitors will need have a high level of fitness & stamina with an ability to undertake the climb and cover the distance & terrain involved, some of which will be off path especially during the detailed orienteering elements.
The long course is only intended for experienced mountain marathon or ultra runners who intend to run the course and have the fitness, stamina and prior experience of covering the distances and climb involved.
Competitors will have a maximum of 7 hours to complete the courses, recognising that the detailed orienteering sections are likely to be time consuming especially for the less-experienced.
Competitors will be able to revise their choice of course up to and including on the day of the event – if in doubt, please run down a course!

Courses
There will be 3 courses on offer:
1. Short - 22 km, 450m climb
2. Medium - 31 km, 550m climb
3. Long - 37 km, 860m climb
The stated distance and climb reflect the approximate actual distance and climb covered on the optimum route choice as assessed by the Planner.
In addition, there will be two options for the detailed orienteering elements on each course:
a. Technically Easy
b. Technically Advanced
All course combinations can be run as solo or as a pair.

Location & Directions
The event centre will be at the National Trust facilities at Knoll Beach, Studland BH19 3AH. What3Words Google Maps
Registration & map issue will take place just outside the National Trust café at Knoll Beach.

Parking
The National Trust car park at Knoll Beach. Parking charges are £8.00 for all day and free for National Trust members. Parking charges are not included in your race entry.

Terrain
The event area will encompass the Purbeck Hills and the Jurassic Coast, including heathland & coastal dune areas.
Given the time of year, competitors should anticipate the courses being extremely wet & muddy in places and wear appropriate footwear such as orienteering or trail shoes which will provide adequate grip.

Map
The map will be A2 sized, double sided and laminated.
One side of the map will be an OS 1:25,000 map of the competition area. The detailed orienteering areas will be outlined on the OS 1:25,000 map and provided on the other side of the map.
The map issued to all competitors will be an all-control map. At registration/map issue, competitors will be given a loose control description sheet for their particular course and will be able to highlight the controls they need to visit on their map using either a permanent marker or chinagraph pencil prior to starting.

Facilities
Knoll beach facilities include a café (open 0930-1600), National Trust shop and toilet facilities.
In the competition area there is a variety of shops, cafes, pubs and public conveniences in Corfe Castle, Kingston, Worth Matravers, Langton Matravers & Swanage that competitors are free to utilise.

Timings
0800: National Trust car park opens
0830-0945: registration & map issue
0900-1000: starts
1600: All courses close
1700: National Trust car park closes

Start, Finish & SI
The start and finish will be adjacent to the Knoll Beach car park.
Competitors will use a SPORTident dibber to record they have visited the controls.
Only one dibber is required for a pairs team but both members of the pair must visit the control and remain within sight and contact of each other throughout the competition.
Competitors are encouraged to use their own dibber if they have one but dibbers can be hired for £1.00 for the event.

Safety
GOLDEN RULE: All competitors must report to the finish & download at Knoll Beach whether they complete their course or not otherwise we have to go out and look for you!
Each competitor will be required to carry mandatory safety equipment (likely to be waterproof clothing, compass, whistle, head torch, fully charged phone and cash) which will checked at the start.
The majority of main roads through the competition area will be clearly marked Out Of Bounds on the map for competitors’ own safety. These roads will be crossable however within 30 mph areas but extreme caution should be observed. Recommended crossing points will be marked on the map but these are not obligatory. Minor roads in the competition area may be used by competitors but again extreme caution should be observed.
Livestock (cattle) may be present in the competition area – they are used to people being in their vicinity but care should still be taken.
Please be mindful and give way to other users including local residents, horse-riders, cyclists, runners, hikers, dog walkers, etc.
All courses will include at least one manned control where competitors must give their team no/names to the marshal.
An emergency contact number for the Organiser will be printed on the map.
Basic first aid will be available at registration/download.
If you need to retire, you are asked to make your own way back to Knoll Beach if you are able. FYI, there is a regular bus service from Corfe Castle to Swanage via Kingston & Langton Matravers. A separate bus service then runs from Swanage to Knoll Beach on its way to the ferry & Poole.

Withdrawal policy
Withdrawals will be available up to the 31/12/24 via the Racesignup web page for this event.. By default the full value of your entry will be credited to your racesignup account with Wessex-OC, to be redeemed on entry to any future WSX events. If you would prefer to receive a credit to your Wimborne orienteers RSU account (if you have one) or a refund on your original payment card, less a small admin cost of 60p (currently), then please contact the organiser before the date of the event.
If the event becomes full then this option may be extended at the discretion of the organiser.
Otherwise refunds/credits are not available after 31/12/24, but team members can be substituted by the entry owner until entries close by contacting the organiser.

Officials
Planner: Chris Turner, WIM
Organisers: Rob Mills, WIM
Bruno Smith, WSX
Controller: Julie Austin, WSX