British Sprint Championships

Sun 28th Jun 2026

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Venue: University of the West of England

Nearest town: Bristol

Club: BOK

Association: SWOA

Level: Major

Location

Venue:	University of the West of England
Nearest town:	Bristol
Event centre:	UWE Students Union buildings
Postcode:	BS16 1QY
Grid reference:	ST618781
Parking information:	By road UWE Frenchay Campus is easily accessible by road from the M4 and then M32 Junction 1. Take the A4174 heading West. Access for competitors by road will only be via UWE’s North entrance - the exit road south from the A4174 northern ring road - the section known locally as Filton Road. The post code covering this North campus entrance is BS34 8QN and the What3words is ///words.riders.lined. Parking will be in the car parks south of this entrance. What3words: ///words.riders.lined PLEASE NOTE: Can vans and motorhomes park on the perimeter road shown below. The parking bays are parallel to the road so width of the vehicle is not an issue. The Assembly is a 600m from the far end of the car park, we recommend you go to the farthest unoccupied spaces, filling up the spaces back to the entrance. PLEASE DO NOT use other car parks at the UWE, whatever your vehicle, unless we specifically tell you otherwise. It is not permitted to stay overnight in your vehicle in the main car park or elsewhere on the campus. You do not need to pay for parking. It has been paid for as part of your entry fee already. Once parked, to reach the arena on foot, you must leave the car park by the signed route from the SW corner of the car park. Please look out for Yellow signs and red& white tape. It is about 600m from the edge of the car park to the Assembly. We are taking you round the edge of the competition area. Please do not get tempted to take a short cut. By rail The closest station is Filton Abbey Wood on the Bristol- Cardiff line. It is a 1.2km walk around the edge of the MOD site to the West Entrance of Frenchay campus. Then 300m to the Assembly. An alternative station is Bristol Parkway which is a bigger station on the London Main Line. It is 1.6km to the North Entrance, about 2.5km in total to the Assembly. By bus Please DO NOT take a bus into the UWE bus station. This is on the far side of the competition area and means a walk south around the campus. Please take the Number 70 bus from the City Centre.If you take an alternative bus, then please get off before UWE bus station and walk round to the West Entrance. By bicycle There are many safe and flat ways to cycle into UWE. Please only enter the campus by the North or West Entrances.

Details

Description:	Essential information - Park in the UWE Car Parks as directed. You do not need to pay for parking. It is included in your entry. - Follow the signed route to the arena – the rest of the campus is OOB. - If coming by bus or train please come through the West Entrance or if on U1 bus get off before the bus station. - Collect your bib from Assembly before you run: NO BIB, NO RUN - Both Starts are close to the arena Timetable for the day 9:00 Registration opens 10:30 Qualifiers starts commence 12:00 Qualifiers – last start 12:30 Qualifiers – courses close 12:45 Qualifiers – download closes 13:30 Start times for Finals posted (earlier if possible) 14:00 Finals - starts commence 15:30 Finals – last starter 15:45 Map reclaim 16:00 Finals – courses close 16:15 Download closes 16:15 Medals presentation 17:00 Arena closes Mapping and Terrain The map has been newly produced for this event by Chris Johnson (BOK). The mapper's notes on the map can be found here: https://www.britishsprintchamps.org.uk/data/documents/b570ccee135b576ae8e154991cdb4bc8.pdf Map Legend Competition maps will include a partial legend showing special symbols mentioned in the linked attachment above as well as out-of-bounds symbols. Maps will not be displayed in the start lanes. Terrain and Course Notes Courses have been planned so that the fastest times on each course will be in the range 12-15 minutes. The UWE campus combines density of buildings, unusual architecture and walkways with to make a technically challenging area that is ideal for the sprint orienteering format. Running surfaces are predominantly concrete. Be aware that paved surfaces may be slippery if wet. The area is relatively flat but involves different levels linked by steps and stairs. All courses encounter at least some steps. There will be artificial barriers used on some courses. These will be clearly visible on the map and on the ground. They may be marshalled as well. It is the competitor's responsibility to correctly interpret that the barrier is uncrossable. It is not an excuse that the barrier "looked crossable". There are residents who still have to get round the campus and we cannot stop all passage during the competition. There will be doors into buildings. Ways through buildings will be shown as canopies. The doors should be open. There may not be marshals or signs. Published course lengths are on an optimum route corrected for climb. Optimum route distances are from manually analysis of courses using the course setting software, cross-checked by GPS traces of test runs. We expect vehicle movements in the competition area to be minimal. Nevertheless competitors need to be aware of moving vehicles anywhere on the campus. Within the competition area there are roads used by service/security vehicles and coaches. Most senior courses will cross these roads. Junior courses have been planned to comply with BOF rules concerning proximity to traffic.
Type:	Sprint
Physical difficulty of terrain:	Easy
Competitions:	UK Orienteering League
Event number:	83625
Event website:	Click here
Final details web page:	Click here

