2012 Welsh Castles Relay: reference book Dedicated to the memory of Alan Thomas, ‘Mr Castles’, Race Coordinator 2003 –10 Died 5th November 2011 9 & 10 June 2012 Les Croupiers Running Club 1/14/2012 Welsh Athletics Race Licence: South R.A.C.- RR-0026 Welsh CastlesPart Relay: reference book 30th Welsh Castles Relay: 9 & 10 June 2012 Reference Book Introduction from the Race Coordinator WCR 2012 race line-up Part A: Information for team managers and captains A.1. Entry rules A.2. Actions taken to comply with risk assessment A.3. Risk management: Code of Practice A.4. Race licence and insurance A.5. Ensuring the safety of runners, supporters and the general public A.6. Communication during the race A.7. Responsibilities of the team manager and team captain A.8. Pre-race briefing A.9. Presentation ceremony A.10. Prizes and Awards Part B: Information for Runners B.1. Race rules B.2. Race numbers B.3. The start of each stage B.4. Etiquette and safety on each stage B.5. Hydration B.6. The route B.7. Medical support B.8. Serious incidents 30th WCR Reference Book, 2012 Welsh CastlesPart Relay: reference book B.9. Late finishers B.10. Spot Prizes B.11. The end of the race in Cardiff Castle B.12. Accommodation B.13. A link to stage details and maps for 2012 B.14. Stage gradient profiles B.15. Changeover timetable, cut-off times, records and estimated timetable B.16. A summary of the route B.17. A stage by stage description of the route, the hazards, the marshalling and signing points, and the duties of the marshals and route markers Part C: Information for drivers C.1. Safety C.2. Instructions to race traffic C.3. Team support vehicles C.4. Directions for drivers of team support vehicles C.5. Caernarfon/Newtown maps Part D: Information for marshals D.1. The duties of marshals D.2. Signs D.3. A list of the responsibilities of marshals and how it all works D.4 A list of teams and stages each one is marshalling D.5. Maps to help find some of the trickier marshalling points 30th WCR Reference Book, 2012 Welsh CastlesPart Relay: reference book Introduction from the Race Coordinator Dear fellow runner Welcome to the Welsh Castles Relay 2012! This is the 30th running of the race, a remarkable achievement for an event of this complexity. We very much hope you will make this a very special year. Obviously, the event is also tinged with sadness, for on 5th November 2011 Alan Thomas passed away peacefully at home. Alan, known to many of us as Mr Castles, had been involved in the organisation of the race since 1988 and was Race Coordinator from 2003- 2010. Alan’s family and all his friends at Les Croupiers Running Club were very grateful for, and received much comfort from, the many messages that were received. The organising committee decided to dedicate this year’s race to his memory. Organistaion of the event as ever relies on a small group of people and I am very grateful to Tim O’Sullivan (Deputy Coordinator), Amanda Thompson (Race Registrar), Graeme Donnan, John Griffin and Sasha Macken for all their time and hard work. As always, we extend our thanks to our sponsors without whom it would be far more difficult to stage this race every year, or at least much more expensive for the teams that enter. Please support our sponsors whenever the opportunity arises. They are Tata Steel, Brecon Carreg, Mizuno and Run and Become Cardiff. Above all, let us please ensure that the event takes place safely and there is no harm to runners, supporters or members of the public. The organizing committee has put a lot of effort into risk assessment, planning the marshalling of each stage with great care, reviewing the route and taking every possible precaution; it is now up to team managers and captains to do their utmost to ensure that their runners and supporters behave in a reasonable manner and take all safety precautions very seriously. 30th WCR Reference Book, 2012 Welsh CastlesPart Relay: reference book Once again there will be trophies for the first team overall and for the first team in each of the categories. The Kings, Queens and Monarchs of the Mountains Competitions will again be held this year over the six tough and demanding hilly stages. There will be awards to each of the 20 stage winners and a finisher’s memento for each finisher. The qualifying age to take part in the Veterans Category is 35 for both men and women. As always, the finish and awards will be in the grounds of Cardiff Castle, which I am sure you will agree is an excellent climax to what will no doubt be another memorable and highly enjoyable running of the Welsh Castles Relay. Unlike previous years, all information