British Relay Championships - 1 March 2026
On behalf of 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 initial event details, with final details expected to be published on the 21 Feb 2026. 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.
Event 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.
Key Information
Entry Point to Parking | Dedicated event parking is at the Southeast side of the park. 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 | 07:30 (no entry after 12:00, no exit before 12:00) |
Distance To Assembly Arena | 1.4 km |
Mass starts | 10:00 - 11:00 (first call up 09:45) |
Mini mass start for remaining runners | 12:30 |
Courses Close | 14:00 |
Maps available for return to Club Captains | 12:30 |
Prize Giving | 14:00 |
Car park closes | 17:30 |
Car parking
All car parking will be on hard standing using the Park’s South entrance. Please arrive by 12:00. No exits until after 12:00.
Assembly Arena
The assembly arena is approximately 1.4Km from the parking area along a hard metaled road and situated directly behind the Castle on open slightly sloping firm terrain, giving a classic run in/out for changeovers.
You will find here, Enquiries, Relay Changeover, Download, Toilets, Commentary, Traders, and areas for Club Tents.
Urinal and Toilets will also be available at the Castle Café.
Traders confirmed: Compass Point, Podium Catering, Flynns Coffee and S&A Grill.
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 this responsibly. There will be no bins provided.
Enquiries including Bib Collection
Enquiries will be open from 09:00 until 16:00 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
Bibs can be collected the day before at Enquiries to the Individuals’ Championships Day.
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.
Car Key Drop
A car key drop will be located at Enquiries. Please use the trays labelled according to surname (A-E etc.)
Handover/Takeover/Starts & Finishes
To follow.
Spectator Controls
Most courses have spectator controls located close to the arena.
2025 Championships trophies return
All trophies from the 2025 British Relay Championships and the 2025 Welsh Championships must be returned to Enquiries. 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
First Aid will be in the assembly arena.
Map details
Produced by Peel Land Surveys 2016, Scale: 1:7500. 5m contours.
Starts & 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 expected to be:
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 Lists
These will be produced as soon as possible after Entries close (after the Individual Championships Day) and will be posted on the British Orienteering Relays Championships website.
Note: Team captains are to amend their Fabian4 entry to any last-minute changes.
Download
All competitors must visit download after finishing, even if they have not completed their course.
Results
Available online using QR code that will be printed on the splits.
Presentations
Prize giving will commence at 14:00 or as soon as possible that top positions in each Class are known.
Other Information
Communications
We will set up a WhatsApp community for the event to facilitate communication between competitors and to the competitors from the Organising Team.
Complaints, Protests and Appeals
We will follow the British Orienteering update rules and guidance on Complaints, Protests and Appeals.
Jury
The jury for this event will be: TBC
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
Margam Country Park owners for use of the area and their management authority through The Education Leisure & Lifelong Learning Directorate from Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.