Lakes Coaching Day 28th November 2026
There will be another Orienteering Foundation coaching day on Saturday 2t8th November, provisionally at Simpson Ground, Lake District. Registration now open - come as an individual or as part of a group.
The format will be very similar to previous years, open to individuals (now coached by Duncan Archer) or club or regional groups (coached by your own coaches). For the groups, Duncan will plan and hang controls and supply OCAD and Purple Pen files - all your coaches have to do is plan your own courses (or use similar ones to the individuals being coached), print your maps, and turn up!
This is an excellent opportunity to practice your orienteering skills outside the pressure of an event, in fabulous technical orienteering terrain, and particularly for adults who often lack orienteering training opportunities. Clubs can also use it as a way to develop budding new coaches, under the supervision of a lead coach.
Can't make this event? Or want some extra coaching?! There is also an Orienteering Foundation coaching day the weekend before in the Forest of Dean organised by NGOC. See flyer for details.
Date – Saturday 28th November 2026.
Location – Simpson Ground (RouteGadget - mostly in the northern part of this map).
Parking - TBC. Either forest roads if we can get permission, or the free Gummers How car park (Google maps link).
Organisation and planning – Duncan Archer
Timing – 10am until 2:30pm when controls will be collected.
Cost - The coaching day is open to the following participants:
- Individuals – Cost £13 per individual participant. This covers access fees, planned training exercises, hung controls, printed maps, and expert coaching from Duncan Archer (and other experienced coaches if numbers require it). Any standard from TD4 (Light Green) up to full TD5 can be catered for. All individual participants must be 18+ years of age.
- Groups – For example clubs, schools, or junior squads. Cost £7 per group participant. This covers access fees, and supply of electronic map (OCAD) and course files (Purple Pen) to group leaders. Groups MUST come with at least one coach, who is suitably qualified and responsible for the safety of their group. However, these days can also be a good opportunity to develop new coaches in your group who are working towards qualification, supervised by a lead coach. Groups will need to print their own maps, and may either use the planned courses, or modify / design their own using the same controls (please do not hang additional controls in the forest, unless by prior agreement with Duncan). Group participants may be of any age that their coaches are happy to supervise.
Facilities – No toilets, please go before you arrive. All individual and group participants should bring their own orienteering equipment (compass etc.), lunch / snacks and drinks.
First aid and safety – Duncan is a qualified first aider. Groups should also ensure they have a qualified first aider. Duncan will prepare the risk assessment for individual coaching, and also provide a copy for group leaders to adapt to do a risk assessment for their own group.
Registration – Individual participants, and group leaders with provisional numbers of participants, MUST register in advance.
- Individual participants please register via Pre-Entries (link TBC). Payment is made via Pre-Entries when you register.
- Group leaders, please contact Duncan Archer, email email hidden; JavaScript is required to register your group. Payment must be made in advance. Payment details will be provided on registration.
Closing date for all registrations: midnight Sunday 14th October 2026. Note: you cannot just turn up on the day, you must pre-register. There may be a limit on numbers of individual and group participants, given the limited size of the area, and to preserve a quality coaching experience. First come (i.e. first to register!), first served.
Cancellations – If the coaching day has to be cancelled for whatever reason (e.g. severe weather), those who have booked and paid will be offered refunds, or the option of keeping a place on a rescheduled coaching day. The Orienteering Foundation cannot accept liability for any other costs incurred by participants / groups in the event of cancellation (e.g. accommodation)
Refunds – No refunds will be given, but if a participant has to withdraw, their fee minus £2 admin charge will be refunded if the place is subsequently filled by another paying participant.
Copyright and permissions - The map files provided to group leaders are copyright South Ribble Orienteering Club, and must only be used in conjunction with this coaching day, and deleted afterwards. Moreover, access to the area is sensitive, and permission is only granted on the coaching day itself - groups and individuals must not attempt to use the area at any other time, without first seeking permission via SROC.
Sunday 29th November 2026 – Why not make a weekend of quality orienteering training and competing in the South Lakes? The following day there is a LOC event (Cumbrian Galoppen) at Roanhead. Details will be on the LOC website.