Open Adventure - Putting the Adventure into Racing

Parking is a 5min walk from registration / briefing

19.00 Registration opens
21.30 Registration closes

We highly recommend that you register on the Friday night - Saturday is very tight for timing, unless you are ultra organised you have problems getting ready in time.

At registration we will issue the maps with controls already pre-printed. Unlike the Open12 there will be healthy number of "no-controls" to keep you guessing.

If you have your own boat or a necky do remember you need to bring along your BCU certificate, unless we have seen it prior to this event. There is no exception, please do not put us or yourselves in an awkward position on the day.

Please note timings for this day will be updated on 23rd July

07.15 Registration opens
08.00 - 09.00 bikes to be handed in at parking area with race number affixed before race briefing
09.00 Race Briefing mandatory for all competitors
09.30 - 10.15 boats and kit boxes to be handed in (location TBC)
10.30 Coach Transfer to start
12.00 Event starts

11.00 - 13.00 Competitors finish
13.00 Food availble
13.30 Prize giving

[23rd July] OK last update before the event - just want to highlight a few points here rather than make a lengthy briefing. You will be in England, which means you can not cycle on footpaths (yes we know you can in Scotland), likewise private tracks - black dashed lines and white roads. If you have any questions about an intended route on the event please ask..

Kit boxes will not be at all the transitions and we can imagine scenarios where you will want to start a stage and the map will be in the box, likewise kit for special stages. So when you get the control descriptions on Saturday morning please read them carefully to make sure you have the right kit at the right time.

John Allen blagged this photo whilst putting out the mountain bike controls, another one for locals to debate over its location.

On that note the picture in the newsletter of the gorge is not at Hulme Park, Hethpool, or Hareshaw Burn, or have we taken a picture in the Lakes to fox people. Its not in Scotland either, and yes it is real. You have till you get the control descriptions to guess the location for £100 worth of kit from Anquet, Sea to Summit and Adventure Medical Kits - and yes a 6 figure grid reference will suffice.

Look forward to seeing you this weekend.

[20th July] As you will notice we have posted a timetable above, which shows a pretty busy schedule. Those of you who have competed with us before will know we run a pretty tight ship with times - so when it says 09.00 briefing expect the briefing to start at that time.

Also listed above are the prizes - around £4500 worth of kit to be had at this event, so be sure to leave a little bit of space in the boot when going home. Be great to hear your stories for spot prizes although if you are not at prize giving fraid we won't be sending them out - so you need to be there.

Each year at the Open24 we do have a few competitors (surprisingly a very small number) - pull out during the event. We don't have a taxi service running - most often the fit competitor cycles back to registration to collect the car and comes back to pick up his / her's partner. In essence what we are saying is if you pull out we won't immediately transport you direct to the finish. You can however travel with our crew to the next transition etc until they find their way back at the end of the event on Sunday.

Only need to see a few more certificates for the weekend - check the entry list to see if you are one that needs to send it in.

Just one more general comment - this is arguably one of the wildest Open24's we have ever run. At times the distances to help could be considerble, and phone reception is at best often sketchy. As you sort out your kit this week just think carefully about what you are packing. It maybe wise just to chuck in a extra thin fleece or waterproof top, until you see the maps / forecast.

At registration please also bring your harness / karabiners / sling with you. You will be expected to put on your harness unaided and our technical support crew will check your sling / karabiners.

Right think thats enough for tonight.. will be back again later in the week.

[16th July] OK few bits of important info to get your head around. First of all if you want food after the event then please login and order as in the event updates below. We have to submit numbers first thing Monday. Likewise any other extra kit (malibu 2's, bouyancy aids, etc) need to be ordered by midnight Sunday.

If you have family also wanting to enjoy the food please wing us an email (at the mo you can only add 2 meals) and pay Lisa at registration. To get friends and family in to the Castle grounds we will need to issue them with a tyrek strap so security staff know they are part of the event. If requested we will pass these to you at registration. Likewise you will be given a strap in exchange for your bib at the finish so you can pop back to your car before prize giving and still get back in to the castle.

OK map below shows where registration (house icon) is and the parking during the event (P).

We won't have access to the hall for registration at the finish, so please don't leave any vehicles here - use the private road marked on the map.

 

View in a larger map click here

Camping - First of all this is for Friday night only, the gate to the field will be locked on Saturday morning. There is running water in the field (not just the river at the bottom), there are no facilities so if you have an overnight urge to download please check in at the Alnwick Rugby Club campsite £5 or £10 pending how big your tent is.

If you have family wanting to camp we would suggest a couple of the local campsites as they will have showers and other facilities - Proctors Steads, Dunstan Hill and Alnwick Rugby Club (no need to book here just turn up).

The event - is a little simpler than the Open12, however logistics wise its a challenge to get your kit / bikes / boats in the right place before you. The detail is still being worked out - but what is clear is that I don't think we can avoid you carrying non-cleated shoes whilst cycling and your climbing helmet whilst on foot. All will be clear in the control descriptions.

A few more 2 star certificates have found their way to Open Adventure - keep them coming, can scan and send via email or copy by post.

Remember get some good sleep next week, a good number of teams blow it before they reach the start line by being tired from late nights polishing bikes and repacking kit boxes.

[12th July] The bit of information you have been after - where is the Open24? Well best checkout www.alnwickcastle.com this is where the finish is. You might recognise it if you are a Harry potter officiodo as this is the place they played quidditch.

Food and prize giving is in the Great Hall after the event. So if you want to get the full experience then best login and add the post race food (see update below).

Before it gets too late - please check the entry list. If a red ! appears against your entry it means we have not seen your kayak ticket (this is only for own boats and necky's). Be great if you could send us a copy. We are very tight on this - so please don't turn up expecting to blag it, it will result in an awkward conversation.

Kit - will update kit list but just to clarify you will need a head torch (it was not on kit list).

Will post update later this week on camping / location of registration and any updates.

[1st July] Well with the Open12 having passed us by don't be under any illusion that we have not been working hard on the Open24. Have updated the kit list, this should not change beyond an extra top, etc.

We will put this in here before we get the awkward emails. If for whatever reason you can not make the Open24 please read our terms and conditions before sending us an email.

Housekeeping - there will be free camping available on the Friday night, we are talking to the venue to see if we can get this extended for those who want to stay on Sunday night as well. No promises as yet.

As with last year timing will be tight on the Saturday morning. If you can make it on the Friday night we would recommend it - the race will be a far more enjoyable experience.

Post race food - once you know where the finish is, this will make a little more sense. But in summary the finish venue can provide food (very nice at that) - for this event if you want to get want to get some of that down your neck it will be an extra £8 a person. We have added this as an item on the Open24 - so login here - click MY RACEs - under the Open24 - HIRE EQUIPMENT/ EXTRAS.

We need to get numbers to them a week before the event. So if you want you can leave it till you know the venue. Will also post a menu on here.

On that note much of the event is spectator friendly - we have added an option to get an extra map and a set of control descriptions for friends and family who want to watch you on the event (please note they cannot transport any kit or offer you any assistance). Note each pair will get 2 sets of maps and 2 sets of control descriptions.

Right we will be back soon, will update event details page in the next week or so with times for the weekend.

 

 

To check out the web pages on the 2008 event take a look here.
To check out the web pages on the 2007 event take a look here.
To check out the web pages on the 2006 event take a look here.

For the 2008 Race report and photos click here. (will open in new window)
For the 2007 Race report and photos click here. (will open in new window)
For the 2006 Race report and photos click here. (will open in new window)
For the 2005 Race report and photos click here. (will open in new window)