Details
Dates: October 25th 2020
Time: 11am
Race Venue: Crickhowell Secondary School, New Road, Crickhowell. NP8 1AW
A 9 mile ‘out and back’ trail race located in the beautiful heart of the Black Mountains starting and finishing in the pretty town of Crickhowell.
The Route
The trail race route is 9 miles and flagged, undulating and very scenic as it winds in and out of ancient woodland along the gorgeous fast flowing Grwyne Fawr river, famous for its salmon.
It is an out and back route turning round at the half way village of Llanbedr outside the church where there will be a water station. The race route is well marshalled and flagged with red & white tape and large arrows on a fluorescent yellow background.
Most of the race is off road with just a couple of stretches on tarmac. There are a couple of short steeper descents on grass.
Trail shoes are recommended depending on your personal preference. Please do bring a lightweight waterproof running jacket in case of bad weather. This will remain advisory kit (meaning that you can choose whether to take it) unless we have severely bad and very wet weather.
This is a run and not a walk with a bit of intermittent jogging! If you don’t think you can complete the route please be sensible and drop out at the halfway point and tell the marshals and the event centre that you have retired. You will be able to get a lift back to the event centre from the half way point. The last runner to complete the race is usually around the 2hrs 20minute mark. Please use this as your guide if you’re uncertain as to whether this race is for you.
Venue & Location
The race event centre is the Crickhowell Secondary School, New Road (A4077), Crickhowell. NP8 1AW.
Plenty of parking at the event centre is available – please park where the car parking marshals indicate.
There is no official ‘manned’ bag drop inside the event centre but there will be a supervised area to leave bags. You will be close to your car.
There are plenty of showers, toilets and changing rooms at the event centre.
Tea and cake will be free for all competitors. There will be a finisher prize for every competitor. We don’t do medals I’m afraid as we prefer to put funding towards other things for competitors.
Crickhowell is a pretty and charming small town close to the lovely River Usk – there’s plenty to entertain the non-runners in the family while you do the race and there are some good pubs in the locality doing lunch – The Bear Hotel in Crickhowell does good lunch and is open all day.
Number Collection
Please collect your number from the school hall when you arrive.
The desks will be labelled alphabetically by surname.
Race START and FINISH
The race will start at 11am sharp – please note, this is the weekend that the clocks go back. [If you forget, you’ll just be an hour early!]
Please note – the race does not start and finish at the event centre. The start location will be well indicated by signs and tape from registration. Allow a 5 minute walk from the race HQ.
The race will START and FINISH just behind the Beaufort St Car Park (NP8 1AE) behind the tourist information (Crickhowell Resource & Information Centre).
Please take care and be aware of cars on the initial section of the course and when you are on the final 500m-road run-in to the finish. Please don’t wear in-ear headphones during the race which cut out all other noise. This is a trail race – although we have made an effort to indicate hazards, not ALL hazards such a tree roots can be indicated. Be aware; run safely.
Only follow the flagged route – no shortcuts.
Sorry but no dogs are permitted in the race as it crosses farm land with sheep in fields.
Entry
The entry fee is £18 via the link on this site to SPORTident entries. Entries will open on February 25th 2020
Online entry will close on Wednesday 21st October 12 midnight .
There is a limit of 300 entries to the race. Entries on the day will only be possible if the race is not full when online entries close.
Please check the Element Facebook page (elementactiveuk) for up to date info on this after Wednesday October 21st.
The prize giving will be at 1.30pm prompt in the Dining Hall at the main event centre.
No prizes will be posted out – if you win a prize it is appreciated if you stay for the prize giving.
There will be prizes for:
- Women Senior: First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth
- Men Senior: First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth
- FIRST W Veteran & M Veteran : 40 – 45/ 45 – 50/ 50- 55/ 55-60/ 60-65/ 65-70/ 70-75/ 75-80
- Female & Male Team prizes (First 3 runners to count).
Please note: If you are fast enough to win more than one prize category, you get both prizes (eg. 3rd male and 1st V40).
Results and Photos
You will find results and photos on the Element Facebook page: @elementactiveuk
Course Records
Male: Jon Like (Torfaen Runners) 1:00:38
Female: Faye Johnson (Eryri Harriers) 1:10:35
All editions of the race results can be found on the Element website: https://element-active.co.uk
Race Director & Contact
Ruth Pickvance is the Race Director.
Ruth is a very experienced runner on road and fell. She’s been British Fellrunning Champion and has represented GB and England as well as being one of the first Salomon sponsored Skyrunners. As a veteran she was a top finisher in several road marathons with a 2.45 PB. Many of you will know her from her time organising the Atlantic College 10k. Ruth has also completed the RunBritain accredited Race Director’s Course and is the Director of Element.
If you need to contact her, email is preferable: Ruth@element-active.co.uk. Or phone 07507 189904
The Race Charity Donation:
We give a substantial contribution from the race to the Crickhowell Volunteer Bureau. This organisation provide the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme for free for local students. Most schools these days only offer the D of E as a fee paying option. The CVB receive no external funding whatsoever and rely on fundraising and adult volunteers to sustain their programme. They do a brilliant job of introducing young people to the outdoors, volunteering and life skills. It positively impacts young people’s lives. Some of them will be helping to marshal the race.
Make a weekend of it:
There’s a great range of great accommodation in this beautiful area – below is some that Ruth knows and recommends:
The Star Bunkhouse (http://www.starbunkhouse.com) has great budget accommodation close to the event centre for one night stays.
Rona has the immaculate ‘Quarry Man’s Cottage’ at Bwlch with a double room for one night: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/8407141.
Hilary Davies has both a lovely double room with separate entrance: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/11617748 and a two bedroom holiday let: http://www.glanpant.com
Julia Hindley has a wonderful choice of B&B rooms and cottages: www.theneuadd.com or www.theneuaddbandb.com
Linda has a great B&B near Crickhowell: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/4327898
There’s Airbnb Crickhowell area offering a very good range of one and two night places to stay; or for hotels and local B&B’s the Crickhowell Tourist Information Centre has a good list: http://www.visitcrickhowell.co.uk/where-to-stay/