Leave Event Centre, at RD turn R, follow RD 1 km. Cross BR over dual carriageway. Pass gateway, then take stile on L to L bank of canal. Follow canal 3 km to yard in Elsecar. Follow fence on L by RWY to stile, L on track, over level crossing. Fork R on track uphill, sweep R to top of field, take path into woods. Path (rutted) sweeps R down and L up. At end of wood, take track (½R) (NOT field path ½L). Follow track to RD. Turn L, follow RD to cross roads (Wentworth). SA. Bear R then 600 m along surfaced track. ½L (concrete track @ 4-way junction by house). Cross track. Downhill path between fences/hedges, L following stream then R & L at gated BR, R uphill to track, L & R to RD, L through Thorpe Hesley to X Rds. R then L down fenced steps at first RD corner into housing estate, to RD at bottom of hill. R then L down fenced path. Cross stream, ½L through hedge, take R path to gap/stile on R.  Straight uphill to crest of ridge. L, follow ridge 1 km to RD, R through Scholes to 90° R bend in rd where take FP ½L for 20 m, then R uphill across open land 500 m to Keppels Column (landscape feature). Cross stile behind column (NOT corner of field) to RD in housing estate, turn R, L at main RD, first RD R (golf signs).  GRANGE Checkpoint (1) Grid Reference SK 391943 (open 07:30 to 10:10)

Continue 100 m, turn L (RD junction) 100 m to RD bend. R at gates in security fence, follow path/surfaced path between fences and hedge, SA down, cross park RD and up following fence round football pitches, L at corner. At end of low wooden pole fence, R along edge of rough ground to SMALL path. Contour across slope (take care) to larger path, then L steep downhill, cross path, ½R path, cross stream at BR. R uphill to RD. Cross to track, uphill 200 m, with fences on R - ignore gates even if open,  R at gap with handrails in HEDGE just after fencing. In field follow chain link fence on R to RD. Hilltop. SA on fenced path at L of CP (behind houses). SA and slightly R alongside fence to pylon at bottom of hill. Cross stile by pylon, drop to RD, cross to old service RD for 20 m, cross stile on R, cross rough land/stile to RD. Turn L for 200 m to bus shelters. Turn R after TDE before Roebuck - path in small gap between security  fences, R in front of next security fence, parallel to railway, to another small gap to FB over RWY, down steps and R along R bank of river for 1 km. Pass locks, cross at BR (L) to RD, Tinsley. R to UNDERPASS by telephone box to access RD then follow main RD (Bawtry Rd) past Pike and Heron and schools. After 1 km turn R (Park House Lane, the RD after the school). At end, just before DHL CP, turn L on fenced path for 30 m, turn R still between (damaged) fences to field, follow fence on L to stile and RD, turn R, go under BR, turn down Wood Lane   and L at RD (airport on R), follow road, **  then L along line of landing lights to field/site corner, down steps and follow fence below main RD. R after 40 m, 50 m then 150°L (very sharp) along L side of field, then FP, cross RD, FP between fences. Follow RD to Catcliffe. R at main RD, (short cut in front of houses), then L on signed path at RD junction.  ^$$  Follow path, cross 1st BR over river on L, follow fence on R, R at corner, then L to cross FB over RWY. 
TREETON checkpoint (2)  Grid Ref. SK 427874  (Open 08:50 to 11:30)
Warning: section between ** and ^$$ is under review - route was obstructed by building work, open at present.  

Then R by RWY for 400 m. At track junction go L, pass club house, at L turn in track go R across concrete BR, follow lakeside path to terraced houses. 100 m SA to main RD, cross dual carriageway, turn R for 150 m - over BR. After joinery works, L on Public Footpath (Trans-Pennine Trail) between fences. Take cycle track alongside fence and under viaduct. Continue parallel to RWY, under (new) RD BR, R to RD and double back over BR. 100 m after RWY, R back along track to RWY (or down steep bank to track) to continue on opposite side of RWY to Rother Valley Park. At fence corner, ½L up flood bank, follow L bank of river to RD. SA along RD, 200 m after L bend (+car parks) turn R on (signed) track. Follow for 200 m, take hedged path (stile + sign) on L. Work up (R, L and up steps) to canal bank. Turn L, follow L bank of canal to RD at Norwood.

Cross RD and follow canal bank under BR and past houses. Continue 200 m after gate "Fishing Strictly Private", ½L then bear R over rough land to stile. Follow R edge of field to motorway embankment, R on track, L under BR, R parallel to motorway. At fence corner, take trod ½L over hill to stile at summit, continue down to Woodall village. SA through village, L at FP (hidden) after Todd's cottage, before barn, across field aiming for church 800 m to stile, ½R, 4 stiles in line, R across field to children's playground and stile to carpark, HARTHILL checkpoint (3)  Grid Reference SK 492806 (Open 10:00 to 13:30).

