Needles and Knolls

🎯 Day 1: Double Sprint

• Two sprint-distance races in complex terrain (not urban)
• A small, complex area mapped at 1:4000
• Final result is the two sprint times added together
• Open, Vets, Super Vets, Junior classes available (level D)
• Start window 10:30-11:30 and 12:00-13:00, you will run two courses with 90 minutes between start times
• Car park location [900m, 50m descent to assembly]

🎯 Day 2: Middle Distance

• Fast terrain above the white cliffs of the needles
• Range of colour coded courses (level C, SCOA league)
• Start window 10:30-12:30
• Car park location [adjacent to assembly]

🎫 Entry Information

• Limited entry on the day until maps run out
• SportIdent electronic punching system
• Entry limit of 200 competitors. If we are approaching the limit we may consider increasing it. We are a small club, so please enter early to help us with this and consider offering to help to support a greater number of entries.

⛴️ Ferries (and discounts)

• Vehicle ferries are charged per vehicle regardless of number of passengers, so team up with your clubmates!

Red Funnel

• Book via this link for a 15% discount on vehicle travel and reduced foot passenger rates available 4-6 September
• Vehicle ferry Southampton-East Cowes
• Foot Passenger only ferry Southampton-West Cowes (Red Jet)

WightLink

• No specific discount but try the 20% discount for other events happening the same weekend
• Car ferries Portsmouth-Fishbourne and Lymington-Yarmouth
• Passenger ferry Portsmouth-Ryde

HoverTravel

• Hovercraft Portsmouth-Ryde

Quay2Quay

• Cheaper passenger ferry Lymington-Yarmouth

🚗 Parking

• Saturday car park [google maps] is a field with no facilities. All facilities at assembly (900m, 50m descent). Approach from the east if possible.
• Sunday car park [google maps] is a field adjacent to assembly with facilities available at The Needles Landmark Attraction

🚌 Public transport

• Combined rail/boat tickets are possible with destinations Ryde Pierhead, West Cowes, East Cowes, Yarmouth, or any station on the Island Line.
• Southern Vectis runs the island's bus network and Google maps public transport directions usually have the buses correct.
• On Saturday, the bus stop to use is the Buddle Inn. This is serviced by Bus 6 arriving at 09:30. From there it's around 1km to assembly [google walking directions]. The road leads along the edge of the competition area. Do not leave the road.
• On Sunday, the bus stop to use is Alum Bay. This is serviced by Bus 7 arriving at 09:45 then every 30 minutes. The bus stop is adjacent to parking and assembly.

⛺ Camping

Event campsite

• 🔗Kingston Goat Farm 📍Map 📞07530 867318 ✉️simone.dickens@gmail.com
  A very basic eco-campsite available exclusively to orienteers from 4th-6th September at a cost of £8 per person per night, maximum 50 people. Facilities are composting toilets, cold water, and camp fires are allowed! Book by calling or emailing Simone.

Other recommended campsites

• 🔗Grange Farm 📍Map 📞01983 740296 ✉️grangefarmholidays@gmail.com
• 🔗Compton Farm 📍Map 📞01983 740215 ✉️info@comptonfarm.co.uk
• Pitch up is a great site for discovering further temporary campsites, popular on the Isle of Wight.

🏠 Indoor accommodation

• Listings can be found on Airbnb, Vrbo, Holiday cottages and other popular sites for stays.
• Many commercial accommodation providers have ferry discounts negotiated along with your stay.

🎉 Saturday evening social

• Join us on Saturday evening for buffet food, bar, ceilidh, and the chance to learn more about WightO's 50 year history and meet those who were around when the club was founded!
• To be held at Calbourne Village Hall [google map]
• Tickets cost £12.50
• Tickets can be purchased through racesignup
• Limit of 50 tickets

🍺 Pub lunch on Saturday

• The Buddle Inn is offering a 10% discount on food and drink to competitors [google map] [website]
• To help the pub with numbers, please register your interest on this very short Google Form (this does not commit you to anything, it is to help the pub with planning)
• Easiest to walk there direct from assembly after your second run then go back to your car later. The car park will be open until late
• Just show your entry confirmation email to get the discount
• If at least 80 people want food, they will put on a special "beer menu" with cheaper options for simple food like burgers, hot dogs etc. would be available.

🛥️ Needles pleasure cruises

• Needles pleasure cruises will be offering a discount on production of your race map after Sunday's race

👟 Parkrun

• Medina parkrun starts at 9am in Newport on Saturday
• Parking and start outside Medina leisure centre
• If you have a car you should be fine with late start times. If you are using public transport, drop us an email and we will try to arrange your first run outside of the standard start block so that you can arrive at 1130 on bus 6
• Please do your best to make your orienteering start, but if you miss it don't worry, we'll slot you in somewhere!
• Occasionally the location moves if there is a big event where Parkrun usually is. Check the Medina parkrun news page for any last minute updates

⛰️ Isle of Wight Fell Series

• Make a week of it and stay until 12/13 September for The Isle of Wight Fell Series
• A series of three races based in Ventnor
• Held in memory of Eddie Leal & Brenda Lawson. Local legend Eddie (Founding Secretary of the Fell Runners Association in 1969) was the Founding Chairman and Course Planner of WightO as well as the instigator of IoW Fell Series (1995) and the IoW Marathon in 1957

St Catherine's Point

The Needles