Events Information

N2W Canoe Expedition: 7 days, 6 canoeists, 150 miles

A team of 6 canoeists are set to paddle more than 150 miles across England’s waterways from Northampton to Wales in February to promote the work of Longtown Outdoor Education Centre and to raise awareness and funds for the Northampton Hope Centre.  

The expedition aims to demonstrate the good work that the outdoor centre, based on the Welsh borders, does with young people from across the country whilst also raising awareness of the plight of homeless people in Northamptonshire.

The team includes 3 canoeists who originally hail from Northamptonshire. Recently appointed Operations Manager Lee Cave from Rushden, Trainee Instructor Tom Sharpe from Kingsthorpe and Friend of Longtown Laurianne Mackenzie (nee Ansell), from Cogenhoe.

The quest will see the team paddling on the Grand Union Canal, River Avon, River Severn and Severn Estuary to reach their goal in Wales.

The charity which is set to benefit from the adventure is Northampton Hope Centre. According to Mike Fawcett (Head of Longtown OEC), the charity was selected for two reasons:

First, during last year’s pilot 100 mile Herefordshire to Northampton paddle, the team came across some homeless men sleeping rough under a canal bridge in icy conditions and were struck by how tough and inhospitable that must have been. 

Secondly during a visit to the charity HQ when he met some of the Hope Centre users, Mike was struck by the fact that two of the young men had recently served their country in the Armed Forces.  At a time when so many young men and women are quite literally putting their lives on the line it seems fitting for the centre team to test themselves and give something back to the Northamptonshire community.

To find out more about the challenge please contact us.

Northamptonshire Primary Schools Orienteering Event - A great success!

Friday 13th November dawned with heavy rain but the day brightened up rapidly and most competitors managed to avoid the rain (but not the mud!).

350 pupils from schools across the county learnt map reading, navigation and team work skills whilst having lots of fun in the camp fields and woodland at Overstone Scout ground. Hot refreshments for competitors and marshalls alike were provided by the Healthy Food and Drink team. Competitors entered in 4 different standards of courses ranging from the easiest (starter) up to the hardest (green).  Most children attempted at least one course.  The results for the top ten times on each course can be downloaded below:

•  Nov Green Event results (Excel format 21kb)
•  Nov Red Event results (Excel Format 21kb)
•  Nov Blue event results (Excel format 22kb)
•  Nov Starter Event Results (Excel format 20kb)

‘Darrens Dash’ Charity running and walking event 2009

90 people took part in either the ‘Darrens Dash’ fell race, ‘Darrens Dare’ challenge walk or ‘Courthouse Canter’ family fun run at Longtown Outdoor Education Centre on Saturday 20th June 2009. The weather was kind and conditions were favourable for all the events.  This year they could see something from the top!

Matthew James of Hereford Couriers (who used to live in Longtown) set a new course record for the Darrens Dash by the narrowest of margins - 1 second – over the testing 5 mile course. Runners from as far afield as Portland, Cardiff and Northampton took part in the event. Places were also fiercely contested in the parallel event – the Courthouse Canter, a Family fun run on an undulating multi-terrain course in the centre grounds. Earlier in the day a good number of stout hearted walkers had completed the 7.5 mile Darrens Dare route and enjoyed the lovely views.

The event could not take place without the support of the following sponsors:

• A4 Office Products Ltd
• Hopes of Longtown,
• Tesco's Stores Ltd
• Pontrilas timber
• Snow White Laundries
• Wilkinson Hardware Store
• DBC Food Service Ltd
• Neil Powell Catering
• GP Haines & Co. Ltd
• Black Mountain Mineral Water Company
• Beeline Ltd.

A lovely family atmosphere prevailed with a bouncy castle, bran tub, ice cream stall and other stalls. Thanks to all those people from the local community who helped to make the event such a success.  More than £700.00 has been raised for St. Michael’s Hospice and the  Longtown O.E.C. Bursary Fund.

Full results can be viewed on-line at http://www.runnerswebuk.com/

Results:

Darrens Dash 2010

Please note that we are holding the 2010 event on the earlier date of 5th June 2010.