Go onto RD, L, after pub take FP (snicket) to main RD, L then R up FP up steps AFTER wide drive.  Follow FP, cross lane up access track to stile(½R). Follow path in line of hedges (3 stiles), aim for L side of woods. SA to second wood, ½R in front of wood to lane. Turn L then R on signed FP at stile, cross 3 fields to lane, cross lane, SA 2 km over fields aiming for path to R of farm in valley. Follow path past farm, along earthbanks, to RD (Top Hall Farm). Turn R, then ½L over stile (opposite RD junction) go diagonally across field to gap in hedge on R. Follow hedge at back of airfield, go through farm to lane, turn L (downhill), L at 1st junction, R at 2nd junction signed Turnerwood. Go SA at 1st bend on field path to lane, R to canal BR at Turnerwood. Follow L bank of small stream to stile, cross RWY, turn R, follow path on L bank of ditch to farm complex. At RD, turn L through gate up walled track to wood, down, cross BR and follow waymarked track through golf course to main RD. Cross (L and R) to track, past executive houses, L up lane (signed), down to cross-roads (Butchers Arms, Woodsetts), SA for 100 m, turn R to WOODSETT Checkpoint (4) G. R. SK 555838  (Opens 11:00; Competitors arriving after 15:30 may be asked to retire)

Go diagonally across playing field to stile, L along RD to end of village, L on track opposite shops. R after 400 m in front of hedge, SA 1 km across fields. After causeway between ponds turn L opposite house, cross fields to stile near Wallingwells house. Turn R along track, fork R. After 600 m, just before tarmac RD/housing estate/first lamppost, take hidden path through shrubs to L then R of field (at edge of housing estate) to RD. Turn L, 200 m, turn acute R on FP. After 600 m fork L, turn R across parkland to BR by swimming pool and park RD by Langold Lake. Turn R, then L across dam, follow park RD to park gate. Turn L, after 20 m turn R on FP at back of parking area. Follow FP through woods to stile. Turn L along track past fields, through wood to lane. Cross to (initially) wide track, downhill to FIRBECK Checkpoint (5) Grid Reference SK 564886 (open 12:00 to 17:00)

Turn L along RD. After 100 m, turn R (opposite RD) along signed FP/track. Follow zig-zag track. After L corner in earthwall, go SA (ignore FP sign) along hedge. After 400 m, turn R at gate, go L of house to track, turn L. At lane, go sharp R down then up to main RD. Turn L, after 20 m at gateway go over stile and turn R aiming for stile just R of ruin (Roche Abbey). Follow path/track to R of stream for 1.5 km. Go ½R uphill to pylon, turn L then L under RWY (small BR). Continue along path/track (crossing lane) to playing field. ½L to stile, cross fields (more stiles) then R into Maltby churchyard, out at lytch gate, go uphill, turn R at T junction, cross RD then L up broad steps, cross main RD (Maltby), go up side RD (B-road) past schools. Follow round to L, then SA on minor RD where B-road bends R. 600 m to MALTBY checkpoint (6) (in opening on L of RD) Grid Reference SK 519925 (Opens 12:30; Competitors arriving after 18:00 may be asked to retire)

Continue along RD, SA at crossroads to track. L in front of gate, follow wall round, first down 50 m, turn R, 100 m, ½R up walled track. Follow track 1.5 km to RD at farm. Turn L follow RD 1.5 km crossing M18, turn R after barn on slight RD bend after 40 sign. Follow path well to left of power line across 3 fields. ½R, cross stream to field corner to track. Follow track, SA at lane, down, up through farm, turns L and swings R down over stream. Turn L on signed FP across field (uphill) to escarpment, bear R to woods, immediately turn L down FP (fork L, following L edge of wood). Becomes track, then lane. At main RD (Hooton Roberts) go SA down lane, fork R. Lane becomes track. Follow to L at end in field to gate, go down field to OLD DENABY checkpoint (7) at RD Grid Reference SK 479988 (Open 13:10 to 20:30)

Go R along RD, bends R, turn L at telephone box (Ferry Boat Lane). Cross RWY, river to canal. L, then fork R on path UNDER BR. Follow towpath 500 m, fork L at earthbank to station CP. take small BR under RWY, bends R on FP. Follow R bank of river. Leave river along fenced FP, SA at RD. On BR, after RWY, turn L down steps to Swinton. SA along RD, bends R, turn ½L through pub CP to canal towpath. Follow towpath under BR, then R up field to RD to L of BR over RWY. (Do not attempt old route, following fence by RWY) L at RD, R into Hatherley Rd and join cycle track on right (at corner, between 48 and 50). Follow track to Dearne Valley college. SA at main RD to FP to RD at Staithes pub, turn L. At end of service RD, R through gap to path along old canal bed to RD at small roundabout. ** NEW FOR 2005 Turn R (RD), after 50 m, ½ Left, at tarmac path.  Cross a second path and playing field (Rugby pitch), to tarmac path (with second Rugby pitch beyond path) ½ R, cross footbridge, L along road to T junction, SA across road to FP to R of 'Moor Road' nameboard (along R bank of stream) behind Tesco, SA across RD through squeeze stile **  in front of gate at end, ½R following embankment. Cross lane, go 500 m, fork L to RD. Turn R, then L at end of green (Tennyson Rise). As straight as possible (slightly uphill) at 2 offset junctions (along Browning Rd, Coleridge Rd), then take FP at RD bend to Leisure Centre and FINISH (8).  The Event Centre will be locked for the night at 23:00.

Congratulations! You've worked through that. Now you only have to do it!

henry@NOThmarston.co.uk (Henry Marston, RHAC)