Relays ⬥ Monday 21st April 2025
Relays ⬥ Monday 21st April
Middleton Park
Having proved itself as an excellent area for head-to-head racing during the British Relay Championships in 2019, the batons are back at Middleton Park for the final day of JK25.
Middleton Park is a varied area, pitted with the remains of coal mining stretching back to the medieval period, including numerous large bell pits scattered throughout the ancient wooded valleys. Add to this a highly detailed path network, and competitors will need to keep their wits about them, from mass start to sprint finish!
Middleton Park is brilliant for head to head relay racing. I’ve enjoyed myself every time I’ve raced there: loads of pits, crisscrossing paths and scattered bushes that all look the same when you’re flying down the hills at speed!
Alice Leake
Location
Middleton Park is located on the southern fringes of Leeds about 4 km from the City Centre, conveniently close to the M1 and M62 motorways. Whilst it had been hoped to obtain permission for a suitable Relay area closer to Days 1-3, this was not possible, however Middleton Park is within an hour's drive of Sheffield.
Parking will be on the north side of the Park near John Charles Centre for Sport, 0.4km -1km from the Arena.
For those travelling by public transport from Sheffield, Leeds can be reached by train in approximately 40 mins. From the station, several bus services operate that stop 1.2km from the Arena. More information on WY Metro.
Travel
Select a button to view travel directions
Middleton Park is accessible via public transport from Leeds City Centre which is well served by major rail and road public transport networks.
Buses 2/3/3A/200/201/201A/202/203 all run from Leeds City Centre along Dewsbury Road towards the White Rose Shopping Centre. Alight at the Cross Flatts Park bus stop and head down Middleton Grove to join the walking route from the car parks.
This bus stop is 1200m from the Arena.
See WY Metro for bus times and bus stop locations in Leeds City Centre.
Middleton Park is approx 5km along mostly flat roads from Leeds City Centre. There are bike lanes along a lot of the route, but the most direct routes include major road intersections with no cycling infrastructure where they cross the M621. You are advised to plan a route to avoid these.
You may cycle to within 100m of the arena. Please dismount and walk your bike for the last stretch as the path is steep and will be busy with other competitors. There is no secure bike parking in the arena, but there are free bike rack facilities at John Charles Centre for sport (400m to Arena). Cyclists may approach the event from Dewbsury Road (A643 and Middleton Grove). Take care when approaching the event as other competitors will be parking.
Leeds also operates a Beryl Bike Hire Network.
Middleton Park is easily accessible via the local motorway network and is just 5mins from M621 Junc 5. All traffic will be required to approach Middleton Park via the same direction from this junction to enable parking flow. These details will be published in due course.
Parking will be in car parks to the north of Middleton Park, near John Charles Centre for Sport or on the Industrial Estate nearby. Overflow parking will be on-street in the industrial estate.
You must not park in the sports centre car parks, except as directed by event marshals.
All parking will be 400-1000m from the Arena.
All car parks will have a common walking route to the Arena from Middleton Grove.
Route to the Arena
Parking will be 400-1000m from the Arena. If arriving by bus this is 1200m from the arena.
The final 100m approach to the arena is up a fairly narrow, relatively steep footpath through the woods. This will be taped.
For anyone requiring or preferring a gentler approach to the arena, there is an alternative route (300m further) to the Arena which is less steep along a better track. This is especially recommended for anyone with mobility issues or with buggies or small children. This route will also go past the toilets.
Event Schedule
| tbc | Car parks open |
| 08:30 | Registration opens: Bib collection and last-minute changes by Team Captains |
| 09:30 | Deadline for last-minute team changes |
| 09:45 | First Call-up time |
| 10:00 | First Relays start |
| 11:00 | Last starts for Leg 1 runners |
| 13:00 | Prizegiving |
| 14:00 | Courses Close |
| 16:00 | Car Parks close |
Map
Courses from the 2019 British Relays can be seen on the BOC Routegadget, and courses from a more recent 2021 Regional event can be seen on the AIRE Routegadget.
The map is to ISOM 2017-2 IOF Specification, unless otherwise stated. Map scale 1:7,500 for all courses, with a 5m contour internal. Map updated and revised 2025 by Chris Burden (AIRE).
