Jan Kjellström
International Festival
of Orienteering 2025
South Yorkshire
18th April - 21st April
South Yorkshire 18th April - 21st April

Relays ⬥ Monday 21st April 2025

Monday 21st April 2025

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!

The Estate is well wooded and traversed by pleasant walks. The predominating trees are oak and beech, and in the springtime the profusion of bluebells greatly enhances the beauty of the woods. This handsome Park is the second largest in the City, and will undoubtedly prove a popular resort for the residents in the thickly populated area on the southern side of the river...   

The Founding of the Park, 1920

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.

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

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.

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 updated and revised 2025 by Chris Burden (AIRE).

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)