2024 GLCL Road Series: Fixture 1 of 5 Chepstow

 THIS IS A CLOSED EVENT FOR GWENT LEISURE CENTRE LEAGUE MEMBERS ONLY

RACE	GLCL Road Race 1 Chepstow
HOST	Chepstow Harriers
VENUE	Aust Services, M48, Junction 1, Bristol BS35 4BH
DATE	Tuesday 7th May 2024
CONTACT DETAILS	Douglas Briggs briggsdouglas@yahoo.co.uk 07731403500
TIMETABLE	Race briefing: 19:20 Race Start: 19:30

PARKING

Option 1. 

Parking at the Chepstow end of the bridge and jog across for your warm up. 

You may wish to park around the Thornwell area of Chepstow ( postcode for Tesco Express: NP16 5TY) and jog across the bridge as part of your warm up/warm down routine. There is no designated parking in this area so please park giving consideration to local residents and be aware of any parking time limits.

Option 2 Aust Services

Parking is available at Aust Services (M48, Junction 1, Bristol BS35 4BH) however there is a 2 hour time limit only in the car park which is monitored by ANPR cameras. It is a short walk/jog from here to the start line.

Option 3 Manor Farm BS35 4AT

The final option is parking at Manor Farm. A number of yards are available and you will be directed where to park by the marshals, though it is limited and we would always encourage car sharing as much as possible. As you turn off the roundabout onto the B4461 look for the sign on your left “Manor Farm Only”. We have been provided this parking for free by the farm owner, however he has asked for a donation to the charity Headway which supports people with brain injuries, if you would like to donate then the marshals will have collection buckets available. There is a short walk/jog to the start line, heading back to the junction roundabout. After the race please ensure that you return via the footbridge and the services. Sunset is 20.44, with 30mins of twilight after this. For your own safety please return to your car in the light as the road is not lit in places.

TOILETS

There are toilets available at Aust Services, as you go into the main entrance take a right turn. Please allow time to get back from the toilets to the start line

 

There are toilets available at Manor Farm. There are 3 inside and 1 outside. Please ensure that you leave the toilets clean and tidy. Please allow time to get to the start line from the toilets.

COURSE

Course Overview:

The course starts just below Aust Services between the footbridge and the junction roundabout. The course finishes on the downstream side by the footbridge over the motorway. The course is approximately 8k in distance 

Points to note: 

1. The start point is quite narrow, so please ensure that you line up according to how fast you will be running so as to avoid any congestion early on.

2. The path onto and off the bridge narrows due to a gate to stop cars, please be aware of this narrowing as you are running. The first gate point onto the bridge will be marshalled, the others should also be marshalled.

3. We do not have exclusive use of the bridge, there could be other runners, walkers, cyclists and motorbikes using the bridge. Please ensure that you keep to the right hand side of the course at all times unless overtaking.

4. The entire bridge is lit, however the exit to the finish, about 500m is not. Sunset on Tuesday 7th May is 20:44. There should be ambient light for about 30 mins after that. If you feel that this may be an issue for you then we would advise using a headtorch.

5. Once you have finished your race you should return to the car parks via the footbridge over the motorway.

6.  It is really important that you do not go back through or near the finish area with your number bib. This will cause problems for the time keepers and delay the release of the results, which we all know is done very quickly.

Course in detail:

The start is between the footbridge and the junction roundabout on the upstream side. 

It is an uphill start until you reach the apex of the bridge after which you have a gentle descent followed by a flat section over the Wye and through the gate.

A short climb takes you to the U turn where you will be directed down the hill to the tunnel under the bridge. Please take care of the bollards in the path used to stop cars

Here you will be directed right under the bridge, you may wish to admire the artwork of some of our local street artists,  and left at the end of the tunnel to start the downstream side.

There is another climb here, with another bollard at the top where you re join the bridge.

Continue on the downstream side, with a flat section over the Wye and once again a climb to the apex of the bridge.

You will descend from the apex and through the final gate, shortly after there will be a short sharp climb up to the finish.

FIRST AID

First Aid will be provided by St John’s Ambulance. Tail walker will have a defibrillator. 