Course & Terrain Notes
All relay classes have courses with gaffling, including the Mini-Relay. Parents/carers, please ensure your child understands that they will have some controls the same as other juniors but some will be different and with a slightly different route, so they must read their own map carefully.
Controls have all been numbered to ensure there is no similarity or possible confusion on gaffle clusters or nearby controls. It is the competitor’s responsibility to check their control codes and descriptions.
Pits & Depressions
There are numerous pits and depressions of varying sizes and depths. The control descriptions provide the depth of pits and the length x width of large depressions (in metres) to give an indication of the size of the feature. Controls are positioned below the rim of all pits and most large depressions and the directional part given, e.g. 3m pit, NE part. In the case of large depressions, if no direction is given then the control will be positioned in the bottom of the feature.
Bike Track & Other Users
There is a bike track in part of the wood which is clearly indicated on the map using the standard bike track symbol. Competitors must not run along the bike track at any point and courses have been planned so there should be no reason to even do so. Only the longer TD5 courses cross the bike track and only where the bikers will be on an uphill or flatter section (where they should be travelling more slowly). No one should cross the bike track on a downhill section where bikers have been seen to travel at speed. Notices will be placed at key points along the track but it is the competitor’s responsibility to cross the bike track safely.
All areas of the woods are popular with dog walkers, families and cyclists. Please take care at all times and be courteous of other park users.
Arena Run-Through and Finish
There is an Arena run-through for all TD5 courses and this will be clearly taped. Competitors must ensure they punch the controls at either end of the run-through as clearly indicated on their map. All courses then have ~1km final loop after the run-through.
On all courses, the incoming runners will be visible when they enter the Arena field to approach the last control for sufficient time for 2nd and 3rd leg runners to spot their incoming team mate and move to the handover area.
Officials
Planners - Emma Harrison & Connor Smith (EPOC)
Controller - Simon Thompson (HOC)
Assistant Controller - Peter Jones (AIRE)
Mapper - Chris Burden (AIRE)
Organiser - Richard Foster (AIRE) 
Assistant Organiser - Liz Carter (AIRE)
Provisional Course Details
| Relay Class | Leg 1 | Leg 2 | Leg 3 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Distance (km) | Climb (m) | Tech Diff | Average Distance (km) | Climb (m) | Tech Diff | Average Distance (km) | Climb (m) | Tech Diff | ||
| A | JK Trophy | 5.9 | 235 | 5 | 4.5 | 175 | 5 | 5.9 | 235 | 5 |
| B | Women’s Trophy | 4.5 | 175 | 5 | 4.0 | 165 | 5 | 4.5 | 175 | 5 |
| C | Men’s Short | 4.0 | 140 | 5 | 3.5 | 125 | 5 | 4.0 | 140 | 5 |
| D | Women’s Short | 3.3 | 100 | 5 | 3.0 | 95 | 5 | 3.3 | 100 | 5 |
| E | Senior Men (M120+) | 5.9 | 235 | 5 | 4.5 | 175 | 5 | 5.9 | 235 | 5 |
| F | Senior Women (W120+) | 4.0 | 140 | 5 | 3.5 | 125 | 5 | 4.0 | 140 | 5 |
| G | Veteran Men (M165+) | 4.5 | 175 | 5 | 4.0 | 165 | 5 | 4.5 | 175 | 5 |
| H | Veteran Women (W165+) | 3.3 | 100 | 5 | 3.0 | 95 | 5 | 3.3 | 100 | 5 |
| J | Ultra-Veterans (M/W210+) | 3.3 | 100 | 5 | 3.0 | 95 | 5 | 3.3 | 100 | 5 |
| K | Intermediate Men (M48-) | 3.9 | 130 | 5 | 2.5 | 50 | 3 | 3.9 | 130 | 5 |
| L | Intermediate Women (W48-) | 3.2 | 100 | 5 | 2.5 | 50 | 3 | 3.2 | 100 | 5 |
| M | Junior Relay (M/W40-) | 2.5 | 50 | 3 | 1.5 | 25 | 2 | 2.5 | 50 | 3 |
| N | Mini Relay (M/W12-) | 1.5 | 25 | 2 | 1.5 | 25 | 2 | 1.5 | 25 | 2 |
| P | Mixed AdHoc (Long/Short/Medium) | 4.5 | 160 | 5 | 2.5 | 50 | 3 | 3.8 | 130 | 5 |