The 38th White Rose Orienteering weekend will be held in the western North York Moors from 27th to 30th August 2010.   For nearly 40 years now, the "White Rose" has been one of the most popular dates in the orienteering calendar combining good quality races in excellent North York Moors terrain with relaxed and "runner-friendly" organisation.

Last year, the weekend incorporated no less than seven orienteering events in four days, and we plan to provide as much as we can (taking account of the impact of the Lakes 5 day event) of the same programme in 2010 – a great weekend of excellent, enjoyable orienteering. We have retained the sprint event from last year, will run it over 2 days with starts available on Friday from 1900hrs then again on Saturday afternoon from 1500hrs onwards.  This will hopefully meet the needs of people arriving at White Rose on Friday afternoon and very late Friday – having driven across from the Lakes 5.

Following on from Lakes 5 days the previous week, White Rose weekend provides a great finale to 10 days of orienteering in the north of England.

The White Rose is also one of the few O weekends to offer an exclusive campsite for competitors and this is what makes the event an exceptional opportunity for a real orienteering holiday weekend in great North Yorkshire terrain. The campsite means that you can park your car or campervan on Friday evening, knowing that you don’t need to move it again till Monday. The site has water, toilets and a great catering operation. 

Of course, other accommodation options are available including numerous guest houses, B&B's, fully serviced campsites and youth hostels. 

In 2009, the weekend was based in a delightful meadow in the eastern part of Dalby Forest, and good weather, combined with excellent orienteering, provided 800 people with a memorable holiday weekend. 

Virtually the same (very) small team of Eborienteers members have already starting work on White Rose 2010, with an expectation of providing another memorable weekend.

The White Rose competition in Compass Sport in February 2010 was a fiendish “spot the difference” competition.  Congratulations to Declan McGrellis of LVO who won a free weekend for two at White Rose 2010.

Look out for the White Rose Competition in Compass Sport in early 2010 and the opportunity to win two entries for the entire weekend – worth nearly £90.

In 2010, the event will move west to the wooded slopes of Helmsley Moor, N of the delightful market town of Helmsley.  With our campsite on the edge of Baxton’s Wood, the weekend will be based around forests to the N and S of here.  This will include Ash Dale and Carlton Grange to the south and Cowhouse Bank and Roppa Wood to the north.  Some courses will extend as far north as East Moor and Collis Rigg.

This is wonderful countryside in magnificent moorland.  The heather to the N and E of the forest will be in bloom in late August, and the cycling and walking opportunities will be endless.  The views of Bransdale from the edge of Cowhouse Bank Wood can only be described as stunning.

The forest is both broadleaf and coniferous, and large parts are free of the excessive undergrowth that is so common in North Yorkshire forests.  Roe deer are the most likely mammal to be seen by visitors although foxes, badgers and small mammals are also present.  You may also see larger birds of prey such as common and rough-legged buzzard and even red kite. Adders and the common lizard frequent the forest edges and surrounding moorland.

We are fortunate in having reached agreement for an excellent event centre, campsite and assembly in a 10 hectare grass meadow at Baxton’s Strip and expect that all courses and activities will be based at or close to here.   Baxton’s Strip is located 6km N of Helmsley, 45km N of York and 29km E of Thirsk. 

The last race at Lakes 5-Days on Friday 27th August is at Helsington Barrows near Kendal.   It is just 139km from Helsington Barrows to Baxton’s Strip – just 2 hours 25 minutes drive (courtesy of Google maps!) – so Lakes 5-days competitors can get across to White Rose 2010 in less time than the White Rose coordinator can complete a typical Sunday morning blue course!

White Rose 2010 will provide two top quality regional events on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th August, where aggregate times are used for the award of White Rose Trophies. The start arrangements for the two regional events will be simple with flexible timings. Once again, we will be using the new course structure at White Rose 2010 – for details see INVITATION page.

As in previous years, there will then be a fast and furious team score event on Monday 30th August. Entries for this will be open to all, and teams need not all be members of the same club. The planning emphasis of the team score will be fun, short but technical, with teams of top competitors being easily able to visit all controls within the time limit.  

The White Rose Mountain Bike Score event will be held on Monday 30th, timed so that the super-fit and super-enthusiastic can compete in the MBO score event after their day-3 team score run. MBO competitors can ride individually or in pairs. 

Once again, White Rose 2010 will include an informal night score event on the Saturday night. With mass start at 21:00 hrs, the 30 minute format provides a great alternative view of the forest in the mid evening – close to the campsite.   

And following the great response we received last year, we will again provide an informal sprint on Saturday afternoon on Friday evening, carried over to Saturday afternoon to provide a race for late arrivals from the Lakes5.

We intend that (if possible) the start and finish for all races will be in or very close to the assembly area/camp site providing the essential social element to the overall weekend. An event barbecue will be provided on Sunday evening, and the event marquee, furnished with tables and chairs, will available on both Saturday and Sunday evening for informal social activities.