British Relay Championships - 1 March 2026
Final Event Details for the British Orienteering Relay Championships – Being Held at Margam Country Park, Sunday 01 March 2026
Questions
Please direct any questions on these details to the Organiser at: laurencesnowden@icloud.com
Welcome
On behalf of British Orienteering and the Welsh Orienteering Association (WOA), South Wales Orienteering Club (SWOC) welcomes you to the British Relay Championships being held as part of the British Championships Weekend at Margam Country Park on Sunday 01 March 2026.
These are the FINAL event details, major changes from Initially advertised are:
- The Arena location is shown below and has been moved from behind the Castle to an area closer to the car parking. Please note that we will be using a dedicated car parking area. Competitors are asked to not use Margam Park’s main entrance and their customer car parking.
- The entrance gate to the parking area will be open at 08:00 (not 07:30) as first advertised). The requirement to not exit before 12:00 has been lifted (but we would encourage you to stay). The gate is at the Southeast side of the park and is at what 3 words:
https://w3w.co/budgeted.legroom.committee
- We have found a number of Deer Ticks on the area during planning visits. Please take precautions by wearing full body cover and check yourself after your run. A dedicated medical team will be located in the Arena, go to Enquiries first please.
- An extra mini mass start added, Leg 2 12:00 - Leg 3 12:30.
- Bibs will be marked with a stripe denoting Green for Leg 1, White for Leg 2 & Red for Leg 3. Pins will be provided.
- Prize giving has been brought forward to 13:30.
- Team declaration of all runners to be completed by 23:59 Wednesday 25 February through Fabian4.
Arena Location
Key Information
Entry Point to Parking | Dedicated event parking is at the Southeast side of the park: https://w3w.co/sway.upholding.tower Leave the M4 at junction 38. Take the A48 East and turn left onto a minor road at this junction and follow ‘O’ signage: https://w3w.co/greed.tenure.apartment Note: This minor road is only to be accessed by turning left off the A48.
|
Parking Opens | 08:00 |
Distance To Assembly Arena | 600m |
Mass starts | 10:00 - 10:50 (first call up 09:45) |
Mini mass start for remaining runners | Leg 2 12:00 - Leg 3 12:30 |
Courses Close | 14:00 |
Maps available for return to Club Captains | 12:30 |
Prize Giving | 13:30 |
Car park closes | 17:30 |
Overview
Margam Country Park covers approximately 850 acres of runnable open land and manmade lakes, set on gently sloping southerly terrain which is overlooked by a mixture of ancient deciduous woodland and cultivated forest plantations rising on a steeper escarpment in the north of the mapped area.
The Park is situated about 2 miles from Port Talbot and while once owned by the Mansel Talbot family, is now administered by the Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. The event has obtained special permission to orienteer around Margam Abbey and Margam Castle giving the Relays a unique historical urban twist.
Entries
Late entry, subject to map availability, is available until 23:59 Wednesday 25 February via Fabian4.
Team Declaration
Team declaration of all runners to be completed by 23:59 Wednesday 25 February through Fabian4. Standard dibber (NOT SIAC) hire is available at £1 payable on collection of bibs.
Team Changes
Late changes must be actioned online before 20:00 on Saturday 28th February. Only in exceptional case will changes be permitted on Sunday. In this case, please go to enquires and ask for a team declaration change form.
Refund Policy
If the event is cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control, we may retain all or part of the entry fees. Competitors can request a refund only if the event itself has not been curtailed or cancelled. Refunds for competitor cancellations are available as follows:
- Cancellations received by the final closing date, will receive a full refund minus a 10% administration fee (90% refund). No refunds will be issued after this date.
Eligibility
Entrants must be current members of British Orienteering or members of an IOF affiliated club, as per the British Orienteering Rules for Competitions, Rule D (Vers 2.11 Effective Jan 26):
https://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/doc/rules/competition-rule-d---british-relay
Classes & Course Planning
Competition Classes & courses are now planned as per the British Orienteering Rules for Competitions, Rule D (Vers 2.11 Effective Jan 26) shown below.
