Route Map and Elevation Profile Map Key: Games 100 event route line in red V icons – London 2012 Games Venues: Olympic Park/Stadium; Greenwich Park; The O2; Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich; Box Hill Road Cycle Race route C icons – Checkpoints: see list F icons - LDWA Founders sites: Tanners Hatch YH, Blatchford Memorial Seat; Steer's Field; Blatchford Down; Peaslake Old Post Office; Pitch Hill Toposcope Points of interest listed in route order Route Statistics: 160.6Km (100.4 miles) 2,993m (9,820ft) ascent 251m (823ft) maximum height LDWA Games 100 - Summary Report closed in, London skyline views. These routes are an important resource for many fledgling long distance walkers to cut their teeth. The 2012 100 was the LDWA's 40th such event and it had three themes: With a seemingly relatively benign route, one aim had been to enable as celebrating the LDWA's 40th year; and marking the remarkable conjunction in many entrants as possible to complete, and so a lot of support was provided 2012 of the Olympic Games coming to the UK and HM The Queen's Diamond at some 20 facilities, including the two HQs in schools at Hackney Wick and Jubilee. The 100-mile route started next to the main Olympic Park, and en Windsor and the breakfast checkpoint in a third school at Holmbury St Mary. route passed four other London 2012 Games venues. It then swung south into As ever these were staffed by LDWA groups and supporters who showed the chalk and greensand Surrey Hills, visiting five sites that remember two of their usual patience and care for increasingly bedraggled walkers, while the LDWA's Founders, Alan Blatchford and Chris Steer, to finish with a sight contending with the occasional plumbing issue as village halls' modest of Windsor Castle just as the nation celebrated the Royal Jubilee on the systems were sorely tested, and groups were thankful for good support from extended Bank Holiday weekend. the halls' hirers. Hopefully these minor crises were not too apparent to the Little did anyone expect the British weather to play its usual Bank Holiday customers! It is always a source of amazement and great credit to the tricks and even Royal influence and 60 years notice could not provide the volunteers that these disparate groups assemble each year to work hoped-for conditions. So it was that what might have been a relatively benign harmoniously, just as if they did it every day! route by 100 standards became a real challenge, with heavy rains, sodden A majority of entrants elected to use the buses across from Windsor to the ground and treacherous surfaces especially on the chalk hills. Hypothermia start, and it was with some trepidation that we waited for the seven coaches to was now a real risk, while a week earlier heat stroke might have been more arrive, but they did, and on time, partly thanks to the careful planning and likely! And to cap it all, just after the last walker finished, the sun came out and organisation of the Windsor parking, some offsite. the unseen views returned! Good armies march on their stomachs and it was as well that plenty of In keeping with these event themes, the walkers were set off by Rutfur supplies had been ordered and that there were local stores nearby for the Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, one of the Olympic Host very few necessary top ups! In keeping with the sustainable aims of the Boroughs. He thanked the LDWA for highlighting the fine walkways in his LDWA and the 2012 Games, the first checkpoint was operated almost entirely borough that would soon be used by Games spectators as they walk to the by public transport, the crew coming by train and the groceries supplied direct Games venues. Before the Mayor, the LDWA's third and surviving Founder, by the helpful shop opposite! After this walkers crossed the Thames, but Barbara Blatchford, spoke recalling the early 100s, remarking on the enduring underneath, in a foot tunnel, perhaps the first time a 100 has gone below sea LDWA ethos of the personal challenge and the role of volunteers. Walkers level, on ironically maybe the driest section of the route. were soon away, led by Ann Sayer, into Victoria Park, and across onto the Regents Canal, with the first 20 miles or so offering much more waterside and The success of 100s also depends on reliable communications about retirees park walking, along with woods and commons. Perhaps this was surprising for and for temporarily lost souls, and RAYNET were on hand as usual with their those not familiar with London's main walking routes, with their green calm and good humoured, while well organised and equipped teams, these corridors, and their heritage interest that here included the new Cutty Sark, linking well with the event's own transport, tracking and sweep