Woodhorn Duathlon 2012

It is with great regret that we have had to cancel the 2012 Woodhorn Duathlon due to unforeseen circumstances. Please keep an eye on the website over the coming weeks as the 2013 season will be published soon, and includes a couple of great new events including a welcome return to the beautiful Woodhorn Museum!

Woodhorn Museum & QE2 country park is the venue for our the Woodhorn Duathlon, and what a location it is.

For more than 80 years Woodhorn was a coal mine. Work to sink the first shaft began in 1894 and the first coal was brought to the surface in 1898. At its peak almost 2,000 men worked at the pit and 600,000 tons of coal was produced each year. Production stopped in 1981 but the shafts continued to be used for neighbouring Ashington Colliery until 1986. Woodhorn began its life as a museum in 1989 and following major redevelopment, reopened in October 2006. Today, the yellow Ashington brick buildings have protected, listed status. The site is recognised as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and it is the best surviving example of a late 19th/early 20th century colliery in the North East tradition.

Both runs (6k - 2 laps, 3k - 1 lap) will be on the footpath that winds it way through the Museum then onto the QE2 country park with its woodland and open grasslands that surround the QE2 lake. The 6k run passes the Start/Finish at the Museum at the end of the first lap, making this ideal for spectators to cheer everyone on to a great finish with a big smile.

The 24km "undulating" bike route will take you out towards Widdrington Village, before sweeping onto the coast road near Druridge Bay and then along to Cresswell village with some breathtaking views along the coast line. The Woodhorn Museum Duathlon is an ideal multi sport event for all abilities.