Note: Note that for the Ad Hoc and Junior Ad Hoc classes the legs are fixed for all teams in order of Leg 1 Medium, Leg 2 Short & Leg 3 Long.
| Class Label | Age Class | Technical Difficulty | Approx Length Km | Approx Climb M | Map Scale | Bib No | |
| A | Men's Premier | 5 | 4.5 | 210 | 1:10,000 | 1-99 | |
| B | Women's Premier | 5 | 3.7 | 165 | 1:10,000 | 101-199 | |
| C | Men's Short | 5 | 3.1 | 100 | 1:7,500 | 201-299 | |
| D | Women's Short | 5 | 2.5 | 80 | 1:7,500 | 301-399 | |
| E | M40 | 5 | 3.7 | 165 | 1:10,000 | 4001-4060 | |
| F | W40 | 5 | 3.1 | 100 | 1:10,000 | 4061-4099 | |
| G | M50 | 5 | 3.1 | 140 | 1:7,500 | 5001-5060 | |
| H | W50 | 5 | 2.5 | 80 | 1:7,500 | 5061-5099 | |
| J | M60 | 5 | 3.1 | 100 | 1:7,500 | 6001-6060 | |
| K | W60 | 5 | 2.1 | 70 | 1:7,500 | 6061-6099 | |
| L | M/W70 | Lap 1 & 3 | 5 | 2.5 | 80 | 1:7,500 | 7001-7099 |
| Lap 2 | 5 | 2.1 | 70 | 1:7,500 | |||
| M | M18 | 5 | 3.1 | 100 | 1:10,000 | 1801-1860 | |
| N | W18 | 5 | 2.5 | 90 | 1:10,000 | 1861-1899 | |
| P | M14 | 3 | 2.5 | 80 | 1:7,500 | 1401-1460 | |
| Q | W14 | 3 | 2.5 | 80 | 1:7,500 | 1461-1499 | |
| R | Mini Relay (M/W12-) | 2 | 2 | 50 | 1:7,500 | 1201-1299 | |
| S | Ad Hoc | Lap 1 | 5 | 2.5 | 90 | 1:7,500 | |
| Lap 2 | 3 | 2.4 | 80 | 1:7,500 | 401-499 | ||
| Lap 3 | 5 | 3.1 | 140 | 1:7,500 | |||
| T | Junior Ad Hoc (M/W18-) | Lap 1 | 3 | 2.4 | 80 | 1:7,500 | |
| Lap 2 | 2 | 2 | 50 | 1:7,500 | 501-599 | ||
| Lap 3 | 5 | 2.8 | 90 | 1:7,500 |
Key Officials
- Organiser: Laurence Snowden (SWOC)
- Planner: Mark Saunders (BOK)
- Controller: Simon Thompson (HOC)
- Jurors: Andy Yeates (WCH), Tony Carlyle (AIRE), Simon Errington (HH)
- H&S: Anthony Raven (SWOC)
Important Safety Considerations
Due to the time of year, we will be keeping a close eye on the weather forecasts and will ensure that, if required, competitors are made aware of any additional safety measures we will put in place. These might include:
- Waterproof jacket with a hood
- Requirement for hats and gloves to be carried
In the event of severe/extreme weather and it is deemed unsafe to proceed and we must cancel the event we will notify entrants as soon as possible via social media and email.
As informed in the ‘changes section’, we have found a number of Deer Ticks on the area. Please take precautions by wearing full body cover and check yourself after your run.
Competitors are warned of mountain bikers, the land has public rights of way through it. We will warn MTB’ers of the event and close likely paths to them.
Crags and high points will be marked on their tops with black & yellow tape. Courses have generally been planned to avoid them.
The whole area is bounded by a 6ft fence with swing gates for pedestrian access. If disorientated (lost) then follow the fence South to return to the Arena or Car Park.
Car Parking
All car parking will be on hard standing using the Park’s South entrance. Toilets are available at parking and at the Assembly Arena.
Assembly Arena Set-up
The assembly arena is shown below and is approximately 600m from the parking area along a firm path (suitable for pushchairs) on open slightly sloping firm terrain, giving a classic run in/out for changeovers.
However, after weeks of rain the Arena is starting to be ‘boggy’ in places.
The Arena & Assembly field holds; Enquiries, Relay Changeover, Download, Toilets, Commentary, Traders, and areas for Club Tents. Traders confirmed are; Compass Point, Podium Catering, Flynns Coffee and S&A Grill.