Courses

Course description:	Event Format The championship event comprises two races – a morning Qualification race followed by the Finals in the afternoon. The starts for the morning Qualifiers and the afternoon Finals will in different locations, but both will be less than a 5 minute walk from the arena. There will be a 5 minute call up in each case. A spreadsheet showing all start blocks can be accessed here: https://www.britishsprintchamps.org.uk/data/documents/74f50fe874b8cd551b72dd14889b0ad3.xlsx Qualification Races: Start times for the qualification race will be available on the event website after Entries close. Start times will run from 10.30 to 12.00 in age class blocks. Age classes M/W18 & over have seeded start times based on the 2026 BOF ranking list when start times were allocated. Higher-ranked competitors will start later in each start block. M/W Open classes only have been be split into three parallel heats (a, b and c). Junior classes M/W16 & under have randomly allocated start times within a start block. Start times for seeded juniors have been spread through the start block in accordance with rule A3.9.1 of the rules of orienteering. Those requesting parental split starts have been allocated out of block start times with one parent running in an early out of block period at the beginning of the starts, and the other a late start approximately one hour later. These out of block allocations do not affect the competitiveness of the individual in the qualifier. The same applies to helpers given out of block start times. Finals races: Start times for the afternoon finals (and results of the qualifier races) will be published in the WhatsApp group. Out of block start times will be allocated to parents who have requested split starts, in the same pattern as in the qualifiers. Please be aware that for eligible A finalists to be competitive for a medal, and class champion, they must run at (or by exception before) their allocated in-block start time. Those given late out of block starts in the Finals will therefore not be eligible for a podium place. An announcement will be made on the commentary PA and a Whatsapp community message will be sent when the finals start times and qualifier results are available. Details of how to reach the Finals start will be made available after the qualification races have finished, at or prior to the publishing of the finals start times. We aim to begin the finals starts from 14.00 with the last runners starting around 15:30 A and B Finals Your result in the morning Qualification race will determine if you are in the A or B Final in the afternoon as specified in the competition rule. Aside from ties, and considerations of eligibility, the division into A and B finals is as follows: M/W Open classes: the top third will be in the A Final and the remainder in the B Final. All other Classes – classes with 7 or more entrants are divided in two with the top half (or top 6 whichever is the larger) in the A Final and the rest in the B Final. If there are less than 7 entrants, they will have just a single (A) Final. However, entrants who fail to successfully complete their Qualification race or finish after the cut off time will be ineligible for a medal. Within each Finals start block, the faster runners in the Qualification race will start later. Taking eligibility into account, the rules will be interpreted as illustrated by the following example: A class with 13 entrants (one of whom is ineligible) will result in 7 places (for eligible runners) in the A Final with the rest into the B Final. A non-eligible runner finishing inside the top 7 places would be granted a place in the A Final (running first) and this does not take up an eligible A Final place. A second ineligible runner finishing 8th would NOT qualify for the A Final (because they are outside the original top 7 spots). An eligible runner finishing 9th (behind 2 ineligible runners) may then take the available A final place. Qualification race cut-off time In order to avoid delays in publishing the Finals start times, anyone finishing later than the course closing time in the Qualification races will be assigned to the B final. Start time blocks for the finals are as in the chart in these details. Individual start times for the finals are determined on the day, according to the results of the qualification races. In the finals, runners who have qualified for the A final but who have been assigned an out of block start earlier than their age class start block remain competitive. However, if we need to assign a start time later than the