Barnes Common Night Orienteering, Tuesday 27th January
The second race of South London Orienteers’ 2025-2026 night series takes place on Barnes Common and Putney Lower Common, SW London on Tuesday 27th January 2026. The area offers a diverse mix of open common land, forest and park terrain. The terrain is relatively technical although paths are generally more well defined than at the previous race.
Race Centre
The race will be based at The Spencer Arms, SW15 1HJ. The pub serves great food and drink, and there will be the usual opportunity to revisit route choices with other runners. Kit can be left while you run (at your own risk).
Note that due to online entry (see below), you do not need to come to The Spencer before your run if you choose – you can go directly to the start. However, you must come back to the pub to download.
Whistles are mandatory – they can be borrowed (collect from The Spencer Arms).
Start and Finish
The race start is just 40m away, across the road from the pub by the corner of Commondale and Lower Richmond Road. The finish is located around 100m to the west of the pub.
Getting There
The pub is 0.7 miles from Barnes Station (Waterloo / Richmond mainline) and a mile from either Putney Bridge (District line) or Putney (Waterloo / Richmond mainline). Bus routes 22 (direct from central London), 265, 378 and 485 stop a few yards away – alight at ‘Commondale’.
There are three recently installed bike racks directly outside the north of the pub. If these are full then there are railings along the Lower Richmond Road just to the east of Erpingham Road.
Parking is unrestricted in the roads surrounding the pub from 4:30pm onwards.
Race Details & Entries
The entry fee is £5 for SLOW members, students and juniors; £7 for others. The races use both SIAC contactless and SI electronic punching; SIAC cards are available to hire for those who do not have their own for £2. A small number of headlamps are also available to borrow for free, but you need to e-mail the organiser in advance of each race to reserve one.
Entries now open at SiEntries. All entries, including on the day, will be online. Entries will stay open until 19:25 on the day of the event subject to map availability.
If you are not yet a member, now is the perfect time to join or renew for 2026! Please join via British Orienteering, or drop us an email with any queries.
Start Times: 18:15 – 19:30
Courses close 20:30 – you must return to the pub by this time, even if you have not completed the course
These courses are offered (distances given are straight line):
- Long: approximately 4.9km, quite challenging
- Short: approximately 2.9km, quite challenging
Both Long and Short have two, timed out, road crossings so are not suitable for under-16’s, unless accompanied by an adult. Both courses also cross one additional minor road.
Full leg cover is strongly recommended.
All competitors take part at their own risk. Participants who are not members of British Orienteering are not covered by British Orienteering’s public liability insurance. By entering this event, I acknowledge that I am taking part at my own risk. For example, if you were to accidentally injure a member of the public or damage property during the event, you would not be covered.
Results will be available on the SLOW website shortly after the event.
Helping on the Night
This event can’t happen without volunteer effort on the night. If you can lend a hand on the start, or with collecting controls, it is greatly appreciated – please get in touch with Oliver. Everyone who helps will be able to run – and get a free entry! The rota and roles can be found on our “Helpers Required!” page.
Organiser/Planner: Oliver Allen –
