Details of Challenge

Summary – main details

Headquarters: Haltwhistle Community Campus School

Event Distance: Planned as 26 miles, subject to any last minute route adjustments

Time allowed: Walking event - 11 hours. Finish control closes 19:00hrs

Registration: At the school - from 0700

Starts: 0800 Walkers from Market Place, 1000 Runners from tbc

Parking: Free at the school. Directions will be sent with final instructions.

Closing date: To be with the organisers by 11th May 2012

Entry fees: Pre-entries £15. No entries on the day, sorry

Age limits: Age 18 and over. Age 14-17 with responsible adult (see entry form)

Fees include: Certificates, event souvenir, water at checkpoints, hot/cold drinks at halfway, drinks and food after the event.

Event Conditions: See below. Sorry NO DOGS (lambing season).

General information

The Challenge is the closing event of the 19th Haltwhistle Walking Festival. The route has lots of variety, history and colour, especially in May. It starts and finishes in Haltwhistle. It includes: a section along the Hadrian’s Wall footpath; an exposed, moorland section of the Pennine Way; a crossing of the much photographed Lambley Viaduct before a low level return past Featherstone Castle along the South Tyne valley. It will be lambing time, so no dogs are allowed. There will be some variation on last year’s route, to be confirmed nearer the date.

The route uses public rights of way with traditional signposts and waymarkers. At key points there will be route marshals; and extra route signs in places. Basic navigational skills are necessary. At registration an outline route map with grid references will be provided. Participants will need to carry their own copy of Ordnance Survey, 1: 25000 Explorer map OL43, and a compass (suitably protected).

There are 2 public toilets en route; and at half-way in Greenhead Village Hall there will be a free soup kitchen, warm drinks, additional toilets and a fresh drinking water point. The North of Tyne Search and Rescue Team plans to have a unit on standby throughout the event.

The Challenge for walkers is to complete the course within 11 hours; runners will be hand-timed. There are no prizes for the fastest finishers. Starters will be provided with route descriptions and a control card that must be punched at compulsory control points. At main controls there will also be a trained First-Aider, time-recording (for safety reasons) and fresh supplies of drinking water.

To Enter: all entrants must complete the official entry form, see below – note age restriction.

The form may be completed online or by post (see full details for web booking here, and for postal bookings below.) Your entry is not complete until you have both paid and completed an entry form.

All entries will be acknowledged by post with a receipt for the fee.

Final details: travel advice, parking, registration point, etc will be notified to all pre-entries by post or email one week before the event.

Overnight accommodation: There are numerous opportunities for overnight stays locally - B&Bs, 3 Youth Hostels, local camping sites, hotels, etc. Please contact the Haltwhistle Tourist Information Centre, 01434 322022, or www.haltwhistle.org for details.

Organisers: Haltwhistle Walking Festival Ltd., 2. Tyne View, Haltwhistle NE49 9HJZ

Tel. 01434 321894, email: haltwhistlechallenge@yahoo.co.uk

Challenge Organiser: Mrs Marie Miller, Tel. 01434 321894

Click here for a printable version of the Challenge information and entry form, including Terms and conditions. (Use the back arrow in your browser to return to this page.) ________________________________________________________________________________

Haltwhistle Challenge for Walkers and Runners, Saturday 19th May 2012

Entry Requirements and Conditions

The general philosophy is that entrants take primary responsibility for their own safety during the event. All entrants take part at their own risk. Anyone taking medication for a condition that does not prevent them from taking part is responsible for carrying necessary supplies with them.

Who may enter?

Walkers: adults aged 18+, who are physically fit, have previous walking experience sufficient to complete 26 miles within 11 hours, and have at least basic navigational skills. Recent regulations require that walkers under 18 may take part only if they are aged 14+ on 19th May 2012; and they are accompanied throughout the event by a nominated adult (see application form).

Runners: adults aged 18+, who have previously completed an event such as a similar challenge event or a road race of at least 20+ miles. No entries from juniors will be accepted.

Clothing & Equipment

General: the weather in May has been known to vary from wet & windy with mud underfoot to hot & dry with risk of sunstroke. Be prepared for the unexpected. Participants need to be aware of the danger of hypothermia if injury or fatigue causes them to slow or stop. Body heat is lost very quickly while waiting for help to arrive. In the 2009 event on the most exposed part of the route, the weather changed in 10 minutes from pleasant sunshine to horizontal sleet and rain that lasted several hours. So, travel to the event prepared for all eventualities; upon arrival, check the latest information displayed at the Registration/Information point. The organiser may waive some conditions if the local weather report is for fine and settled weather.

