First of all a “Hats off” to you for taking the plunge and signing up to what promises once again to be a truly epic day out! We notice that there as some familiar names in the mix as well as some new ones. All of us here at Might Contains Nuts wish you all a very warm welcome.
This
round explores some of the more intricate parts of the Brecon Beacons
National Park and in particular the lesser known Black Mountains
which has been a favourite ‘back garden’ for our training for more
years than we care to remember. The terrain is tough and gnarly in
places with lots of contours which will provide a challenge,
particularly for those seeking the more remote checkpoints. There
will however, be some less demanding options for those new to
adventure racing.
All
of the stages are compulsory and competitors must collect a minimum
of 1 checkpoint from each stage. Failure to do so will incur a 200
point penalty. For the whole event there will be a maximum of 2000
points on offer but it is not expected that the course will be
cleared!
Maximum time allocated
is 12 hours. (Or 6 hours if this option is selected)
The aim is to gain as
many points as possible in the allocated time.
Any
time over this limit will incur penalties of 5 points per minute.
Controls will range from 10 – 100 depending on their perceived
difficulty in obtaining them!
The
highest score in the allocated time wins!
REGISTRATION:
Saturday
27th
July from 06:45 until 08:00.
Maps
will be distributed at 07:15.
12
hour Start Time: 08:30, New Court Farm. 12
hour Finish Time: 20:30, New Court Farm.
6 hour Start Time: 08:30, New Court Farm. 6 hour Finish Time:
14:30 New Court Farm.
Entry List
Please check the entry list here to ensure your entry / category is listed correctly, if not please contact us ASAP as this may effect the boats we have available, thanks.
HQ
and how to get there:
The
event registration start & Finish is at the lovely New Court Camp
Site only a mile or so from the base of the Black Mountains. Please
report to reception upon arrival. As well as our HQ it is also a
campsite so feel free to bring a tent and pitch up the night before
or perhaps stay on after the event (cost of camping not included and must be paid direct to campsite owners).
Newcourt Farm Campsite,
Felindre, Three Cocks, Brecon, Powys, LD3 0SS
There
are hot showers (for 50p) always loads of change available and
obviously there is a camping option if you want it and we already
know that many of you have sorted out. There is also a lovely country pub less
than a mile away (Three Horse Shoes Inn) which is well worth a visit
and bearing in mind it has some great ales on tap is probably more
suited to the Saturday night for those that are easily swayed.
EVENT OVERVIEW:
The route is a very demanding one both in
terms of hills and conditions under foot. Weather will also play an
important factor in how challenging the route on the day is. There
will be some sharp rates of ascent and descent with some slippery and
technical sections present in places.
You
will require a decent tread on whatever footwear you decide to use
and similarly bike tyres. The vast majority of the foot sections are
off road though there are limited sections of tarmac in places.
An
approximate breakdown of the days activities are as follows. Please
note that the times are only a guide – you may wish to alter them /
skew them and will depend on your fitness, preference and strategy
(or mistakes!). However,
the boat window is fixed!
For 12 hours;
- Stage 1 MTB Approx 4 hours
- Transition 1 at HQ (Bike to Run) – Your bike and bike kit will be transported to T4
- Stage 2 Run Approx 1 hour
- Transition 2 Glasbury (Run to Canoe)
- Stage 3 Canoe Approx 2 hours
- Transition 3 (Canoe to Run)
- Stage 4 Urban Transition Run Approx 10 mins (no CP’s)
- Transition 4 (Run to Bike)
- Stage 5 Bike Approx 1 hour
- Transition 5 (Bike to Run/Hike) Your bike and bike kit transported back to finish.
- Stage 6 Run / Hike Approx 4 hours
- Finish!
*Please
note that there will be a ‘window of opportunity’ to start the
canoe leg. This will be between 13:30 and 14:30 departure time from
Transition 2.
- If you arrive before 1:30 you won’t be allowed on the water.
- If you arrive after 2:30 you also won’t be allowed on the water and will incur a 200 point penalty.
We
very much encourage you to errr on the side of caution!
Pairs /
three’s will be in open canoes – Solo's in Sit on Top Kayaks.
For 6 hours;
- Stage 1 Run or MTB approx. 3 hours
- Transition 1 at HQ (Bike to Run)
- Stage 2 Run or MTB approx 3 hour
- Finish!
Please note there is no boat stage for the 6 hour race.
