Status.

2026 MAIN Series   -     CLOSED

2026 H&F  (summer) -   CLOSED

2026/27  H&F (winter Series)  -  OPEN  1st Oct - 31st March

Current positions can be found   HERE

The Northern Challenge Series is, in part an extended competition offering a fresh approach to accommodating the British weather and pilot availability through a series of standing, focused tasks. It  provides maximum convenience, flexibility and opportunity for pilots wishing to use it as pilot development.   In large part it's also a response to the difficulty of getting enough pilots and the weather to coalesce around fixed date events. The NCS is designed to overcome current difficulties - be all things to all pilots and add extra spice (and learning) to a day's flying.

The NCS runs from 1st February - 30th September and offers up a series of 14 main tasks plus a subsidiary set of eleven Hike and Fly tasks running as a separate summer and winter challenges/leagues. ALL tasks are open to full members of the BHPA with P rating or higher (including visiting pilots). There is no entry fee or prior registration. Please note ... the odd site  (Stags Fell/ Model Ridge)  may be 'members only'. Read the Club site guides.

For those not of a competitive nature then tasks can be viewed as valuable pilot development  with the emphasis on navigation and instrument use, decision making and exploring what's possible (pushing your own and the site envelope). They could form useful coaching day activities if a signed off declaration/briefing is done prior to attempting (for CP rated pilots). Many of the tasks have been designed to comply with BHPA guidance for site/ridge based tasks.

The tasks are hosted on xcmap.net which provides for  easy downloads of the tasks in various formats including a QR code, a task map with cylinders and straightforward uploads with integral scoring. It also contains an historical tasks league.

Full details are provided via several downloads. These are:

*  AIMS and RULES  

*  TASKS for 2026 (MAIN) and the HIKE & FLY 2026/27 elements.

*  DECLARATION form

      PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR ALL DOWNLOADS INFORMATION

             NCS - At the heart of PILOT DEVELOPMENT

All the tasks and Rules for 2026 are now available for download. The tasks - MAIN and HIKE n FLY, can be directly accessed via the links below from xcmap. 

IMPORTANT - for 2026 you will need to be PILOT rated to attempt any MAIN or H&F tasks. Please read the Rules download regarding the new requirements for CP rated pilots. A Declaration form is available in the downloads at the bottom of the screen and on the XCmap task page.This can be used by Senior coaches and Instructors. Coaches cannot sign off a Declaration

Task LINKS (below)

XCMAP - Main Series          (2026)

XCMAP - Hike & Fly Series  (2026/27) (updated @16/5/26)

The  MAIN Series will open 1st February and close on 30th September.       The H&F Series is now open all year round but split into summer and winter leagues. Minor changes can be accessed by the downloads under the latest (Jan '25) Rules and Aims.  These Rules are in force for 2026  *The OPEN date above applies ONLY if the resident club has notified the site as being open. 

The Background and Aims are worth a read if you're unfamiliar with the NCS.

TASK SETTING NOTES

The 2026 MAIN tasks remain  unchanged from 2025. Any changes will be notified here no later than 25th Jan 2026.     Two additional new tasks are in preparation to be added - making a total of 16.     The H&F is now open for the full year  as winter H&F is often used as a training period.   See awarding dates below.             

MAIN series -  A major revamp and refresh of the Series was done in 2024. Nine new tasks, four new sites.     These are unchanged for 2026 (plus two new ones). Awarded based on 30th September total scores. Closed until 1st February following year.

HIKE n FLY series -  The Dales Three Peaks is retained, additional changes are as follows.     There are five new Lakes based tasks and five new Dales based tasks.

The new tasks are shorter, less arduous, hopefully more interesting and based around well known valley circuits, rounds and horseshoes. They all use the same scoring algorithm regardless of length, difficulty or challenge.  Awards are twice yearly  30th September (year end) and 31st March (winter H&F end).

NCT - Trophy photo link

                           Powered by XCMAP.NET (with thanks to Chris Foster)

                                 For previous year results please go to xcmap

What is the Northern Challenge Series (NCS)?

              Windrose for tasks including task types.      Courtesey of Tam Morrison