Wigan Phoenix Running
Club
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WELSH CASTLES RELAY 14th and 15th JUNE 2008 ADVICE AND INFORMATION Pre-Race Briefing It is essential that team officials meet for the race briefing at Arfon Leisure Centre, Caernarfon at 9:15 am. It is here that we issue your teams marshalling bibs and inform you of any last minute race changes. You are strongly advised to send your first three runners and ‘officials’ ahead by private car, or avail yourselves of the spartan accommodation that has been arranged at Arfon Leisure Centre from 10.00 pm Friday, until 8.00 am Saturday. The start time at the gates of Caernarfon Castle is 10:30 am on Saturday. On each leg The Starter will call out the team names; each runner must make themselves known by giving his/her team number and squad number, you should write this on the back of their number. This information is essential so please ensure your runners have this detail beforehand. If you are late we will not delay the start and your team will have to miss the stage and incur a time penalty (Race Rule 1). Route Finding and Marshalling With the exception of the ‘Off Road’ stages, there is no lead vehicle. It is the runners’ responsibility to know the route, but there should be marshals at all points where there is a need to cross a road as indicated in the Route Description section. We advise a recce of their stage by each runner. Every attempt will be made to put prominent route markers at significant locations. The primary role of the marshals is to ensure the safety of the runners, in particular at the designated crossing points. Under no circumstances must runners cross a road (i.e. from left to right or vice-versa) without the direction of a marshal. Camaraderie It is particularly important that the spirit of the event is observed; for instance pacing in order to improve a competitive performance is not allowed, but running with a colleague who is in trouble at the rear of the field, to give moral support, is permitted. Cheering and giving drinks is much appreciated by all runners. Runners must not be given drinks from moving vehicles and not at all on stage 8 (Water stations are provided). The running lineThe roads will not be closed. Therefore, for the safety of the runners and other road users, runners must run in accordance with the directions described in The Castles Reference Book and as instructed by the race marshals. This may only deviate if local circumstances dictate. Under no circumstances should runners make up their own minds on which side of the road to run. You will notice that this normally means keeping to the left-hand side of the road, but, to repeat, follow the directions given by the marshals. Above all else do not cross the road anywhere other than when directed. Any runner who is observed by an official to have transgressed this rule will receive an automatic five minute time penalty.NB. This will be a cumulative penalty; we don't want runners to shrug their shoulders, consider the damage done and cut more corners to make the time up. Two separate reports mean ten minutes; three reports runner disqualified.
Late finishersThe cut-off times are designed so that even the slowest runners can get inside them. Timekeepers will always try to stay at a changeover until all the runners are in, but cannot remain long after the cut-off time. If a runner appears to be in difficulty the safety vehicle official may request that the runner withdraws from the race. Any runner who insists on continuing against this advice will be reported to the umpires and will be treated as if they had not started the leg. If a runner fails to finish, the cut-off time will be applied, but it is the responsibility of the team to collect their runner. Inform either the Timekeeper or Race Coordinator if a runner withdraws, before the finish of a stage to avoid unnecessary delay.
Health and SafetyThere will be a safety vehicle following each leg advising other road users that a race is in progress. There are also two fully equipped Red Cross vehicles staffed by medically skilled personnel. In the event of a runner or a supporter requiring medical attention telephone the RED CROSS for medical attention giving the incident detail and location. Please remain near this location to await the arrival the medical crew. Should you fail to make contact with the Red Cross telephone the Race Co-ordinator. If the incident is of a more serious nature firstly dial 999 and then inform the RED CROSS medical crew of your action. RED CROSS Tel. Nos. 07720 038610 or 07843 526500
At the end Shortly after the lead runners finish in Cardiff Castle the most significant results are computed to allow the award ceremony to commence. The awards will be presented by the First Minister of the Welsh Assembly Government and senior officials of Air Products and Corus. So please put as strong a runner as possible on this stage so that they do not miss these presentations.
STAGE MAPS Follow the link below to download details of all twenty stages of the Welsh Castles Relay race
PLEASE NOTE.
To the non newcomers to this event there are changes to the following stages:
p Stage 15 – Drovers to Brecon 1. The start has been moved one mile ahead to the ‘Red Kite Centre’. 2. The route changes course at 8.6 miles p Stage 16 – Brecon to Beacons Reservoir 1. At 0.7 mile after the start the route has changed to avoid the roundabout on the A470/A40 junction.
p Stage 19 – Navigation Park to Caerphilly 1. The route changes course at 7.6 miles to avoid Gypsy Lane.
Route, Mileages, Stage Records, Cut-Off times and Estimated Timetable
Route SummaryDay 1
Route SummaryDay 2
Prizes and Awards The Castles is primarily a team event, with the main objective to be the team with the quickest time to run the race. But individual achievement is also recognised. Team awards
% First open team % First ladies team % First veterans team % First Business House team
% First team: Kings of the Mountains (open to all categories) % First ladies team: Queens of the Mountains (open to Ladies category only) % First veterans team: Monarchs of the Mountains (open to Veterans category only)
Note. No team may win more than one prize. For example, in the event that the first team is a ladies team, then the ladies prize will be awarded to the second ladies team.
Individual awards
Each individual completing a stage will receive a goody bag. This will contain a commemorative T-shirt, and anything else that the organisers can cobble together.
1. All stages ? Stage winner: A commemorative sweat shirt ? First lady: A commemorative sweat shirt ? First veteran: A commemorative sweat shirt
2. Mountains stages ? Stage winner: A miner’s lamp ? First lady: A miner’s lamp ? First veteran: A miner’s lamp
The rule about multiple prizes again applies. Also the first veteran may be male or female.
3. Jeff Wood Award This award is presented to the first veteran (male or female from any team category) over the age 50 on a specific stage. This year that will be: Stage 15. Drovers to Brecon.
KINGS, QUEENS AND MONARCHS OF THE MOUNTAINS
There are six stages to this competition and the winning team will be the one with the lowest aggregate time over these six stages. The routes chosen can be guaranteed to give you advantageous views and maybe just a little satisfaction. This competition should make an exciting challenge and it will enable the clubs with less strength in depth to get amongst the awards. The six stages are:
1. Criccieth to Maentwrog Stage 3 ) ) 2. Dolgellau to Dinas Mawddwy Stage 7 ) Saturday June 14th ) 3. Llanfair Caereinion to Newtown Stage 10 )
4. Newtown to Llanbadarn Fynydd Stage 11 ) ) 5. Builth to Drovers Arms Stage 14 ) Sunday June 15th ) 6. Brecon to Beacons Reservoirs Stage 16 )
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