The Lakes 5 Day event takes place every 4 years and this year will run from Sunday 22nd August to Friday 27th. It usually attracts around 2000 participants including a substantial overseas entry so plenty of high quality competition is guaranteed. There are five Regional standard events using Caw, Tarn Hows , Swindale, Helsington Barrows and Harrop Tarn.

WCOC is putting on the event at Harrop Tarn on Tuesday 24th (day before the rest day) . Harrop is one of our best areas and we don’t often get the chance to run on it, so this is an opportunity not to be missed. The area is a mixture of intricate forest and complex runnable open fell with a lot of contour detail and an abundance of rock features. The map has been specially extended to include a new area of complex open fell with runnable heather that has never been used for orienteering before. It offers challenging orienteering, plus the bonus of excellent views of the surrounding fells (for those with time to stop and look). Bob Barnby

As with any large event, its success depends on the hard work that needs to be done leading up to and on the day of the event. Much has been done already by the mappers (Dick Warner and Mike Pearson) to extend the map and the planners (Bob Barnby and Rob Holder). John Taylor has also completed the risk assessment that is required for the event.

As for the jobs that need to be done on the day, we’re lucky in one sense that unlike other regional events that a club would stage, the NWOA are looking after entries, enquiries on the day, download and results, provision of first aid, toilets and catering. However, because the entries will be significantly greater than a standard regional, this means that WCOC will need more willing hands than usual on car parking, assembly, crossing points, starts and finish. The planners would really appreciate any help in collecting controls when the courses are closed.

If anyone’s up for putting on the string course, please let us know.

Ged Hagan is the organiser for the event and will be grateful for an early call (01946 813725) or email to let him know that you will be available to help for some part of the day. Don’t worry if you’ve already entered (or if you’re about to), we’ll sort out punching start times depending on the jobs people do on the day. Everybody will be able to get a run. If you weren’t intending to run on the Tuesday but will be about, you will be more than welcome to come along and share in the tasks.