Road Relays 2022 – Teams and event information

29 March 2022 - By Elizabeth Prior

Hi all,

Welcome to the first post from your new captains!

The sign-up for the road relays closed on Sunday and we’ve divided the teams based on a mix of age and similar paces. These teams have been submitted to the race organisers and the entry fee has been paid.

You might be in a team that is younger than your age category, which is due to the rules of the road relays saying the category is determined by the age category of the youngest team member.

The teams

Men

Senior

• James Attenborough
• Dave Holdich
• Andrew Read
• Geoff Reddin

V50

• Leo Cole
• David Carey
• Mark Austin

V60

• Ian Lucas
• Dave Jobling
• Graham Eyre

Women

Senior 1

• Angela Wray
• Sharon Read
• Lysia Jiggins

Senior 2

• Sian Tate
• Jodee Mayer
• Sasha Rush

Senior 3

• Samantha Martin
• Sarah Naughton
• Celine Elson

V50

• Antia Grainger
• Karen Flowers
• Kerry Townsend

When?

The relays will be held on Sunday 10^th April 2022 with the race starting at 12pm. On the day, please ensure you have signed in with me no later than 11:15 to allow enough time for me to register you and collect the race numbers for everyone.

Where?

The venue is the Northern Gateway Sports Park, Cuckoo Farm Way, Colchester CO4 5YX, which is the turning opposite McDonalds on the A12 exit at junction 28 (my satnav took me into McDonalds last time I went to the Sports Park). The Northern Gateway is located just off Junction 28 of the A12 (the other side from the football stadium). If heading East on A12 take the exit and turn left, then first right into the venue. If travelling West on A12 take the exit and turn right at the roundabout, crossing the A12 and straight across the next roundabout, taking the first right into the Sports Park.

There is a reasonable amount of parking at the venue but it would still make sense to share cars wherever possible. The parking time allowed is 4 hours and you will need to enter your reg no into the ipads which are just inside reception on the right. If you are at the venue for more than 4 hours please re-enter your details as your 4 hours approaches.

There will be no changing or ‘bag drop’ facilities at the venue. Parking is relatively close to the event so please come ‘almost’ ready to run.

The course is fenced and spectators must stay outside the fenced area at all times. You can, however, watch from anywhere along the ‘pitches’ side of the course. (The other side is the bank of the A12 and not accessible). It is a ‘looped’ course so you will see athletes several times on the course from any one spot. Dogs are allowed on site but must be kept on a lead at all times.

The course?

The course is all on the cycle track which is a one mile complete loop and will be run in a clockwise direction. It is mostly flat with a small hill at the far end of the course. The senior and vets races will be 3 full loops totalling approx 4.8k.

Please take responsibility for remembering how many laps you have run. It is relatively straight forward but could be slightly confusing when loads of runners are on the course. The marshals will not know which lap everyone is on.

There will be a ‘coned’ waiting area for outgoing runners on the grass next to the track, this is known as the changeover area. Enter via the gate which will be indicated and marshalled. As your incoming runner approaches step on to the track at the start/finish line, please look out for runners already on the course as you enter. You can leave as soon as they cross the line. Runners finishing please do not hang around at the finish. Walk forwards on the grass and exit the course via the gate on your left. Marshalls will be there to guide you and will tell you to move if you hang around. Athletes should only enter the changeover area at the end of their respective race.

Other info?

Don’t forget to wear your club racing top, you will be unable to run without this!

Once everyone has arrived, I’ll register/declare the teams and collect the race numbers, please don’t start your race until you have collected your number from me as you will be disqualified. Please bring some safety pins with you, just in case they aren’t provided by the organisers.

There are limited toilet facilities within the venue and you are asked to use the portable toilets which have been provided specially for this event.

The race is being manually timed so full results will not be processed until after the event. Essex County team medals for the first 3 county teams in each championship will be given as soon after each race as possible. Individual “fastest lap” medals will be forwarded after the event once the full results have been processed and verified.

My phone number for the day is 07923358272. Please call me (Liz) if you are going to arrive after 11:15.

 

 Thanks!

Liz & Ben

Captains