Final Details

Hi Folks,

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the teams who have decided to take up the challenge of the Cooley Raid or Cuchulainn Challenge.

Out of those lucky enough to get a spot in the event some of you have loads of AR experience, others are quite novice when it comes to AR. When planning the route we kept this in mind and a percentage of the teams will not make it round the route and still have time to do the bonus loops. (more on these later) On the other hand we think that all the teams should be able to make it round the route if they miss out the bonus loops. We would ask you now that during race day you keep this in mind and not bite off any more than you can cope with.

Below we would like to give you some added advice and comments which we think will help all the teams enjoy the event and make things run a lot smoother on the day. As you'll all be aware the clocks have now changed so it'll be getting darker earlier in the evening. For this reason it is very important that we get started as early as we can because we'll all, both us and you the teams, have loads to do before the start.

Schedule

06:00-08:00 Saturday - Teams arrive, Registration & Issue of route instructions & maps
08:00-08:30 Faffing time, map marking & laminating, bike drop.
08:30 Saturday - Final briefing & start (The race will start at 09:00 sharp with or without you)
Bonus cut off times (more on this below)
18:00 Saturday - Final cut off (May be extended within reason but remember it will be dark. Teams won't be given a penalty for being late but the rest of us will have all the food ate and we would like all teams to make it back for the prize giving)
19.00 Cuchulainn Challenge Prize Giving (more on this below)

Registration and Pre Start

Could all teams come to registration together as a full team. You won't need to bring any kit but you will have to sign on & declare that you will have and carry all kit during the day. At registration all teams will be issued with the following.
Course Instructions & Map. The sooner you arrive the sooner you can start to mark up your map. More details on maps below.
Race Bibs. Each team member will be issued with and expected to wear a race bib as a top layer at all times. More details below.
Bike and Wetbag Numbers.
Bike drop location. More details below.

Maps

Each team will be given 1 map (discovery series sheet 36) and one set of course instructions. The instructions will have a list of grid references which will help you find the CP's, TA's & PC's (more details on these below)
If you have enough time you'll be given the chance to laminate your map, we'll provide a laminator and laminating pouches which will mean you won't need a map bag. To be on the safe side if you have a map bag then bring it along.

CP's TA's & PC's Explained

CP's are the checkpoints which you'll have to visit during the day some of these will be on the bonus loops, so not all teams will visit all the CP's. At each CP you will have to punch your course instruction or another punch card (in the case of the bonus loops) with a needle punch, which you'll find at said location, we'll show teams at the final brief what they look like. There will not be any of these until about 2km into section 4 which is the trail/hill run.
TA's. Transition Areas. None of the TA's will have punches at them but will instead be manned by marshals to whom your full team needs to report your arrival and departure. You may also be changing from running to biking or biking to kayaking at these locations. There will be 4 TA's some of which you might visit more than once depending on your bonus loop options.
PC's. Passage Control. Again no punch but your team will have to check in and out with a marshal. In the case of this event there will only be one PC point, all teams must visit this PC, it is here that you will be able to take the option of a bike bonus CP. Remember you must visit the PC even if you don't plan to do the bonus bike CP.

Bike & Kit Bag Drop

We will be transporting all your bikes & kit bags a short distance into the route. During registration you will be given details on were you have to take your bike. All bikes will be moved together but it is important that we get them all loaded onto the transport ASAP. We'll be using a large lorry and it'll be up to your team to reach you bikes up into the lorry, it will make life easier if all your teams bikes come together. Once your bikes are taken to TA2 we will have someone look after them until you arrive.

Race Bibs

All teams will be issued with and expected to wear a race bib.
All teams will be issued with 2 yellow bibs.
All 4 person teams will also be issued with 2 orange bibs.
Bibs are all HI-Viz and have your team number on them which will help the marshals identify who you are.

Start

The start will be a 500M run to the kayaks on a sealed surface. This will take place at 09:00 with or without you.

Kayaks

We will provide teams with all the kayak equipment, with the help of Johnny McCabe from CLEC it has been possible for us to include the main kayak section early in the race and we expect to have over 30 kayaks on the lough which should make for quite a sight.
All teams will have to wear buoyancy aids with your bibs on top. We might provide these to teams at the start giving you the choice to put them on before you are on race time. If you don't wear them right from the start you will have to carry them during the first run section.
We have ask that all team members wear a full length wetsuit but if the lough is like a plate of glass on race day this may be reduced to normal race kit plus waterproofs but this call will be made when we see what the weather conditions are like on the morning.
We'll transport your kit bag from the start to TA 2 along with your bikes. Even though you won't have them with you on the kayak it may still be a good idea to have a dry bag liner with your contents in it.
The kayak stage will be an A to B stage From Carlingford to Omeath.

Bikes

Follow bike drop details as above.
We'll be taking your kit bags & your bikes, water bottles, bike lights and map boards to TA2.
All of the above items need to be securely fastened to your bike as we won't be accepting any responsibility for items lost during transportation.
If you wear SPD's you'll have to carry your running shoes during the bike sections.
During the Run sections you'll be able to leave your bike shoes and helmets with your bikes at TA 3 & TA 4. Please make sure you carry all other kit with you during the Run sections.
A rear light must be fitted to all bikes. Front light also but we'll accept a helmet light if you would prefer to use one.

Kit List

At least one spot check on kit will take place during the event
All teams will be ask to show the same item of kit at the same point on the route
Teams unable to produce the item will have a time penalty added their total time.
Time penalty for not having the right kit will be 1hr

Team Kit

1 X Map OSI Sheet 36 + Orienteering Map (both supplied)

1 X Indelible felt tip pen

1 X Mobile phone (with dry bag)

1 X First aid kit (1crepe bandage, 1 triangle bandage, 2 safety pins, 1 wound dressing & 6 adhesive dressings as a minimum)

1 X Bike repair kit (at least sufficient to repair puncture)

1 X Compass

1 X Large Dry Bag (to hold 4 wetsuits) (added 18/10/09)