Macclesfield Harriers

The Goyt Valley Challenge Sunday 4th October 2015

South Manchester Long Distance Walkers Association will be holding a new challenge event - the Goyt Valley Challenge - on Sunday 4th October 2015. There will be two routes of 24.5 and 13 miles, to be completed in 10 hours from the Burbage Institute, Buxton (SK044729).

The routes are attractive but challenging through the western Peak District including Solomon's Temple, Axe Edge, Goyt Valley, Shining Tor, Lamaload Reservoir, Kettleshulme, Taxal Moor and Fernilee on the long course. The route is mostly on FPs and tracks and includes some moorland sections with a total ascent of 4,000ft. The short course also goes via Solomon's Temple and Axe Edge to the Goyt Valley (Errwood Hall) and returns from Fernilee Dam to Buxton.

The start for walkers will be at 8.00am and 9.00am for runners. Finish by 6pm.

Entry fee will be £9.50 for LDWA and Scouts/Guides, and £12.00 to all others. No entry OTD. Entry fees are non-refundable. Entry information and forms will be available on South Manchester LDWA web-site. Closing date 27th September 2015. SAE not required if e-mail address given. Cheques payable to South Manchester LDWA. Entry includes full route description using easy-to-follow Wainwright-type maps, refreshments at checkpoints (one indoor) and a simple hot meal at finish. Certificates will be presented to all finishers. Entrants must carry/wear full waterproofs, compass, map and a mug.

Dogs allowed on short lead. Entries limited to 200. Free parking available off Bishops Lane SK043731.

Macc H were asked if we could provide say 6 to 8 helpers, who will be helping at a couple of the checkpoints (1 and 5 I think). Duties will be clipping tallies, recording numbers, and dishing out food and drink. With a club of 600 members not counting partners, children etc., we should be able to manage that ! If you can volunteer to help with this event, please post on here and / or email the organiser Dave Gosling at dwg@davidgosling.net or telephone 0161-612 5234

Full info on route etc., here https://www.ldwa.org.uk/SouthManchester/N/2846/goyt-valley-challenge.html

I already volunteered a while ago, so you can add me to the list of helping harriers.

Thanks Nancy ! Any more prepared to sit in a gazebo for a couple of hours and drink tea ??

Of course if folk want to enter the event that's fine as well..... there were still places available last time I looked. It's the week before Windgather.

Update....

South Manchester Long Distance Walkers are putting on their first challenge event as above.
It's a 24 or 13 mile walk or run, starting from the Burbage Institute at the bottom of the Cat and Fiddle road near Buxton (Windgather race venue)
Still open for entries, and I know of at least half a dozen from the club having a go.

https://www.ldwa.org.uk/SouthManchester ... tails.html

South Manchester Long Distance Walkers are only a small group, and so they have asked Macc Harriers if we could 'man' one of the checkpoints for them. As they've helped out on numerous other local events eg Bullock Smithy, that various Macc H have taken part in over the years, and there are plenty (600 + !!) of us in the club, we volunteered to man the first one.

So we need about half a dozen people (or more!) from the club to do this.... almost anyone can do the job, youngsters are welcome as well.

Where - the first checkpoint is at the layby on the A53 Axe Edge road, which is at the top of Axe Edge at the end of the 'cut-through' road from the Cat and Fiddle, perhaps 30 mins drive from Macc. It's just over 4 miles round the walkers / runners' route. Plan is to have a gazebo up there, (possibly the club one if it's free ??), in case of bad weather.

What - Each entrant will need their number recording, and their tally clipping (so everyone is accounted for), and handing out food (biscuits, possibly cake etc.) and drink (probably water and / or squash), before sending them on their way.

When - Sun 4th October - the week after the half marathon - The first (of perhaps 100 ?) walkers will be there about 8:30 am, the checkpoint would need to be ready at least 15 mins before this, and the last of the (perhaps 50 ?) runners (who start after the walkers) will be there by 10:30 latest, probably earlier.

After that I'm sure you'll be more than welcome to call in at the start / finish for tea and cake, though it occurs to me that you could go for a 'Sunday Run' (or bike ride !) first, then use the start / finish of the event in Burbage as the post-run tea stop venue ....

SO, if you are able to assist, PLEASE PLEASE let me know ASAP, as I need enough support to confirm to the organiser, in the next couple of days, that we're definitely able to help them out - it'd be a bit embarrassing to say 'we can't help after all'.

Huge thanks in advance !! Cheers Julian

I can help out Julian.

Barry

I hope to stumble round as much of this as my wrecked tendons will allow so won't be helping out but I would encourage anyone who is not doing anything else useful on the day to volunteer their services - the entries secretary is Tony Ford who many will remember as a long time member of Macc Harriers in his running days

Many thanks from S Manchester LDWA for all the help at checkpoint 1 ('Charlie').

Well done everyone who 'had a go' - at both the event and the cake mountain.

A few very dubious photos of some of the entrants - many of whom seem to have 4 legs - and even more dodgy helpers are here.
https://www.ldwa.org.uk/SouthManchester/W/3932/2015-photo-galleries.html

https://www.ldwa.org.uk/lgt/downloads/SouthManchester/2015-09-29_GVC_Prov_Results.xlsx.pdf

LDWA - Led Dogs Walking Association. Showed Gnasher the pics.