Newcastle NOY7 - Pelton (Pelton ...

Newcastle NOY7 - Pelton (Pelton ...
Event Date: 2026-08-09
At:
Club: Newcastle Orienteering Club
NEWCASTLE ORIENTEER OF THE YEAR # 7 - PELTON

The seventh event in the 2026 NOY series with courses for all abilities. Newcomers welcome!

DATE: Sunday 9 August 2026
STARTS: 9:30am to 11:30am. COURSE CLOSURE: 1:00pm. You must report back to the Finish/Download by this time.

DIRECTIONS: FROM CESSNOCK follow Wollombi Rd through Bellbird. Turn left in to Ellalong Rd to Pelton (and Ellalong), just after Wollombi Rd goes under a rail bridge. Travel 600m to the assembly area on the left (eastern) side of the road.
FROM THE SOUTH - travel to Freemans Waterhole roundabout and take Freemans Drive north which becomes Leggetts Drive. Turn left in to Sandy Creek Rd at Mount Vincent. Travel to Ellalong and turn right at the southwest corner of the school in to Rugby Rd, which becomes Ellalong Rd. Travel 3.8km to the assembly area on the right.

PARKING: Mostly at right angles on the eastern side of the road adjacent to, and south from, the assembly area. Some cars may fit on the western side of the road adjacent to a vacant block. Please don’t block resident’s driveways and park efficiently to optimise space.

ASSEMBLY/START/FINISH: The ASSEMBLY is on the eastern side of Ellalong Rd, just south of the private properties. The START is approx 200m from the Assembly, to the north along the east boundary of the private properties then east along a track (follow streamers). After punching the start unit follow the streamers 30m to the Start Triangle. The FINISH is 30m from the Assembly. Proceed to the Download after finishing.

MAP: “Pelton Fire Trail”. Scale 1:10 000. 5m contours. First drawn: Denis Lyons, 2006.
Undulating spur-gully with detailed watercourses, many small termite mounds and the occasional rock detail. The area is crossed by many tracks and trails and an old rail corridor.

NOTES:
- Much of the area (Werakata SCA) has had low regrowth from previous hazard reduction burning with large sections of slow and some walk. There is some spikey vegetation. There are many tracks which can provide route choice and links between the more open runnable areas.
- Some mapped termite mounds may have disappeared or be hard to see. There may be unmapped termite mounds.
- Some dumped rubbish (mapped as man-made item) may have been removed and there may be new unmapped rubbish.
- Only larger or prominent tree root mounds are shown. There may be unmapped tree root mounds.
- The main fire trail (Boundary Fire Trail) has recently been cleared on each side of the trail.
- Please respect the OUT OF BOUNDS areas at the north end of the old rail line (fenced with farm fencing).

SPECIAL MAP SYMBOLS: Brown triangle = termite mound; Green cross = tree root mound; Black cross = wreckage; Black circle = man-made item/rubbish.

SAFETY:
- Safety Bearing: South to the main (unsealed) road, then West to the sealed road and North to the assembly area.
- Motorbikes and 4WDs use the roads and tracks. Stay out of their way.
- Bushfire or Other Emergency: If there is a need to evacuate a horn will sound an emergency signal (5 blasts at 10 second intervals, repeated every 2 minutes) and all competitors must abandon their course, return directly to the Assembly area if safe to do so, and download.

COURSES: (Course / Length / Climb / No. of controls / Description)
VERY EASY / 2.1 km / 30 m / 11 / Controls along tracks.
EASY / 2.3 km / 45 m / 13 / Controls near to tracks and watercourses. Options to “cut across”.
MODERATE / 3.0 km / 60 m / 13 / Intermediate level navigation.
HARD 4 / 2.9 km / 70 m / 10 / Difficult navigation.
HARD 3 / 3.9 km / 85 m / 12 / Difficult navigation.
HARD 2 / 5.5 km / 110 m / 17 / Difficult navigation.
HARD 1 / 6.7 km / 120 m / 18 / Difficult navigation.

WATER: Please bring your own water. There is water at one control on the Hard courses.

ENTRY FEES: https://www.newcastleorienteering.asn.au/index.php/about/13-content/1388... . PRE-ENTRY BEFORE SUNDAY PREFERRED. Enter on the Day welcome but map availability for your preferred course cannot be guaranteed.
First timers also see How To Enter As a First Timer here - https://newcastleorienteering.asn.au/index.php/13-content/1411-how-to-en....

RESTRICTIONS and RULES: Dogs, smoking and fires are prohibited from ALL parking, assembly and competition areas.
All entrants should be familiar with ONSW Competitors Rules at https://onsw.asn.au/images/stories/admin/ONSW%20Manual%204.1%20Competito....

COURSE SETTER: Matt Brown. VETTER: Geoff Todkill.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
- Newcastle Orienteering Club acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community.
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

ASSISTANCE REQUIRED: Help with collecting controls from at least 5 people following event closure will be needed and very much appreciated.