October Odyssey – Day 1 Druridge Bay

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  • NATO
  • National
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    • Date:
    • Location: Druridge Bay Country Park

    Incorporating NATO Club Championship

    Druridge Bay

    Venue Druridge Bay is one of Northumberland’s finest beaches offering a seven mile stretch of unspoilt coastline. The orienteering will be held on the sand dune system and within the country park where there is a lake, woodlands and meadows.

    Entries On SiEntries only. £10 per adult. £5 per junior. Closing date midnight 25 September.

    For beginner orienteers we recommend entering the White, Yellow, Orange or Light Green. See here for an explanation.

    Start Times 11:00 – 13:00. Timed punching start. 15 minute start blocks.

    Courses Close 14:30

    Hired Dibbers On the day dibber hire is available for £1 – choose this option with SIEntries. You’ll need to pick up your hired dibber from Enquiries before you go to the Start. If you lose the dibber you will be charged £20.

    Enquiries/Download Will be in the car park or close by.

    Club Championships NATO Club Champions will be declared from the results of this event. All club members present will be scored on their performance. You may enter any course of your choice which is given a difficulty factor. That is adjusted for age and speed. Click here for details. Champions will be declared for men and women in categories Young Junior (12-), Junior (16-), Senior (35-), Veteran (40+), Supervet (55+), Ultravet (65+), Hypervet (75+).

    Start Close to enquiries/download.

    Finish Close to enquires/download

    Facilities Toilets and cafe adjacent to the car park.

    Punching SPORTident electronic. SIAC contactless is enabled on all controls, except the Start and Finish.

    Courses and Maps

    CourseDistanceClimbScaleSides
    Brown9.9km70m1:75002
    Blue7.2km55m1:7500 2
    Green5.0km30m1:7500 1
    Short Green3.6km30m1:50001
    Light Green3.8km45m1:5000 1
    Orange2.7km30m1:5000 1
    Yellow2.4km25m1:5000 1

    All maps will be printed on A3 waterproof paper. Scale is either 1:5000 or 1:7500 as shown for each course, the north lines are at 300m intervals on all maps.

    Brown and Blue maps are printed on 2 sides, with the southern end of the courses shown as an outward and then separately a return leg; returning to side 1 of the map to finish the course.

    Loose control descriptions will be available at the start.

    Yellow course maps will be issued to competitors prior to them starting.

    Location: NZ 27205 99814 | Google | Bing | ///mingles.cobble.riddle These links will take you to the main car park where you will find enquiries download. If this car park is full come back out of the car park and about 50m further on there is a left turn into an alternative car park. The car parks are about one mile down a lane (15 mph speed limit) from the turn-off from the A1068 (brown tourist sign post “Druridge Bay Country Park”).

    Parking Free for one hour, £2 for two hours and £4 all day. Pay at the machine. Payment can be made with contactless bank card, coins or by using PayByPhone.

    Public Transport X18 from Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Leave the bus at Red Row. Approx 2km walk to the event. Walking route is here.

    Safety and Course Notes Full leg cover is required as there are brashings and brambles. A whistle must be carried. If the weather is poor competitors may be required to carry waterproofs. Some courses cross the lake on stepping stones. Parents are to make their children aware that if they want to cross the lake they are to use the stepping stones. Some areas of rough open contain patches of bracken that are not specifically marked.  There are a number of fences marked as uncrossable on the map; even if these are physically crossable you must not cross them – use gate, stiles or crossable features. In particular, there is one uncrossable fence on the NE side of the lake and the enclosed grassy area is marked out of bounds. Longer courses will need to go over crossable fences. All courses except yellow cross an access road/car park. First aid will be available at enquiries/download.

    Orienteering is an adventure sport.  A comprehensive risk assessment for the event has been prepared and identified risks have been mitigated, however please be aware that participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety during the event.

    Planner Willard Wright (NATO)

    Organiser Francis Shillitoe (NATO): fshillit@hotmail.com

    Controller: Allen Banister (NN)


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    NATO Championship Awards

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