MudCrew :THE QUEST : Event Guide
King Arthur's home was at a place called Tintagel.
Here he built a castle, an impenetrable fortress, overlooking the ocean, on the most dramatic of coast lines.
Arthurs brave knights carried out acts of chivalry, rescuing damsels in distress and fighting against strange beasts and they met at his round table.Under the guidance of his sorcerer Merlin, Arthur obtained “Excalibur” a magical sword from The Lady Of The Lake and with this weapon he vanquished many foes. They searched for lost treasures, such as the Holy Grail which they believed would bring them eternal life.
Did Arthur ever find the Grail?
Either way his legend comes alive with MudCrew’s new event for 2016. A 40mile Ultra covering some of the most challenging coast path Cornwall has to offer including High Cliff - the highest point on the Cornish coast. Running either solo or as a relay pair you will be rewarded with some of the most spectacular running our county has to offer.
On your epic journey, seek the relics from the legend and bring them back to King Arthurs ancestral home at Tintagel Castle to complete….THE QUEST
MudCrew : THE QUEST : Event Guide
Saturday 21st May 2016 – 08:00
Thank you for your interest in our brand new event in the MudCrew calendar. “The Quest” is a 40 mile coast path ultra marathon, to take place on the stunning north Cornwall coast. Basedaroundthelegendsandmysteries of King Arthur, centred in the stunning surroundings of King Arthur’s Castle in Tintagel.
Event HQ.
The Event HQ, race village and registration will be at:
The Wootons Country Hotel,Fore St, Tintagel, PL34 0DD.Tel: 01840 770170.
The race will start and finish at Tintagel Castle, PL34 0HE. A short walk from Event HQ.
There are two options for participants. The event can be undertaken on a solo basis or as a relay team of two runners. Both the solo and the relay event will follow exactly the same route. In order to allow for different running abilities, we have made the first leg of the relay shorter than the second leg. The race will start at Tintagel Castle and follow the North Cornwall Coast Path National Trail southwest, to Port Gaverne. Runners will turn at this point and return to Tintagel Castle. Solo runners will continue northwest to Crackington Haven where they will turn and return to Tintagel Castle. Relay runners will hand over to their partner at Tintagel Castle and the second runner will run to Crackington Haven and return to Tintagel Castle.
Entry.
Entry is online via the MudCrew website
Cost of entry is £60.00 solo/ £70.00 relay (per pair).
You will be required to provide an email address and you will receive an email as confirmation of entry. This will also be your receipt. You will not receive any further confirmation or any information by post. We will keep in touch with you via email, with necessary information regarding the event. As a company we are committed to looking after the environment and trying to use less paper is one of the methods we employ! You can stay in touch with us and keep up to date with the latest MudCrew and event news via Facebook and Twitter, as well as via our website.
Cancellations & Refunds.
We understand circumstances can change. We will accept withdrawls from the event up until the entry closure date of midnight on Monday 25th April 2016. Unfortunately we do not offer refunds, so if you have to withdraw for any reason, up until the event closure date, you can defer your entry to the Quest in 2017. After 25thApril, we are unable to offer refunds or deferrals. You are not permitted to transfer your entry to another person at any time. There is an entry limit of 300 runners and it is anticipated that the event will be full before 25th April.
Timing.
The Quest will be utilising a timing system based on a scan of each runners number.
Course Description.
The Quest will take place on the North Cornwall coast path. It is uneven, can be slippery and you can expect obstacles such as stiles to negotiate. The route also takes in High Cliff, on the section between Tintagel and Crackington Haven which is officially the highest point on the entire Cornish coast path! There will be steps and there will be many! This event is definitely a running event. The route is well signed with the coast path acorn signs and will be supplemented with additional MudCrew signage where we think it is necessary. Therewill be some very short sections of road where usual Highway Code rules should be obeyed. The run is self-navigating and self-sufficient although you can expect the usual MudCrew support at checkpoints. You must ensure you dip in at each checkpoint and please take any litter with you - only leave footprints. The coast path can be precipitous in places and you will be asked to sign a waiver when you enter to say that you understand and accept the possible risks in taking part in an event of this nature.
Please consider the strictly enforced safety cut-off times before entering this event.
Route Distances.
The individual legs are as follows.
- Tintagel Castle to Port Gaverne – 8 miles point to point. (relay runner 1)
- Port Gaverne to Tintagel Castle – 8 miles point to point. (relay runner 1)
- Tintagel Castle to Crackington Haven – 12 miles point to point. (relay runner 2)
- Crackington Haven to Tintagel Castle – 12 miles point to point. (relay runner 2)
On legs 3 & 4, between Tintagel Castle and Crackington Haven, and again on the return, there will be an additional checkpoint and refuelling station at Boscastle Farm shop, 6 miles from Tintagel Castle.
Cut Offs.
Please be aware that support on the course and marshalling will start to be withdrawn after a period based on an approximate pace of 18 minute miles for legs 1 & 2 and 20 minute miles for legs 3 & 4.
The race will start at 8am.
The cut off for leg 1 – 11.00am.
The cut off for leg 2 – 2.00pm.
The cut off for leg 3 – 5.00pm
The cut off for leg 4 – finish – 9.00pm
There will be a sweep/safety runner.
Medals.
Unique to The Quest, participants will be required to collect elements of their finishers medal, along the way. At the furthest checkpoints, you will be given a “relic”, 2 in total, which must be presented at the finish, where they will be assembled to complete your finishers medal. (relay pairs must collect the two “relics” between them but they will each receive an individual medal).