Kit
List:
Please
acknowledge that some sections of your day will incorporate and open
hill and some remote sections. With this in mind there is a
compulsory
kit list:
Compulsory
Kit List for everybody!
- Backpack or suitable means of carrying required kit (as listed below)
- Food and means of carrying water.
- T – Shirt, shirt or equivalent.
- Additional Layer
- Waterproof / Windproof Jacket / Shell
- Shorts, leggings, or equivalent.
- Whistle
- Compass (which can take bearing) (1 per team or solo)
- Space Blanket or Emergency Foil Bivy
- First Aid Kit (1 per team or solo)
- Footwear with adequate grip for potentially slippery off road conditions.
- Bike!
- Bike Helmet.
- Bike tools, pump, puncture patches, tubes, chain link extractor etc.
- Map (supplied)
*Please note that whilst the above is compulsory, it and the advisory
are by no means exhaustive. Please make sure that you are confident
of coping with the conditions and or in the unlikely event of a canoe
capsize.
Advisory
Kit: (Depending on conditions)
- Waterproof Trousers (depending on conditions on day)
- Buff and or Hat
- Sunscreen (depending on conditions on day)
- Sunglasses (depending on conditions on day)
- Bike Gloves Thermal and or fleece top (in addition to compulsory long sleeve top)
- Hydration tablets or similar
- Money
- Mobile Phone
Optional
Kit:
- Spare socks
- GPS (NOT a substitute for a compass also NOT for NAV folk! )
- Camera
- Whatever you feel will make your experience all the more enjoyable!
Controls:
These
will be marked with a small orange and white orienteering flag. You
will have an orienteering stamp card which you will punch with the
‘stamp’ once the control is found, Each control has a unique
identity.
Food
& Water:
It
is up to individuals if they want to add their own hydration
supplements to the plain bottled water provided at each transition.
Just to clarify; competitors must take care of their own food from
the start. This is not a supported event in this respect. Make sure
you have enough food to last you the event. There are no facilities
which we know of for at least for the first three stages. There may
be some options at the end of the canoe leg in Hay on Wye for those
not watching the clock.
Water and gels will be
available at all transitions.
Kit
Boxes:
In
short we will transport bike kit only with bikes. At the start
transition boxes / bags can be left at Transition 1 as you will
return to it after the first bike leg. We will transport your bike and bike related kit to the second bike leg. After the
second bike leg is complete (Stage 5) we will return your bike and
bike kit back to the finish. Please note that we won’t
transport
your run kit at any point so you need to make sure that you have it
with you (if different from your cycling kit) when you leave
Transition 5.
Please
help us to help you by having some sort of labelled container or bag
to transport your kit rather than loose helmets / shoes etc floating
around – Thanks!
Retirements:
If
you do retire before completion of the event, please do so either at
a checkpoint or inform us of your actions so that you can be
accounted for. Please, Please, Please, do not just disappear without
notifying a member of the organisation of your actions. We will
assume you are missing and send out a search party.
Results
& Prizes:
We
will announce the leading results & prizes as soon as everybody is in. We suspect this will be
around the 21:30 mark.
Food
Before & After the race:
Food
is available at the local pub - The Three Horse shoes. It is about 15
mins walk from the campsite. Technically they stop serving food at 21:00 but have been most encouraging in try to help us out and thus
there may be some options after this time but if you want to arrange
something amongst yourselves then give Paul or Jenny a ring on 01497
847304 – they’re great people!
Other
options are about 4 mile away in Hay on Wye where there are several
food options from pub food to curry house.
Other
things and FAQ’s:
- Be prepared for hills and & Welsh mountain weather!
- Plenty of food! – 12 hours in the hills and on the river is a big day out!
- Bring pens / highlighters etc– very useful to mark the map
- Consider MTB Map holders (Might Contain Nuts have some great ones in stock ) and or also perhaps something to put them in for the run / canoe stage. The maps provided however will be printed on A3 waterproof paper.
- How will my bike ‘move around’? – We will transport them. As bike geeks ourselves we will do our utmost to keep them in as pristine condition as when they arrive. We have cardboard to pack between them etc but cannot absolutely guarantee that they will remain showroom – but we’ll try our best!
- Be nice to marshals (they have given up their valuable time to support you) If you do have any grievances then please take that up with the race organisers who will do their best to resolve any problems (Matt or Barry)
- Remember to smile!
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