Rules and Scoring

The Formal Rules of the Grimsdyke Hikes

The Grimsdyke Hikes are all about fun, team-working and experience-building.
But there is also a strong competitive element to the event, to add to the challenge and drive teams on.
So, there are rules! Not especially complicated, but necessary and worth understanding before getting to the event.
Fairness and honesty are paramount. We've tried to cover most things, but in the event of any rulings required, this remains at the final discretion of the Event Controller

Competitions and Teams

Event and Fee

One Day
Competitive
£40 per team

Two Day
Competitive
£50 per team

Team Ages

All team members must be 13 yrs 6 months or younger on the first day of the competition

SENIORS

All team members must be between 13 yrs and 15 yrs on the first day of the competition

OPEN

All team members must be younger than 18 yrs on the first day of the competition

Composition

Any combination of Scouts and Guides
A minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 walkers
Alternative team sizes may be allowed to START only after consultation with the Event Controller
JUNIOR teams with only two members remaining due to retiring walker(s) may continue only at the discretion of the Shadow and Event Controller
Single walkers must join another team if acceptable to both parties

Any combination of Scouts, Guides and Explorers
A minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 walkers
Alternative team size may be allowed to START only after consultation with the Event Organiser
SENIOR and OPEN teams with only two members remaining due to retiring walker(s) may continue
Single walkers must join another team if acceptable to both parties

Shadows

Teams MUST be Shadowed

Teams MUST NOT be Shadowed

Non-Competing Teams

Teams may take part in either the one or two-day events as non-competing teams
Team members should be associated with the Scouting or Guiding Associations
There are no age or team size restrictions but Junior Age Category walkers should still be shadowed and Senior Age Category walkers must remain in pairs as a minimum

Courses and Scoring

Course Day 1

8 separate routes, randomly-allocated
Each approximately 16km
Teams must locate the 15 flags as indicated on their control cards
The order of flags on the control card is generally the shortest route
The route returns to Start HQ

4 separate routes, randomly-allocated
Each approximately 20km
Teams must locate the 15 flags as indicated on their control cards
The order of flags on the control card is generally the shortest route
The route finishes at the overnight campsite

Scoring Day 1

Each control correctly clipped scores 10 points

Each control correctly clipped scores 10 points

Timing Restrictions Day 1

None officially - but if teams are out after 6pm we will normally request them to accept a pick up back to HQ

None officially - but if deemed "too late" after making contact, we will normally request them to accept a pick up back to the campsite

Course Day 2

No set route: control flags may be visited in any order and teams may plan this at the overnight camp
Teams must locate as many of the 18 flags as indicated on their control cards in the time available
Competitors should finish back at the Day 1 Start HQ

Scoring Day 2

Each control correctly clipped adds to the first days total
Control flags have differing values. The further or more difficult controls score more points
The flag values are indicated on the control sheet

Timing Restrictions Day 2

Teams have a maximum of 5 hours to locate flags on Day 2
The course opens at 8.00am and closes at 2.00pm
Teams leaving after 9.00am will therefore have less than 5 hours
Teams leaving before 9.00am must check in at the finish no later than 5 hours after they start
Teams arriving after their 5 hour and /or 2.00pm deadline will be penalised 10 points for every full five minutes late
Teams out after 2.00pm should return directly to HQ without seeking any further flags

Non-Competing Teams

As per chosen event category
Non-competing teams may of course take short cuts and/or finish the course as necessary

Trophies and Certificates

JUNIOR CHALLENGE SHIELD

The winners will be the Junior team with the highest no. of points.
If scores are equal, then the fastest team wins

JUNIOR CHALLENGE TROPHY (MISBOURNE VALLEY)

The winners will the Junior team from the Misbourne Valley with highest no. of points / fastest time (other than as overall winners)
For clarity, if the winner of the Junior Challenge Shield is from the Misbourne Valley, then the Trophy goes to the second Misbourne Valley team
Any navigational assistance given by Shadows will be taken into accounts

SENIOR CHALLENGE SHIELD

The winners will be the the Senior team with the highest no. of points accumulated over the two days

SENIOR CHALLENGE TROPHY (MISBOURNE VALLEY)

The winner will be the highest scoring Senior team from the Misbourne Valley (other than as overall winners)

OPEN CHALLENGE TROPHY

The winners will be the Open team with the highest no. of points accumulated over the two days
Note: as Senior teams are also classified as Open teams, then if a Senior team should win the Open Challenge Trophy, then the Senior Challenge Shield shall go to the second team in the Senior Category

MISBOURNE VALLEY ESU TROPHY

The winners will be an ESU-only team from the Misbourne Valley with the highest no. of points accumulated over the two days

Non-competing teams will be scored as though competing but will be ineligible for any trophies

Exclusive commemorative badges will be available to all participants and collectible at check in

Safety

The following instructions are for walker’s safety and are also rules of the competition:

- Teams must stick to the ‘permissive’ footpaths as marked on the event maps – walkers may get lost but must stick to public paths
- High-visibility vests must be worn by all walkers at all times
- Except in emergency, any team splitting up without notification of the Event Controller will be disqualified
- No-one is to be left unattended under any circumstances
- All teams must have a mobile phone contact which must be left at HQ on registration
- Teams must be properly equipped and the equipment list provided here is considered a minimum. Team leaders are responsible for ensuring their teams are properly equipped. No formal kit-check will be undertaken but spot checks are possible

Behaviour

The following instructions are expectation of walker’s behaviour and are also rules of the competition:

- Observe The Country Code: close gates and especially don’t drop litter
- Be courteous to those around you and people you meet during the event
- Be respectful of property: any vandalism, intentional damage of equipment or sabotage will mean disqualification
- Interference with flags and clippers in order to handicap other teams will also mean disqualification
- Smoking and Drinking is prohibited at all times during the event

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