starter’s age class block in the finals, the run will be competitive for ranking points but will not be eligible for a podium place (championship medal). Starts Warm up Space around the starts will be very limited. A warm up area 100m from Assembly back on the route to the car park will be provided. It will be marked by signs. PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF ANY NOTICES IN THE START LANES, PARTICULARLY FOR THE FINALS STARTS. No maps will be displayed in the start grid. Start procedure It is a timed start for all competitors and your responsibility to be at the pre-start at your call up time. Please do all that you can to arrive at the pre-start location in sufficient time to clear your SI Card and be present (& alert) to enter the pre-start system at the correct time (5 minutes before your start time). SIAC Battery Test boxes (optional) and SI Clear boxes (mandatory, unmarshalled) will be located in the area before the pre-start entry. A Quiet Start will be in operation, so no unnecessary chatter in the pre-start lanes please, but of course it is permitted to ask for assistance. The majority of signage will be floor-mounted– please keep an eye out for it. This will direct you to the correct lanes as you progress through the pre-start system. All signage will reference the Course number without the Q or F prefix. Note that your Course number in the Finals may be different to that in the Qualifiers. You are responsible for ensuring you pick up the correct map (& control descriptions). No blank maps will be displayed unless significant changes that competitors need to be made aware of have occurred after the printing of the maps. Entry to the pre-start will be at 5 minutes before your start time. Times will not be called out, but bib numbers will be checked off as you enter. Please ensure your bib is clearly visible to the official. The clock at the pre-start will show the start time with this 5-minute offset applied – i.e. it will be 5 minutes fast from the real time. Additional clocks may be present in the start lanes. As with the pre-start clock, they will show the start time in relation to that position through the pre-start. Time before start Process 5 minutes Entry into the pre-start. Bib number check and SI-card Check. 4 minutes Short walk, including passing by SIAC Test boxes. 3 minutes Loose control descriptions. 2 minutes Final SI-card check, Display of any essential and/or late information. 1 minute Stand by your course map on the maps board. 10 seconds Take hold of the top of one map, but keep it in position within the map board. Check you are about to pick up the correct map by reading the visible course marking. 0 seconds Remove map, proceed to start kite and start. Late Starters Should you arrive at the entrance to the pre-start after your call up time, make yourself known to the officials there who will escort you through the process below. You are reminded that this is a quiet start and officials will endeavour to move you through the process as swiftly and calmly as possible, without distraction to other competitors. No discussion will be entered into about the reasons for your late arrival. If your start time has not passed or is not imminent, you will be taken to the correct T- box to continue your journey through the pre-start (with control descriptions handed to you if appropriate). If your start time is imminent (such that attempting to position you in the correct location at the map boards would distract other competitors), you will be started from the late start lane at your allocated time, with control descriptions and map handed to you. If your start time has passed, but you arrive at the late start start line (guided by an official) within 30 seconds of your start time, you will punch a start box and start immediately. Control descriptions and map will have been handed to you. If 30 seconds or more has passed since your start time, you will be started from the late start lane at the next available minute or half-minute. Control descriptions and map will be handed to you, and you will punch a start box when instructed. As per British Orienteering rules, any late starter will be timed as though they had started at their correct time. If the participant believes that they were late to the start through a fault of the organisation of the event, then this should be raised at Enquiries after you have downloaded. Start Blocks Please note the blocks are based on 800 entries in the same numbers for each age group as previous Championships. They may need to be tweaked once entries are in.

