Venue Whitespots Country Park
Date Sat, 7th Sep 24
Starts 12:00 to 15:30
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Event Description
| Date | Saturday 7 September 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Venue | Whitespots Country Park | ||||||||||||
| Event Format | Autumn Trophy (Club Event) | ||||||||||||
| Online Entry | . |
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| SI Entries |   |
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| Online Entry closes | Midnight, Monday 2 September 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Registration, Start and Finish | TBC | ||||||||||||
| Price |
Sociable group / family fee where all are going round a course together – entry fee is per required number of maps – one entry = one map. *Member of BOF Clubs only. Get Annual Membership today and experience the membership benefits including the member rate! There is no fee to hire an SI card if required, but lost cards are charged at £30. |
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| Terrain Summary | Whitespots is a former lead mining area on the edge of the Clandeboye Estate. Mining ended around 1910 but reminders of the industry can still be seen today in the form of chimneys, mine shafts – which are all fenced off – and spoil heaps.
The area consists of forest and open areas with a lot of gorse. The area has an extensive path network due to bike trials being held here. Speed will not be your friend! This area was previously a dumping site so be aware of any pieces of metal / scrap material in the forested area. Further to the north is the Clandeboye Estate which is mostly forested with varying levels of runnability. The area was newly mapped in March 2023. Please note that large areas of ferns have been marked as “open area with scattered trees”. Crags are not large features but have been mapped and are consistent throughout the area. It is very muddy underfoot and, even if there is a dry spell before the event, wear appropriate footwear for slippery conditions. Autumn leaf fall means that some paths may not be so easy to follow in the wooded areas. |
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| Previous Maps/Routegadget | This area was last used for NI Colour Series event in November 2023. Routegadget map and courses can be found here: https://www.lvo.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#524 | ||||||||||||
| Course Notes | 🟡 Yellow – km + m climb – along paths with more route choice decisions. Appropriate for newcomers and younger juniors with some experience. 🟠 Orange – km + m climb – skills needed to navigate away from paths and more route choice decisions, some compass skills are expected. Aimed at novice adults and improving juniors. 🟢 Light Green – km + m climb – this course requires confident map reading and compass skills. 🔵 Short Blue – km + m climb – technically and physically demanding course. |
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| First Aid and Safety | Watch out for other park users, including dog walkers, bikers and golfers.
There will be a first aid and a qualified first aider available at registration. Registration is also a safe place for lost children to wait. Please do not come to the event if you are unwell. Please bring and carry any medication you might need, especially inhalers and EpiPen’s. If you come across an injured or ill person, please stop, help and get further help. There will likely be qualified first aiders on the course who can stop to provide support. All participants must return to download, whether they complete the course or not. This is to account for all competitors, ensuring everyone’s safe return. Courses will close and controls collected in at 3pm sharp. If you are still out on the course at this time return to finish and download immediately. |
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| Kit requirements | Full body cover is mandatory.
A whistle (emergency alert is 6 loud blasts per minute) is mandatory. A waterproof jacket may also be mandatory if the organisers decide the weather requires one, so bring one along just in case. |
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| Parking | The parking will be in the Whitespots Country Park which is signposted from the Newtownards / Bangor dual carriageway – A21. This park is beside the Somme Centre BT23 7PH. Please park responsibly. | ||||||||||||
| Toilets | Unfortunately there will be no toilets at the park. There are public toilets in Mill St, Newtownards and Abbey St, Bangor. |
Location
Whitespots Country Park
Bangor Road
Newtownards
BT23 7PH
Volunteers
To volunteer at this event please email volunteer@lvo.org.uk. You can find information on each role here as well as the current list of volunteers.