Checkpoints.
There will be checkpoints at Port Gaverne, Tintagel Castle, Boscastle Farm Shop & Crackington Haven. Runners will be able to access the Farm Shop checkpoint on the return leg. The finish and final checkpoint will be at Tintagel Castle. At these locations, you will be able to collect your “relic” and be provided with water and MudCrew nutrition.
Event Village.
The event village will be at Wootons Country Hotel. This is where registration will take place. There will be a short, downhill walk to the start. The Wootons will be the finishing venue and participants will be able to make use of the facilities. The bar will be open and food will be available.
If you are travelling from afar or you wish to make full use of the bar, there is accommodation available. State that you are a Quest participant when booking.
The Coombe Barton Inn at Crackington Haven, Tel. 01840 230345, also has accommodation available. Again, mention The Quest when booking.
There are a number of campsites in Tintagel, for anyone wishing to camp before or after the event.
Prize giving will take place at The Wootons Country Hotel and On completion of The Quest, join us, as we celebrate your success.
Route Description :Tintagel Castle to Port Gaverne.
This section of path will take you from the Castle, across Glebe Cliffs to Trebarwith Strand. Here, you will cross the road between the Strand Café and the surf shop opposite, before following the path uphill to the Port William Hotel. You will then follow the coast path, behind the pub and up a flight of steps. You will be rewarded with fantastic views, looking out to Gull Rock.
On the approach into Port Gaverne, the signs will direct you across a narrow road and along the path, exiting the coast path at the rear of The Port Gaverne Hotel. The checkpoint will be across the road, to the right hand side of the harbour.
Route Description :Port Gaverne to Tintagel Castle.
Quite simply, repeat in reverse!
Route Description :Tintagel Castle to Crackington Haven.
You will follow the well signed path over to Rocky Valley and Boscastle Harbour. At Boscastle, follow the path down to the harbour itself, before using the newly built bridge as part of the famous flood rebuild, before re-joining the coastpath. After a short while, you will be directed off the path a short distance, into the garden of Boscastle Farm Shop. This will be your checkpoint and you will have access to toilets. Follow the coast path once more to the turn and checkpoint at The Coombe Barton Inn.
Route Description :Crackington Haven to Tintagel Castle.
Again, repeat in reverse. You can access the Farm Shop checkpoint on your return.
Registration and Kit.
Registration will take place at the rear of the Wootons Country Hotel, in the conservatory. Access is from the rear car park and up the steps. No access through the hotel please.
Registration and kit check will be from 5.30am on Saturday 21st May 2016.
Registration will close at 7.30am, after which time participants will be walked to the start, receive the compulsory safety briefing at 7.45am and the race will start at 8.00am prompt.
Relay pairs will both be issued with race numbers but will share one dipper, which must be handed from runner 1 to runner 2 at the end of leg 2, at Tintagel Castle.
It is advisable that both runners attend the safety briefing, at 7.45am. It is compulsory that the first runner attends this, along with all solo runners. If the second runner decides to arrive later, they will receive a written copy of the safety briefing and be asked to sign a waiver to this effect. Registrationfor the second relay runners will re-open at 8.30am, closing at 10.00am. All second relay runners must register before 10am.
Please note, MudCrew strongly recommend that ALL runners register between 5.30am and 7.30am and attend the 7.45am safety briefing.
There are comfortable facilities at the WootonsCountry Hotel to use whilst waiting for your partner to arrive back at The Castle.
Anyone who fails to register in time and misses their start will forfeit their place and will not be able to take part.
There is public car parking in the King Arthurs Arms car park, opposite the Wootons. This is a pay and display car park and enough parking for the duration must be paid for by participants. No parking will be permitted at The Wootons, unless you are staying overnight at the Hotel and by prior arrangement. Vehicles are left at the owners risk and MudCrew cannot accept any responsibility for them, whilst you are out on the course.
Camelford is a 15 minute car journey away and has 2 free car parks. Please consider car sharing from here.
Kit List.
The following items are compulsory and must be carried by all participants. There will be a kit check carried out at registration and there may be further random kit checks during the race and at the finish.
- Waterproof jacket
- Long sleeved top
- Mobile phone, fully charged
- Rucksack or waist pack
- Hydration system (bladder or bottles, min capacity 1 litre)
- Emergency foil blanket
- Whistle
- Headwear (buff style or cap or similar but must be full head cover)
- Nutrition (gels, energy bars or similar)
- Outline route map showing checkpoints and cut-offs and safety information (you will be issued a copy of this at registration).
The following items are not compulsory but should be considered.
- Blister plasters
- Sun cream
- Sunglasses
- Electrolyte energy drink
- Cap or visor to shade face from sun
- Lubricant (Bodyglide/Vaseline or similar)
- Money for emergencies
- Small basic first aid kit
- Headtorch – may be useful towards the end of the race if you are running close to the final cut-off of 9pm at Tintagel.
Location and directions to race HQ.
The postcode for HQ is PL34 0DD. Tintagel is situated on the North Cornwall coast, south of Boscastle. It is accessed via the B3266, between Camelford and Delabole. It is a popular tourist resort and is well signposted throughout North Cornwall.
FURTHER INFORMATION, UPDATES AND REMINDERS WILL BE EMAILED TO ALL PARTICPANTS IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE EVENT. YOU WILL RECEIVE NO INFORMATION BY POST. RACE NUMBERS WILL BE ISSUED AT REGISTRATION.
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