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Hello All Orienteers,

This Sunday\'s Leinster event is the 11th installment of the Leinster League, brought to by Fingal Orienteers, who will be far from home in Southwest Co. Wicklow.

While Fauna Wood is not a new map, it hasn\'t been used regularly for about 30 years, so it\'s the next best thing.

Directions:  The wood is located about 3km south of the village of Donard.  To get there, turn off the N81 at a pub called Ye Old Tollhouse and follow the signs for Donard.  Turn right in Donard village.  Turn left after about 750m, up a narrow road.  Please note that this turn is narrow.  It will be signposted but keep your eyes peeled.  The road will bring you to the forest.  Travel through the forest and follow signs for parking.  When you are driving down this road and parking, please be aware that the forest/competition area is all around you, so keep any eye out for orienteers crossing roads at speed.  Likewise, any orienteers should exercise due caution when crossing the road.  The shorter courses (yellow, orange and short green) will not cross this road.  

Parking will be on forest road so pay attention to marshals and park as sensibly as possible. 

Details of the courses are below.  

The yellow course is suitable for buggies.  The finish is on the way to the start and orienteers can leave clothing there but at their own risk.

Maps will be printed on waterproof paper, size A4. Control descriptions will be on the map and available at registration.

Entry Fees
€8 Adults, €5 juniors/students/oaps, €20 Families.
€10 for non-club members, €2 for SI card hire

Fingal Orienteers are providing quality hospitality at this event: a cake sale in aid of the Junior Squad, teas and coffees and Portaloo facilities.  Please bring any rubbish home with you, and bring a reusable cup to cut down on waste.

If anyone wishes to try orienteering for the first time, or perhaps introduce it to a newcomer(s), this the ideal event.  There will be volunteers available specifically to help out anyone trying out orienteering for the first time, or maybe just looking for some assistance.  If you plan on bringing a large group, please notify the club.

Start times are 11:00 to 13:00, with registration opening at 10:30.  Courses close at the slightly earlier than usual time of 14:30.  The reason for this is that the club is having its Christmas (!) dinner after the event and we could like to take all controls before then.  Most of you are aware of the danger of coming between an orienteer and their meals, so bear that in mind when considering your start time. 

Donard Fauna has not been used for a regular event for about 30 years. The forest has been resurveyed and extended this summer by Fingal members, from a base map supplied by Pat Healy. We are grateful to CNOC for agreeing to share the map. It is mostly mature coniferous wood although here has been some felling. There are no brambles although there is some bracken and a little gorse. Some sections are very wet, and only the more significant drain ditches are mapped. As you may guess from the name there are lots of deer in the wood.  Thanks to Coillte for granting permission to use the forest.

Sarah Ní Ruairc
Organiser

Yes, the map is 1:10000 with 5M contours.
It\'s actually the 12th Leinster league event this year so far.

Paul, Can you scan me a copy of your map somehow?

Email sent!

Echoing John\'s comments. Fantastic to be in a forest in Leinster, thanks very much to Fingal, really enjoyed the map & run. Also great to see so many new faces at the event.

I\'d love to see a Routegadget to look at the other courses, hopefully it can be re-uploaded with the results again.

thanks again!