John Bennison Long O, Sunday 21 September 2025

Before anything else… Please remember that the Long Mynd is tough upland terrain and come prepared for whatever the weather may bring. It is as unforgiving in the hot conditions we have experienced in recent years as it is in the cold, wind or wet. And the Long-O courses are… long. This event is not suitable for beginners.

Please car share where possible as space is limited.

Parking is free on the road side, please follow the guidance of the parking marshals.

Assembly: Enquiries/Registration/Download will be close to the car parking area.

Start: make your way on foot to the start (follow tape along local road and the left up gravel track) for about 800m.

If the weather is poor we will provide a clothing dump close to the start and finish.

The start and finish are almost adjacent to each other. Please bring a named bag if you wish to leave anything.

Map: All courses 1:15000 with 5m contours, on waterproof paper. Updated in 2022 by Pete Jones.

The vegetation on the Mynd is constantly in flux; it is not possible to map all vegetation changes and sheep tracks.  Particularly areas of bracken cut during the summer by the National Trust.

Terrain:  Exposed open moorland rising to 516m.  Runnability is generally good with an extensive network of paths and rides.  The vegetation is a mixture of grass, heather, bracken and gorse.  All steep slopes have scattered crags and some scree.  Bracken, heather and gorse reduce runnability.  Human activity makes some paths less obvious, recent bracken cutting may make some areas faster to run than shown.  It has been exceptionally dry this year, so some of the ponds and streams may be dry, although they tend to have distinctive vegetation around them.  

Courses: Four courses are available as follows:

Please note that you will run significantly further than the straight-line distances shown above.

Entries: Enter online at Fabian4:

Entries are open from August 1st until Sunday 14th September.

Very limited entry on the day subject to map availability.

Fees: Adults: £10 BOF Members, £12 non BOF members. Under 18s: £5

Dibbers available to hire £1

Starts: From 10.30-11.30.  

Courses close: at 3pm.  You must have returned to download by then, otherwise we will start to search for you.

Punching: Sportident electronic punching will be used. 

Facilities: a portaloo by parking.

Safety: Competitors take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety. Once again… please remember that this terrain is tough in any conditions, and be prepared for the effects of heat or cold, wet or dry.

In addition:

• Please be considerate and give way to members of the public
• All sloping ground can be slippery, wear your best gripping shoes (less applicable to courses 3 and 4)
• Courses 1 and 2 cross minor roads.  There are no compulsory crossing points, it is your responsibility to avoid traffic
• Whistles must be carried
• It is advisable on the longer courses to carry a drink and food
• As this is sheep country please check for ticks after your run
• In wet weather all competitors will be required to carry or wear a waterproof
• Please remember to download after your run; otherwise we will begin a search for you
• Shorts are permitted but not recommended

Dogs: Are permitted, but must be kept under close control, and leave no trace of their presence.

Organisers: Weaver family

Planner: Andrew Weaver (WRE) ajweaver1@hotmail.com

Controller: Adrian Pickles (WRE)

Medical information

If you wish any medical information to be available to a practitioner in the event of an emergency, please fill in the British Orienteering medical information form, place it in a sealed envelope with your name on it, and deposit it at Enquiries. It will not be opened unless we have reason to believe you may have suffered a medical emergency and will be shredded after the event if you don’t collect it.