teams. Maritime Greenwich, the Thames Barrier and, before the weather Professional first aiders were on hand at the breakfast and finish and they had Organising Committee: a couple of tricky incidents to deal with, but very fortunately no significant injuries among the walkers, despite the slippery surfaces on the trails, though Checkpoints/Marshals/Sweeps: Neil Higham by the end there were a lot of sore feet! Finally at the finish, a special menu of 'Jubilee dishes' was on offer, with a brief unscheduled appearance by HM and Checkpoints: David Yorston, Lynn Yorston Kate at the servery (or was it!). Earlier, en route near Biggin Hill, the famous wartime airfield, a Spitfire was performing overhead, and several checkpoints Catering: Janet Chapman sported Jubilee bunting, while a few brave street parties were seen, just some Eastern HQ Coordinators: Paula Buckton, Gordon Parker of the finishing touches so carefully planned by the organisers and groups. Western HQ Coordinator: John Elrick Every 100 involves several years of planning and each has its special features. With the urban nature of the first section and inevitably more road 100s Coordinator/Risk Assessment: Abigail Elrick crossings than usual, both a team of route marshals and a lot of special signage were used to make the walkers' journey easier and safer, based on a Entries: Norman Corrin detailed risk assessment. There was even a small support team, the 'Task Force' that included two people cycling ahead of the leaders to deal with Equipment: Chris Baines Holmes unexpected incidents, fortunately none! There were contingency plans for a Marshals Walk: David Yorston, Lynn Yorston wide variety of incidents. Walkers may be surprised that permission is needed for access by large events for most of the route to Greenwich, though for Organiser: Paul Lawrence individuals or small groups, no consents to walk are needed. With so many very much larger events that weekend, gaining all of these permissions was Merchandise Lynn Yorston tortuous and delayed. Similarly the last section through the Great Park to Windsor had an event consent for daylight access only, though those having Publicity: Linda Ashwell to use the night route took it with good humour, or were past caring, except if Risk Assessment/Permissions/Signage/Event Task Force: Colin Saunders splashed by passing cars! The route description was detailed, and it was checked, amended, verified and monitored by a team of route wardens Route Editor: Tony Gorman feeding back to the route editor. Secretary: Douglas Robinson As appropriate in the 2012 Olympic Games year, the event leaves a few legacies. The 100s template website is being adopted by future 100 events Transport/RAYNET Liaison: Nigel Schofield and is expected to soon offer a platform that organisers of other smaller LDWA events can utilise. There is also enough walkers' signage to last many Treasurer: Kathy LoRaso more 100s! Some may be motivated to come back and see more of London in the best way, on foot, and the route will become an LDP. However the legacy many will remember is completing the 100-mile walk and, even if not getting all the way or if doing vital work supporting or marshalling, now being able to say 'I was there'. Paul Lawrence, Organiser Route Summary promoted routes. These are the Green Chain Walk and the Capital Ring; both join suprisingly green islands of parks, commons and ancient woods, passing Eltham's Palace, and its nearby College, where Chariots of Fire Olympian Eric The 100-mile event route linked up many of the major London 2012 Games Liddell went to school. The event then headed out into the country to touch on venues, together with sites with Royal significance, and not least it visited the London Loop and pass near to the home of Charles Darwin, itself a World several sites in Surrey that have long been associated with the LDWA's Heritage Site applicant, and walk in Darwin's footsteps across his meadows. Founders, since its formation in 1972. As a 'route with a purpose' the walk made an arc south around London, passing through strongly contrasting Reaching Surrey, the route now included some of the downland ridge landscapes, and taking in many landmarks and heritage sites, themselves traversed by the North Downs Way national trail, to reach Box Hill, soon to be well worth a more leisurely return visit. part of the most challenging section of the route of the 2012 Olympic Road Cycle Race that used its switchback zigzags. Now in the Surrey Hills AONB, A route outline, the HQ and Checkpoint locations are shown on the Route the next section linked four of the LDWA Founders' sites: Tanners Hatch Map page, along with London 2012 Games venues and LDWA Founders Youth Hostel, with its seat in memory of Alan Blatchford; Steer's Field named sites.