Northern Navigators Orienteering Club invite you to a local event at Hetton Lyons Country Park. All abilities catered for and newcomers welcome.

Location: Hetton Lyons Country Park is situated on the outskirts of Hetton-le-Hole. Follow the brown sign from the centre of Hetton, turn onto Downs Pit Lane, turn right into the park. Parking will be in the main car park adjacent to the visitor’s centre. Nearest Postcode: DH5 9DT, ‘what 3 words’ https://what3words.com/gifts.flips.shrug Grid ref: NZ 35990 47877

Registration/Enquiries: located in the car park and open from 11:15. Look out for the NN team on the grass to the south of the car park. Register at the table, collect your dibber; any other enquiries can be dealt with here. In case of rain, registration will operate from a car boot on the southern edge of the car park.

Entries: Entry on the day or pre-enter using the following link https://forms.office.com/r/ShubfRYyyk Pre-entry is appreciated so that map numbers can be more accurately estimated, however please pay on the day.

Fees: Seniors £3.00, juniors £1. 50. Groups welcome and charged as one senior/junior. Please bring the correct change.

Start: Starts from 11.30 -12.30. We are starting a little later to avoid clashing with the weekly cycling club. The start is located 200m to the north of the car park. The route will be taped from registration.

Punching: This event will use the SportIdent electronic system. SI cards will be available to borrow free of charge on the day, but competitors will be charged for any loss. Please bring your own SI card if you have one. There will be a sample control near registration for you to see the SI card in action and instruction in the use of the system will be available on the day. Lost or non-returned SI cards will be charged at £30. Control stations will be enabled for touch free punching (SIAC) but competitors will need to punch the start and finish control.

Map & Area: Scale 1:5000, 5m contours, A4, drawn by Dave Caudwell in 2004-5 and updated for this event by Julian Warren in June 2023. The map will be printed on waterproof paper.

Terrain: The area comprises a reclaimed colliery split by a wooded slope with a complex network of paths on the eastern side and grassy open areas around the lake on the western side. Undergrowth is high – full leg cover is advisable.

Safety Information: There is no through traffic in the park and junior courses have been planned to avoid the access road, however the route to the start will cross the access road and so care should be taken and juniors accompanied. There is evidence that some of the tracks have been used by horse riders; competitors should ensure they warn the riders of their presence well in advance if approaching from behind. All competitors that have registered to start must report to registration after they finish (even if they do not wish their score/time to be recorded). Competitors are welcome to carry a phone when they compete. There will be a first aid kit and first aiders at registration.

Control descriptions: descriptions will be on the map.

Facilities: Toilets will be available in the visitor’s centre, accessible from the parking. The café is also located here selling drinks, snacks and ices.

Dogs: Dogs will be allowed, but please clean up after your dog.

Thanks: Many thanks to Springboard who kindly gave us their permission to use the area, facilities and toilets.

Officials:

• Organiser – Debby Warren 
• Planner – Julian Warren