Course description:

Event Format The championship event comprises two races – a morning Qualification race followed by the Finals in the afternoon. The starts for the morning Qualifiers and the afternoon Finals will in different locations, but both will be less than a 5 minute walk from the arena. There will be a 5 minute call up in each case. A spreadsheet showing all start blocks can be accessed here: https://www.britishsprintchamps.org.uk/data/documents/74f50fe874b8cd551b72dd14889b0ad3.xlsx Qualification Races: Start times for the qualification race will be available on the event website after Entries close. Start times will run from 10.30 to 12.00 in age class blocks. Age classes M/W18 & over have seeded start times based on the 2026 BOF ranking list when start times were allocated. Higher-ranked competitors will start later in each start block. M/W Open classes only have been be split into three parallel heats (a, b and c). Junior classes M/W16 & under have randomly allocated start times within a start block. Start times for seeded juniors have been spread through the start block in accordance with rule A3.9.1 of the rules of orienteering. Those requesting parental split starts have been allocated out of block start times with one parent running in an early out of block period at the beginning of the starts, and the other a late start approximately one hour later. These out of block allocations do not affect the competitiveness of the individual in the qualifier. The same applies to helpers given out of block start times. Finals races: Start times for the afternoon finals (and results of the qualifier races) will be published in the WhatsApp group. Out of block start times will be allocated to parents who have requested split starts, in the same pattern as in the qualifiers. Please be aware that for eligible A finalists to be competitive for a medal, and class champion, they must run at (or by exception before) their allocated in-block start time. Those given late out of block starts in the Finals will therefore not be eligible for a podium place. An announcement will be made on the commentary PA and a Whatsapp community message will be sent when the finals start times and qualifier results are available. Details of how to reach the Finals start will be made available after the qualification races have finished, at or prior to the publishing of the finals start times. We aim to begin the finals starts from 14.00 with the last runners starting around 15:30 A and B Finals Your result in the morning Qualification race will determine if you are in the A or B Final in the afternoon as specified in the competition rule. Aside from ties, and considerations of eligibility, the division into A and B finals is as follows: M/W Open classes: the top third will be in the A Final and the remainder in the B Final. All other Classes – classes with 7 or more entrants are divided in two with the top half (or top 6 whichever is the larger) in the A Final and the rest in the B Final. If there are less than 7 entrants, they will have just a single (A) Final. However, entrants who fail to successfully complete their Qualification race or finish after the cut off time will be ineligible for a medal. Within each Finals start block, the faster runners in the Qualification race will start later. Taking eligibility into account, the rules will be interpreted as illustrated by the following example: A class with 13 entrants (one of whom is ineligible) will result in 7 places (for eligible runners) in the A Final with the rest into the B Final. A non-eligible runner finishing inside the top 7 places would be granted a place in the A Final (running first) and this does not take up an eligible A Final place. A second ineligible runner finishing 8th would NOT qualify for the A Final (because they are outside the original top 7 spots). An eligible runner finishing 9th (behind 2 ineligible runners) may then take the available A final place. Qualification race cut-off time In order to avoid delays in publishing the Finals start times, anyone finishing later than the course closing time in the Qualification races will be assigned to the B final. Start time blocks for the finals are as in the chart in these details. Individual start times for the finals are determined on the day, according to the results of the qualification races. In the finals, runners who have qualified for the A final but who have been assigned an out of block start earlier than their age class start block remain competitive. However, if we need to assign a start time later than the starter’s age class block in the finals, the run will be competitive for ranking points but will not be eligible for a podium place (championship medal). Starts Warm up Space around the starts will be very limited. A warm up area 100m from Assembly back on the route to the car park will be provided. It will be marked by signs. PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF ANY NOTICES IN THE START LANES, PARTICULARLY FOR THE FINALS STARTS. No maps will be displayed in the start grid. Start procedure It is a timed start for all competitors and your responsibility to