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The details below
are only here to give you an idea into what the race will be like. We are working on the 2010 route and these details will
be changed to suit this years event.
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, not that this will matter much to the 24hr teams. Teams won't be given a penalty for being late but the rest of us will have all the food ate and you'll no doubt be glad of the short rest before you head back out for stage 2) Issue of route instructions & maps for stage 2 will take as you finish stage 1
- 19.00 Cuchulainn Challenge Prize Giving
- 19.30 (Saturday) Stage 2 briefing & Start
- 13.00 (Sunday) First team due at finish
- 14.00 Final cut off
- 15.00 Cooley Raid Prize Giving
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 Set of Maps NI OS Sheet 29 1:50,000. Mournes Activity Map 1:25,000. Orienteering Maps (all supplied) (updated 18/10/09)
- 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)
- 1 X Kit Box (added 18/10/09)
Individual Kit
- 1 X Mountain bike
- 1 X Front bike light (a good headtorch will do)
- 1 X Rear bike light
- 1 X Spare batteries for all lights (added 18/10/09)
- 1 X Cycle helmet or Multi-sport helmet (updated 18/10/09)
- 1 X Climbing Harness (added 18/10/09)
- 1 X Climbing Helmet or Multi-sport helmet (added 18/10/09)
1 X Decending device - Figure of 8 or ATC(removed 01/11/09)1 X Karabiner (locking type)(removed 01/11/09)- 1 X Wetsuit (full arms and legs) (added 18/10/09)
- 1 X Whistle
- 1 X Space blanket/bag (foil or orange type) (updated 18/10/09)
- 1 X Full leg cover (must be carried if not worn)
- 1 X Spare Long Sleeved Top
- 1 X Waterproof Coat
- 1 X Waterproof Leggings
- 1 X Small racksac
- 1 X Full change of clothes for after the event (Recommended not Mandatory)
- Drink (Recommened to bring enough to last 24-36 hours)
- Suitable food / energy source (Recommened to bring enough to last 24-36 hours)
Weather
The weather is looking as if it could be dry for a few days, don't
let this lull you into a false since of security as although it may stay dry it is going to be rather cold, make sure you
bring extra layers of kit as some sections of the route will be exposed open mountain.
Food & Water
- Teams will need to carry enough food to last between 8 & 10 hours, in the cold weather your body will burn more fuel just to keep it warm.
- It will be up to teams to carry enough water or energy drink to last between 8 & 10 hours.
- We will have fresh water at TA4
Race Route/Stage 1
Below is the 2009 route details. The Cuchulainn
Challenge will form the first stage of the Cooley Raid. After stage 1 teams will have a short break before heading out into
the final stage which will last at least 16hrs.
- Approximate distances for the compulsory route.
- 25.5km bike
- 12.5km run/trek
- 7.5km kayak
- 45.5km Total
Remember sections of the course will be bonus loops or checkpoints, these may be cut out meaning that all teams should be able to finish the course, they will also have cut-off times and if any team doesn't reach them before the cut-off they won't be allowed to do them.
- The approximate distance for the bonus sections.
- 18.5km bike Cut Off Time 13:30
- 8km run/trek Cut Off Time 15:30
- 9km bike Cut Off Time 17:15
- 35.5km Bonus Total
Grand total of 81km. With the breakdown as below.
- 0.5km run (on road/footpath)
- 7.5km kayak (sea)
- 8km bike (on road)
- 6km run/trek (trail & open mountainside)
- 6.5km bike (road & open mountainside)
- 6km run/trek (open mountainside)
- 18.5km bike bonus (road & open mountainside)
- 8km run orienteer bonus (open mountainside)
- 11km bike (open mountainside)
- 9km bike bonus (trail)
Bonus loops
Bike bonus loop
Cut Off Time 13:30hrs
- The bike bonus loop will be approx. 18.5km long
- Most of it will be on open mountain with a short section on road
- It will have 6 CP's each worth 30mins bonus
- Any team getting all 6 will get an extra 30mins
- Maximum bonus 3.1/2hrs
Run bonus loop
Cut Off Time 15:30hrs
- The run bonus loop will be approx. 8km
- Most of it will be on open mountain with short sections of track
- It will have 6 CP's each worth 15mins bonus
- Any team getting all 6 will get an extra 30mins
- Run bonus CP's can be visited in any order
- Maximum bonus 2hrs
Bike Bonus CP
Cut Off Time 17:15hrs
- The bike bonus CP will be approx. 9km
- All teams must visit PC 1 and decide if they will do bike bonus CP
- It will be 1 CP
- Bonus 1.1/2hrs
Finish Stage 1
- The finish of stage 1 will be back at the Foy Centre
- Please enter via the back door
- The clock will stop when you see Joan
Stage
2
Issue of Maps & Route Instructions
- Each team will be given 1 set of maps plus one set of course instructions for stage 2 when they finish stage 1. 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 above)
- 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.
Kit Box & Wet Bag Drops
- Each team will be allowed 1 kit box or 2 smaller kit boxes plus 1 wet bag
- In the box you can store your harness and climbing helmet, food/stove and spare items such as clothes for the trek, you will see this at TA3
- In the wet bag you'll have your nice wet, wetsuits which you will see on Sunday morning at TA4
- More details about the kit boxes in the race instructions
Weather
- The weather is looking as if it could be dry for a few days, don't let this lull you into a false since of security as although it may stay dry it is going to be rather cold, make sure you bring extra layers of kit as some sections of the route will be exposed open mountain. You will be in the High Mournes during the night.
Food & Water
- Teams will need to carry enough food to last between 8 & 10 hours, in the cold weather your body will burn more fuel just to keep it warm
- It will be up to teams to carry enough water or energy drink to last between 8 & 10 hours
- We will have fresh water at TA3 which will be the location that you'll see you kit boxes, this TA will be roughly the half way point of stage 2
Race
Route/Stage 2
- Approximate distances for the compulsory route.
- 91km bike
- 32km run/trek
- 9km kayak
- 132km Total
Remember sections of the course will be bonus loops or checkpoints, these may be cut out meaning that all teams should be able to finish the course, they will also have cut-off times and if any team doesn't reach them before the cut-off they won't be allowed to do them.
- The approximate distance for the bonus sections.
- 12km bike Cut Off Time 22:30
- 35.5km Bonus Total
Grand total of 144km. With the breakdown as below.
- 13km bike (on road)
- 6km kayak (inland flat water)
- 15km bike (on road)
- 12km bonus bike plus secret task (road/open mountainside)
- 35km bike (road)
- *15km run/trek (open mountainside)
- *1km bouldering
- *10km run/trek (open mountainside)
- 28km bike (road and trail)
- 3km kayak (sea)
- 6km trail run
- *26 Extreme section Cut Off Time 04.30*
Bonus loops
Bike bonus loop
Cut Off Time 22:30hrs
- The bike bonus loop will be approx. 12km long
- Most of it will be on road but a short section will be off road
- It will have 2 secret tasks
- 2hr Bonus
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26 Extreme Section
Cut Off Time 04:30hrs
- This section will be 26km long split into 3
- 15km trek with rope section
- 1km bouldering (teams will not be allowed to start before 07.30)
- 10km trek
- Teams will be timed out at rope & bouldering sections
- Fastest team will win a spot prize from 26 Extreme
Finish Stage 2
- The finish of stage 1 will be back at the Foy Centre
- Please enter via the back door
- The clock will stop when you see Joan
Prize Giving
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