RISK ASSESSMENT

RISK ASSESSMENT – GLCL – SEVERN BRIDGE

Event:	CHEPSTOW HARRIERS GLCL Road Race
Event Date:	07/05/2024	Start Time:	19.30
Max number of entries:	600	Disability Entries:	None Known

Risk assessment conducted by:	JULIA BAJJADA			First Aid cover provided by:	St Johns Ambulance
Date of original risk assessment:	7.8.23	Last review:	1	Location of First Aid HQ	START A48 JUNCTION 1/ FINISH   FINISH – BRIDGE ACCESS ROAD

ID No	Km if appl.	Description	Risk level			Persons at risk	Measure to reduce risk	By Whom  ROLE
			Prob’y 1-5	Severity 1-5	Overall P x S
1	All	Extreme weather conditions (gales) making the bridge dangerous to use	1	5	5	Competitors, Officials and Vehicles	The race will be cancelled	Race Director
2	Race HQ	Traffic accidents at or near Race HQ, parking AND pedestrians / runners walking to the start.	1	5	5	Competitors, Officials and Vehicles	Marshals to be in place during competitor arrival, race start and race finish.	Chief Marshal
3	All	Competitors unable to hear instructions due to wearing headphones	3	2	6	Competitors	Headphone ban advertised in advance of race, by signage and during race briefing. Runners informed that those caught with headphones will be disqualified from the race	Race Director
4	All	Marshals involved in traffic accident on roads	1	5	5	Officials and Vehicles	All marshals on lanes to wear Hi Viz jackets. All marshals will be briefed and receive marshal point instructions. All lanes approaching marshals signed with Hi Viz caution runners signs	Chief Marshal
5	Start	Congestion at the start of the race.	1	5	5	Competitors, Officials	Encourage faster runners to head towards the front of the que and to mindful of other runners.	Race director and Marshals
6	All	Injury due to obstructions on route.  Such as entrance gates both ends of bridge, bollards etc	3	3	9	Competitors	Advise Competitors of hazard during race brief, highlight with signs and hi viz.	Race director and Marshals
7	All	Injured runner unable to complete the race and requires medical assistance	3	2	6	Competitors	All marshals to be issued with emergency contact details of race director and HQ team.  Race sweepers to carry communication equipment radio and or phone	Race director and Marshals
8	All	Competitors struck by moving vehicle / cyclists	1	5	5	Competitors and Marshals, pedestrians and cyclists	Caution runners signage to be placed on all roads approaching the course.  Trained Marshals to be placed on all road junctions in Hi Viz jackets to caution runners of approaching vehicles. Hi Viz signs advertising date/time of race to be placed at intervals along the course. Runners to be briefed at the start that this is on a national cycle path and open to pedestrians, therefore to be mindful of other users and to keep to the right hand side of the paths.	Race director and Marshals
9	All	Injuries due to poor lighting towards end of the race	3	2	6	Competitors and marshals.	Runners to be advised in advance of areas of poor lighting, so that caution is taken and they  bring head torches if felt necessary.	Race Director via information given in advance of race.
10	All	COVID-19	2	1	2	Competitors and Officials	COVID-19 guidance in place at the time of the race will be issued to runners prior to race day.  Race will comply with all  applicable WAG and WA issued guidance.	Race Director

UKA PERMIT

OFFICIALS

Mike Heare

OTHER INFO

RACE NUMBER / TIMING CHIPS

No number/chip = no result for you (don't start without one)

Wear the number most recently allocated - if you use an old one you find at home and it's not currently registered to you, you will not appear in the results

Please make sure you do not hold your hand over your number/chip when you cross the finish line - hold arms to side or above your head. You may not get registered by the system and the backup video at the finish will not record your number. 

Please do not get close to the timing equipment (finish) once you've been through the finish once. Repeated 'pings' slow down the results system

Please do not take unused chips (from runners who are not running) close to the finish.... otherwise those not attending will appear in the results. 

Full details can be found here on the GLCL Website - Entry / Registration Section 

HEADPHONES

In accordance with UKA Rule 240 S 5, the wearing of headphones, or similar devices, is not permitted in this race. Non-compliance will result in the disqualification of the athlete and if deemed necessary a points penalty against the offending club.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Please adhere to the Code of Conduct at all times.  Full details can be found here on the  GLCL Website - Rules

COMPETITION RULES

Full details can be found here on the  GLCL Website - Rules