The Arena has a looped final control within it before leg changeover and final leg finish. Some penultimate controls are visible to those in the Arena.
Dogs
Dogs must be on a lead in the car park and on the assembly field. Owners must clear up any poo and dispose of responsibly. There will be no bins provided.
Enquiries including Bib Collection
Bibs can be collected the day before at Enquiries to the Individuals’ Championships Day.
Enquiries will be open from 09:00 in the Assembly Arena for collecting bibs, returning trophies, collection of hired SI dibbers, complaints/protest forms, merchandise collection/purchase, lost property and depositing car keys whilst competitors run.
Please can one person from each club collect the bibs for their club and be responsible for distributing them to all other club members taking part.
All competitors must wear their numbered race bibs when competing. We will be operating a strict “No bib no run” policy. Please fill out the reverse side with any medical conditions you wish to declare
Team Captains should check that their bag contains a complete set of bibs for every team they have entered. Bib number ranges are given in the table of age classes and courses.
Bibs will be marked with a stripe denoting Green for Leg 1, White for Leg 2 & Red for Leg 3. Pins will be provided.
Bag Drop and Shelter
Tentage will be available, opposite enquiries for bag drop (at own risk) and for shelter in the event of adverse weather.
Spectator Controls
The penultimate control will also be visible to Arena spectators and those in the waiting area.
2025 Championship Trophies Return
All trophies from the 2025 British Relay Championships must be returned to Enquiries please. If you hold one of these and are not attending the event, please pass the trophy to someone who is attending or contact the Organiser to plan for it to be transported to the event.
First Aid
Dedicated First Aid will be in the assembly arena. Please go to Enquiries first.
Map Details
Produced by Peel Land Surveys 2016. Selective vegetation updates Mark Saunders January 2026. 5m Contours. 1:10,000 for classes A.B,E,F M and N. 1:7,500 for all others. Printed on A4 waterproof ( and wipeable) Teslin paper. The 2023 version of the map can be seen here: https://www.sboc.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#57"
Please note:
- Class R - M/W12 Mini Relay maps show Control code as well as Sequence number next to the control circles on the map ( e.g 3-104, 4-132....etc)
- To maintain visual clarity, all other courses only show the sequence number.
- Class R - M/W12 Mini Relay and Class T Junior Ad hoc maps have both Text and Pictorial Control descriptions will be printed on the face of the map.
- All other courses just have Pictorial Control descriptions.
Special Features
pointing down slope - Charcoal Burning Platform
X - Wooden Seat
Planner's Notes
All courses are forked. Remember to check your control codes. All courses are within the deer park, which consists of three parts:
- The lower part of grazing land is interspersed with ditches, fenced enclosures and some blocks of rhododendron bushes. After an exceptionally wet January, much of this is currently very muddy.
- A steep slope - with dead bracken, scattered rhododendron bushes and some plantation forest
- An upper area of grazing land, much drier and very fast running - visited by the longer courses.
Control Site Layout
All controls (including finish) will be SIAC enabled. As well as the Si Units there will be a pin punch for use in case of Si Unit failure - punch in one of the "reserve boxes" on the map.
Clear and Battery Check stations will be located outside the map issue tent.
Seeding
Seeding is as per the British Orienteering Rules for Competitions, Rule D (Vers 2.11 Effective Jan 26).
Starts & Courses
Starts and Courses
The courses available will follow the British Orienteering Rules for Competitions, Rule D (Vers 2.11 Effective Jan 26). Start times by class are:
Class | Call up | Mass Start |
Mini Relay (M/W12-) | 09.45 | 10.00 |
Men’s Premier | 09.55 | 10.10 |
Women’s Premier | 10.05 | 10.20 |
M14, W14, Junior Ad Hoc, Ad Hoc | 10.15 | 10.30 |
Women’s short, W18, W40, W50, W60, M/W70 | 10.25 | 10.40 |
Men’s short, M18, M40, M50, M60 | 10.35 | 10.50 |
Start Changes
Team captains are to amend their Fabian4 entry to any last-minute changes upto 20:00 on Saturday 28 February. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the organiser’s may choose to delay starts, in which case all starts will be put back by an equal length of time.