be at the pre-start at your call up time. Please do all that you can to arrive at the pre-start location in sufficient time to clear your SI Card and be present (& alert) to enter the pre-start system at the correct time (5 minutes before your start time). SIAC Battery Test boxes (optional) and SI Clear boxes (mandatory, unmarshalled) will be located in the area before the pre-start entry. A Quiet Start will be in operation, so no unnecessary chatter in the pre-start lanes please, but of course it is permitted to ask for assistance. The majority of signage will be floor-mounted– please keep an eye out for it. This will direct you to the correct lanes as you progress through the pre-start system. All signage will reference the Course number without the Q or F prefix. Note that your Course number in the Finals may be different to that in the Qualifiers. You are responsible for ensuring you pick up the correct map (& control descriptions). No blank maps will be displayed unless significant changes that competitors need to be made aware of have occurred after the printing of the maps. Entry to the pre-start will be at 5 minutes before your start time. Times will not be called out, but bib numbers will be checked off as you enter. Please ensure your bib is clearly visible to the official. The clock at the pre-start will show the start time with this 5-minute offset applied – i.e. it will be 5 minutes fast from the real time. Additional clocks may be present in the start lanes. As with the pre-start clock, they will show the start time in relation to that position through the pre-start. Time before start Process 5 minutes Entry into the pre-start. Bib number check and SI-card Check. 4 minutes Short walk, including passing by SIAC Test boxes. 3 minutes Loose control descriptions. 2 minutes Final SI-card check, Display of any essential and/or late information. 1 minute Stand by your course map on the maps board. 10 seconds Take hold of the top of one map, but keep it in position within the map board. Check you are about to pick up the correct map by reading the visible course marking. 0 seconds Remove map, proceed to start kite and start. Late Starters Should you arrive at the entrance to the pre-start after your call up time, make yourself known to the officials there who will escort you through the process below. You are reminded that this is a quiet start and officials will endeavour to move you through the process as swiftly and calmly as possible, without distraction to other competitors. No discussion will be entered into about the reasons for your late arrival. If your start time has not passed or is not imminent, you will be taken to the correct T- box to continue your journey through the pre-start (with control descriptions handed to you if appropriate). If your start time is imminent (such that attempting to position you in the correct location at the map boards would distract other competitors), you will be started from the late start lane at your allocated time, with control descriptions and map handed to you. If your start time has passed, but you arrive at the late start start line (guided by an official) within 30 seconds of your start time, you will punch a start box and start immediately. Control descriptions and map will have been handed to you. If 30 seconds or more has passed since your start time, you will be started from the late start lane at the next available minute or half-minute. Control descriptions and map will be handed to you, and you will punch a start box when instructed. As per British Orienteering rules, any late starter will be timed as though they had started at their correct time. If the participant believes that they were late to the start through a fault of the organisation of the event, then this should be raised at Enquiries after you have downloaded. Start Blocks Please note the blocks are based on 800 entries in the same numbers for each age group as previous Championships. They may need to be tweaked once entries are in.

	XS 0-1.0km	S 1.1-2.0km	M 2.1-3.0km	L 3.0-4.0km	XL 4.1km+
Very Easy	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘
Easy	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘
Medium	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘
Hard	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘
Very Hard	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘
Course Technical Difficulty and Length (Km) are a guide to the standard of the courses offered.

	10	12	14	16	18	18E	20	20E	21	21E	21N	21V	35	40	45	50	55	60	65	70	75	80	85	Open	90
Long	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘
Short	✓	✓	✓	✓	✘	✘	✘	✘	✘	✓	✘	✘	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✘	✘

Entry

Fees:

Payment date	Junior/student	Senior	Family/group
01/04/2026 - 13/06/2026	£12.5 (£12.5)	£25 (£25)	£0
14/06/2026 - 21/06/2026	£14 (£14)	£28 (£28)	£0
Non-member fees shown in brackets.

Online entry via:	https://pre-entries.co.uk/dl/events/s/b75f6b/r/IUo9RgSQSgyBfc8xcR7gZQ
Online entry closing date:	21/06/2026

Contact us

Club:	BOK
Association:	SWOA
Website:	http://www.bristolorienteering.org.uk
Contact:	Richard Hudson
Co-ordinator:	Mike Forrest