required by team managers and captains is contained in this one reference book, instead of in three entirely separate sections. Nevertheless, for the convenience of team managers/captains who must copy information to their runners, marshals and drivers, it is divided into several distinct sections. I must emphasize how important it is that all participants are given the information they require, are fully briefed and familiar with the rules, their duties and safety matters, as required by their role. The role of marshals is paramount in ensuring the safety of all who take part, so please take special care in making sure they fully understand what they have to do, where they need to be and when they need to be there. We will be introducing two teams of flying marshals this year to help at some of the more difficult locations, but safety of runners relies heavily on the marshals provided by the teams. Enough said about safety, but only for now! If you have any questions about the race, please email either myself at [email protected] or Tim O’Sullivan at [email protected]. For any queries regarding race entry or squad registration, please email Amanda Thompson ([email protected]). Enjoy the race! Richard Brewer Race Coordinator 30th WCR Reference Book, 2012 Welsh CastlesPart Relay: reference book WCR 2012 race line-up OPEN CATEGORY LADIES CATEGORY Team No. CLUB Team No. CLUB 1 Abergele Harriers 43 Bitton Road Runners Ladies 2 Clwb Athletau Aberystwyth 44 Les Croupiers Ladies Athletic Club 45 Sale Harriers Ladies 3 Altrincham & District AC 46 Serpentine RC Ladies 4 Bitton Road Runners 47 Stragglers Ladies 5 Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde AC 48 Winchester & District AC Ladies 6 Brackla Harriers 7 Bridgend AC MASTERS/VETERANS CATEGORY 8 Bromsgrove & Redditch AC 9 Clevedon AC 49 3M Gorseinon RR 10 Dulwich Runners 50 Denbigh Harriers 11 Eastleigh Running Club 51 Les Croupiers Veterans 12 Haarlem Globetrotters 52 Sospan Road Runners 13 Les Croupiers Senior Men 53 Swansea Harriers 14 Lliswerry Runners 54 Telford Harriers 15 Lytham St Annes Road Runners 16 Middleton Harriers BUSINESS SECTION 17 Mornington Chasers 18 Neath Harriers AC 55 Burges Salmon LLP 19 Penarth & Dinas Runners 56 Environment Agency Harriers 20 Penny Lane Striders 57 Tata Steel 21 Poole Runners 58 Turner Broadcasting 22 Port Talbot Harriers 59 Unilever 23 Prestatyn RC 24 Sale Harriers 25 Salford Harriers AC 26 San Domenico RRC 27 Sarn Helen Club 28 Serpentine RC Men 29 South West Road Runners 30 Stourbridge RC 31 Stragglers 32 Stroud & District AC 33 Team Bath AC 34 Team Thuringia 35 Thames Hare & Hounds 36 TROTs 37 Vale Royal AC 38 Wesham Road Runners 39 Wigan Phoenix 40 Wilmslow RC 41 Winchester & District AC 42 Wirral A C 30th WCR Reference Book, 2012 WelshPart Castles Relay: reference book A. Information for team managers and team captains Teams are free to decide on the precise distinction between the role of the team manager and the team captain. Indeed, for some clubs and business houses it may be the same person. See section A.7 for suggested roles and division of responsibilities. A.1. Entry rules 1. Each team must have 20 runners. 2. Each runner may run over one stage only, for one team only. He or she may run for a Business House, if eligible, as well as his or her affiliated team, but not on the same leg. 3. Mixed teams of male and female athletes are permitted. 4. Only first claim runners may run for affiliated teams, with no exceptions. 5. Runners for Business House teams must be a direct employee of the business concerned, or a spouse, son, or daughter of such an employee. 6. Masters/Veterans are males/females aged 35 or over on the day of their race. 7. Teams are accepted on the understanding that they will supply marshals as requested. A.2. Actions taken to comply with risk assessment After nearly thirty years of organising the race, the Race Coordinator and other officials have encountered almost every possible occurrence that can interfere with the race or compromise the safety of anyone involved. Consequently, there is a great deal of experience to draw upon when it comes to mitigating risk and managing problems as and when they arise. Nevertheless, the organizing committee has undertaken a thorough risk analysis of the route and identified the kinds of problems that may arise during the weekend, including impromptu road closures, accidents, communication issues, no-show marshals or officials, and any other possible scenarios. For each, mitigating action has been taken if this is possible, or otherwise the likely action determined should the scenario actually arise.