Call Up for First Leg Runners
Call up is 15 minutes before your start time. Listen to announcements and only come forward when your relay class has been announced. Please be on time (within the 10-minute window) to ensure a smooth process:
- On call up into Map Issue, Clear and Check your SI card (units will be on stakes).
- Then proceed to a table to have your SI card number electronically checked against your Bib number. Please make sure your bib is visible so the official can confirm your team number and lap matches the SI card.
- Then proceed to Map issue which will be split by leg, going on to tables that will have maps boxed and labeled by relay class and bib number.
- Maps will then be physically issued by a helper. Team and leg numbers will be visible on a folded and tape sealed map. It is the competitors’ responsibility to ensure they receive the correct map – please check against your bib!
Note: Competitors must not open their map until, for leg 1, the race start signal has been given or, for legs 2 and 3, physical contact has been made with their incoming runner.
- After Map Issue, runners proceed to the Waiting area.
- For first leg runners. At -5 minutes you will be called forward into for the timed mass start.
Start Process
Leg 1 runners will have a mass start on the starter’s signal (air horn). Refer to your class in the timetable above. The run out will take you to the start kite on the edge of the Arena.
Mini Mass Start
There will be a mini mass start at 12:00 for remaining Leg 2 runners and at 12:30 for remaining Leg 3 runners who have not started. Call-ups for any remaining runners will be announced at 11:50 and 12:20.
Call Up for Leg 2 & 3 Runners
Leg 2 and 3 runners can proceed to the map issue tent and enter the waiting pen at any time after their previous runner has started. There will be no announcements to call up 2nd and 3rd leg runners until the mini mass start.
Changeover & Finish
Incoming runners will NOT be announced. Runners may enter the changeover waiting area at a time of their choice. It is the competitor’s responsibility to be there on time.
Outgoing runners will have a good view from the waiting area of incoming teammates as they leave the penultimate control and then the final control - about 200m in total. Please allow smaller runners access to the front so they can have a clear view. To avoid crowding at the handover line please stay in the waiting pen until your incoming runner has reached the final control
Incoming runners on Legs 1 and 2 should keep left after the last control, to swipe/punch their finish unit and handover (by physical contact) to the next runner, then proceed to download.
Incoming runners on Leg 3 should keep right and head directly for the Finish line. Results will be based on the order in which teams cross the Finish line. Marshals will be on hand to adjudicate.
Competitors must then swipe/punch the Finish unit in the order that they crossed the line and proceed to download.
Map Collection
Maps will be collected from all finishers on leaving download up until the last mini mass start (12:30). Club representatives can reclaim club bags as soon as this has taken place.
Event for Younger Children
At the time of issuing these final details it is not possible to confirm any specific activity. There is an open grassed area to the West of the arena with a fantastic children’s adventure playground (approx. 400m away in sight of the Arena). Please can we ask parents with toddlers to please stay away from the ponds to the North and South of the Arena.
If this situation changes on providing a specific activity, we will announce it via the What’s App groups.
COURSES OFFICIALLY CLOSE AT 14:00 But please feel free to visit the Castle (400m North)!
Download
All competitors must visit download after finishing, even if they have not completed their course. Leg 2 & 3 maps will be retained and will be available once leg 3 runners have started.
Results
Available online using QR code that will be printed on the splits.
Presentations
The first 3 teams in each class will be awarded a medal with the winning club having a Trophy. Prize giving will be given out near the Finish and will commence at 13:30 (or as soon as possible that top positions in each Class are known). We are extremely honoured to have Andy Robinson (WOA Exec & BOF Director) presenting them.
Other Information
Communications
We will set up a WhatsApp community for the event to facilitate communication between competitors and the Organising Team.
Complaints, Protests and Appeals
We will follow the British Orienteering updated rules and guidance on Complaints. https://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/doc/rules/2026/2026-rules-clean
Protests and Appeals. Please go to Enquiries first.
Photography
There will be photographers in the area. If you do not want your photograph published, please speak to the officials at enquiries before you run so that your bib can be marked. If you have concerns regarding inappropriate or intrusive photography, please report it to any event official. Please note that NO drones are allowed.
Acknowledgements
Our sincere thanks to the Margam Country Park staff for their assistance and to the Education Leisure & Lifelong Learning Directorate from Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council for use to this magnificent area.