Festive Frolics at Plessey Woods

  • Date:
  • NATO
  • Local
    • Date:

    This year’s Christmas Event will again feature the Plessey Challenge mass start head to head race as well as a mini-Challenge open to all, similar to the Challenge but shorter, not going beyond the burn and a range of other courses.

    Terrain: Country Park. Mixed woodland, paths, tracks.

    Travel: Follow the Country Park Brown Signs from Junction of the A192 and A1068, South west of Bedlington.
    Bus X21 or X22 Haymarket > Regent Centre > Hartford Bridge > Ashington > Newbiggin
    Car Park: Country Park car park. NZ238803 Map ///heartless.video.parading
    First hour – Free. Up to two hours – £2.00. Over two hours – £4.00. Cash or PayByPhone

    Entry: Entries now open via SIentries. Closing date 14th December (midnight).
    Limited entry on the day for Yellow, Orange. Pre enter if at all possible to avoid disappointment.
    Santa Trails Free, entry on the day only.
    Seniors (M/W21+): £7.00 Juniors (M/W20-): £2.00
    Registration/Download will be in a tent at the northside of the visitors centre.
    Starts: 10:30 -11:30 a.m. Colour courses: Turn up and go. No time slots.
    Plessey Challenge will start 11:00 a.m. and the Mini Challenge straight after. Meet at the Visitors Centre (Download) at 10:55 a.m. where there will be a short briefing.

    • Courses:
    • Santa’s Trail (0.7 km. ~ 0 m. climb)
    • Yellow (1.4 km. ~ 20 m. climb)
    • Orange (2.6 km. ~ 65 m. climb)
    • Light Green (3.0 km. ~ 75 m. climb).
      Does go down to the river and comes up a set of steps.
    • Plessey Challenge (approximately 5.5 km. ~ 100m. climb)- start from 11:00 a.m. at 5 second intervals into a micro sprint and then the odds and evens. (You choose whether you go to all the even number controls first or the odd numbered) there is a 5-minute time penalty if you go to a control out of sync. If your SI card doesn’t hold 40 times please can you email in advance to reserve an SI 10 card.
    • Mini Challenge (Approximately 3.3km. ~ 20m Climb) Same as the Plessey Challenge.
      Please Note the courses do not comply with British Orienteering rules.

    Descriptions: a Wooden Tepee will be described as a building.

    Map: 1:3000 Santa Trail and Yellow courses
    1:5000 Orange, Light Green and Challenge courses.
    The Challenge course will be printed on A3
    The mini Challenge and other courses on A4

    Facilities: Toilets (Portaloo). Children’s Play Area.
    Café currently closed due to redevelopment. May have reopened by the event, but by no means guaranteed.

    Presentations: Approximately 12:15p.m. Please stay for presentation.

    Organiser/Planner/Controller: Katherine Brown <crosbybrownAThotmail.com>

    Safety: Orienteering is an adventure sport.  A risk assessment for the event will be prepared and identified risks mitigated. However, please be aware that participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety during the event. Please bring your own requirement of water.
    Please be aware of and considerate to dog walkers, small children and other park users.
    Part of the riverside path is closed owing to a landslide. The section is marked on the maps and courses have been planned to avoid it.
    Due to the redevelopment there are sections of the park that have temporary fencing, which will not be shown on the map, but maps will be available showing these areas. Any changes in the run up to the event will be posted on the website and on the day.