Barnard Castle Urban Event

[Karen]

Is this a record? An urban event without controversy and lots of nope discussion?

Perhaps that’s because CLOK put on a first class event. Parking, registration, start and finish were all in the grounds of the spectacular Bowes Museum, which also provided a safe area for the junior courses. My course did a quick tour of the grounds then across the terrace, down into the parterre and out through the impressive front gates for a few legs in the town before a run under the castle walls and round the kiddies paddling pool. Back past the castle to the control under the bridge, then up into the alleyways and yards of the old town shopping area. A devious route took us through the back gate of the museum grounds for a disorientating circuit of the car park, round the museum again and down into the parterre. The final control set up the best run in ever – sprinting the length of the parterre with a route choice right or left of the fountain!

Being fairly new to urban events, I made lots of mistakes, but they were due to me not reading the map and descriptions accurately, rather than any ambiguity in the mapping.
Lots of variety, friendly locals, spectacular finish arena – the event deserved a bigger entry and would merit a higher profile event in future.
Thank you CLOK

[denbydale]

Agreed - and we were lucky with the weather - Absolutely 'tipped' it down whilst we were having a post race coffee in the Bowes Museum cafe

[Karen]

Yes, I did a bit of shopping in town after my run and the control collectors were getting soaked!

[haloite]

We too (two - Mrs.Haloite and I) enjoyed the event also! There's plenty of scope to extend the map as well with further housing to the north, you could even cross the river? If you could get the Castle, or any of the School grounds that would also open up new opportunities. As to the event itself - well, the "A" course anyway - fast and furious with hardly a let up, a Sprinty start in Bowes Museum grounds, a couple of devious (although accurately described) control sites, a good 1km plus route choice leg and another Sprinty style finish back inside the Museum grounds - perfect!

[frog]

I used to live in County Durham. Barnard Castle sounds great for an urban event. I have fond memories of CLOK night streetos in the early 90s.

[ba-ba]

I'm informed Routegadgets will be up at some point - webmaster's been at the LAMM!
Thanks for the course comments - not crossing the A67 where it's busiest (town centre) limited B and C a bit compared to earlier drafts, so I'm glad the compromises were well received.
I don't know by how much the town expands to the north, but access to the castle and nearby schools would add scope for future events. Glad the weather held off... for the runners at least! I spent a couple of minutes above the bridge and enjoyed watching a few people falling into the trap (apparently one person 'now knows what that [underneath] symbol means at least!')
One of the best things about planning was that I *had* to spend a weekend in the lakes before visiting Barny on the way back to Teeside!
nic (planner)