Walkers: the minimum standard equipment includes: a rucksack; a survival bag or blanket; spare clothing; protective clothing that is both waterproof and windproof; map (OL 43) & compass; whistle; basic first aid kit; food & drink for consumption on the day; some food & drink reserved for emergencies. In hot weather, sunhats and protective sun creams are advisable.

The first aid kit and map may be shared between a group that is staying together. Stout footwear should be worn, preferably heavy or light boots according to the conditions. Be aware that some moorland sections are always wet. Walkers’ clothing and equipment will be subject to a visual check at registration and anyone appearing to be inadequately equipped for the conditions will be advised not to start. Random checks of rucksack contents may be carried out.

Runners: The same general conditions apply as for walkers, except that their minimum clothing requirements are those recommended by the Fell Runners Association: windproof whole body cover; other body cover appropriate for the weather conditions; map and compass suitable for navigating the course; emergency whistle; emergency food (since the event is classified as a long race). Runners will be issued with waterproof race numbers that must be worn.

Conditions of Participation

1. A control card issued at Registration will bear the name and event number of each participant and the mobile phone number of central control. The card must be carried throughout the event. Runners must also wear their race number.

2. Participants are responsible for ensuring that their control card is punched at each control point. The card, fully punched, will justify the issue of a certificate and completion time.

3. All participants must report to the Finish to avoid the organisers having to mount unnecessary searches for walkers/runners who are already safe.

4. All entrants who retire must report to the nearest Control point to arrange transport back to the Finish; they must in any case also report to the Finish Control to confirm their safe arrival there.

5. Participants may be asked to provide the registration number of the vehicle in which they have travelled and also the number of a mobile phone that they carry during the event.

6. Traffic Marshals will be stationed for participants’ safety at road crossing points. Walkers/runners must comply with the Marshals’ instructions on all controlled crossings. Any incidents of ill-discipline by participants could seriously jeopardise future events.

Declaration: (to be signed on entry form) I agree to follow the Requirements and Conditions of the Haltwhistle Challenge and accept the organisers’ decisions as final. I fully understand that I enter at my own risk and that landowners, tenants and the organisers are in no way responsible for any illness or injury to me or anyone in my charge nor for any property lost, stolen or damaged during or after the event.

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Click here for a printable version of the Challenge information and entry form, including Terms and conditions. (Use the back arrow in your browser to return to this page.)

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Entry form for the Haltwhistle Challenge, 2012

Before completion, please read General Information, Requirements & Conditions

ONE FORM FOR EACH APPLICANT, PLEASE

DATA PROTECTION ACT: Entrant’s details will be held temporarily in an electronic retrieval system, to be used only for the purpose of administering the event. If you are willing for us to contact you electronically with details of our future walking festivals and challenge events, please sign here

____________________________

Entrant’s Information: (your name as you would like to see it on your certificate)

First Name: ………………………… Surname: …………………………………….....

Walker/Runner (delete as appropriate) Age: (if under 18)………………………………….

Address: ………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

Post Code …………………….. Vehicle Reg. No (for the event)……………………

Telephone……………………… Email……………………………………………

Mobile number (in case of emergency during the event): ………………………………

Emergency contact name……………………………..Phone No………………………..

Fee: £15 for all pre-entries. Closing date: To reach us by Friday 11th May 2012

Postal entries: Declaration: I agree to follow the Requirements and Conditions of the Haltwhistle Challenge and accept the organisers’ decisions as final. I fully understand that I enter at my own risk and that landowners, tenants and the organisers are in no way responsible for any illness or injury to me or anyone in my charge, nor for any property lost, stolen or damaged during or after the event.

Signed ……………………………………………….Date …………………..

Name of person making payment: self/........................................

If someone else has made the payment for your booking, please enter their name. This will enable us to match payments with entries where multiple bookings are made.

To be completed on behalf of applicants under the age of 18:

I understand the Requirements and Conditions of entry for the Haltwhistle Challenge and give permission for the young person entered above to participate in the company of the below-mentioned adult entrant.

Signed (Parent/Guardian)……………………………………………….Date …………………..

Name of accompanying responsible adult: ( block letters) ……………………………………..

Either: Pay electronically via our booking agents, Bradsons AND complete an entry form online. We will send acknowledgements by post and final instructions by email, .

If you prefer to you can phone Bradsons on 01749 813899 to make your payment.

Or: complete and post this form and a cheque for £15 (made payable to Bradsons Event Services) to Bradsons Event Services, PO Box 1201, Wincanton, Somerset, BA9 8YD

All entry enquiries to Marie Miller, Tel. 01434 321894 or email haltwhistlechallenge@yahoo.co.uk

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Click here for a printable version of the Challenge information and entry form, including Terms and conditions. (Use the back arrow in your browser to return to this page.)

Click here if you wish to complete an online entry form

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