Just in from Mike Hayes below … read it and weep (and please note the Cruiser and Middleweight categories are no more). Am thinking on whether the 40@40 League order should be determined by the ‘Sherpa rankings’ or not (i.e. on basis of additional weight carried, rather than total weight). Will make a call at the start in the morning, but erring towards this approach, to encourage the naturally heavyweight to carry significantly more weight too (by google’s reckoning 14lb = 6.35kg).<\/p>\n
A first opportunity too for some of us to raise a glass to Colin Henson – long time organiser of the DP BG weekend – in tha’ Sportsman.<\/p>\n
THE FOXTROT<\/strong><\/p>\n The Foxtrot is a D.P.<\/span> training event run from the Sportsman Lodge Moor on Saturday October 1st<\/span> at 11.00. The event is 3 miles long (as the crow flies) via 4 checkpoints described in more detail below. There are “Heavyweight” and “Sherpa” awards (see below) which anyone can compete-for either by being naturally stocky or by loading up their rucsac. Or, if people wish, they can run round the course without carrying any extra weight. The fastest person<\/span> is expected to take 40 minutes (if they are very fit and very lucky). Most <\/span>people will be out for well over<\/span> an hour. Why so slow? Read on.<\/p>\n The 4 checkpoints<\/strong><\/p>\n Each checkpoint has a card with a single letter on it. The 4 letters spell out a word. As you cross the finishing-line, say this word to prove that you have gone round the course.<\/span><\/p>\n Checkpoint 1.<\/u> Alan Yates has built a knee-high stone cairn for his dog,<\/span> Nan. It is<\/span> 5 metres S of the wall. There is a card on top of the cairn. Note, 10 metres to the west there is a metre-high stone commemorating a<\/span>nother<\/span> dog that died in 1899.<\/p>\n Checkpoint 2<\/u>. Wyming Brook Knoll is a surprising<\/span>,<\/span> substantial hillock between Wyming<\/p>\n Brook and the steep slopes to the south-east. In spite of its bulk<\/span>, people who don’t know<\/span><\/p>\n it will have great trouble finding it so here are some hints. Wyming Brook is in spate at<\/span><\/p>\n the moment so it is easiest to cross it at the “3 Bridges” WSW of the checkpoint. If you<\/span><\/p>\n do that, <\/span>very gently<\/u> contour through a tangle of rotten vegetation <\/span>to a fallen tree by an old<\/span><\/p>\n wall<\/span>;<\/span> then,<\/span> contouring through rough ground<\/span> takes<\/span> you to the knoll. Alternatively, go<\/span><\/p>\n down<\/span> to <\/span>Rivelin Dam and<\/span> climb southwards through sticky <\/span>marshes to the knoll.<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>knoll is guarded b<\/span>y holly, brambles, ferns etc<\/span>. I’ve put<\/span> a black jacket and a <\/span>yellow<\/span><\/p>\n plastic lid<\/span> on <\/span>branches of <\/span>the tree at the knoll’s high-point<\/span>. The card is by the tree-foot.<\/span><\/p>\n Checkpoint 3<\/u>. The card is at the foot of a tree just where the stepping stones reach the<\/span><\/p>\n north bank of the River Rivelin<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n Checkpoint 4<\/u>. The card is on a horizontal stick by the spring. You need to get close to see <\/span><\/p>\n it (and it is worth having a drink too, the water is pure).<\/span><\/p>\n A warning about the terrain<\/strong><\/p>\n The first 1\u00bd miles are a piece of cake. You’ll jog the road and paths in 15 minutes (10<\/span><\/p>\n minutes if you are fast). The next 1\u00bd miles are rather challenging. Even the fastest will<\/span><\/p>\n take another 30 minutes to get to the finish. And for many, it will take an hour. What? An<\/span><\/p>\n hour to do 1\u00bd miles? Make no mistake. IT IS A JUNGLE OUT THERE. <\/span>And the ground<\/span><\/p>\n crawls with things to trip you up. Consider taking a machete and shears. Enjoy.<\/span><\/p>\n Certificates of Achievement<\/strong><\/p>\n Everyone who completes the course will become a proud owner of an “I Survived the<\/span><\/p>\n Foxtrot” certificate.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition there is a “Heavyweight Champion” Certificate for anyone who gets round<\/span><\/p>\n with a combined “rucsac+body” weight in excess of 200 pounds. And the fastest of these<\/span><\/p>\n Heavyweights will be anointed “Heavyweight Champion of the World” (fair enough as I <\/span><\/p>\n doubt whether even Mohamed Ali in his prime would get round faster than our winner).<\/span><\/p>\n Anyone who gets round the course with rucsac contents weighing more than 14 pounds <\/span><\/p>\n w<\/span>ins a “Sherpa Champion” award<\/span>. This award is converted into a “Supreme Sherpa” <\/span><\/p>\n award if no sherpa carrying a weight heavier<\/span>–<\/span>than<\/span>–<\/span>you runs faster<\/span>–<\/span>than<\/span>–<\/span>you.<\/span><\/p>\n Start Times<\/strong><\/p>\n Heavyweights go off at 11.00<\/span><\/p>\n Remaining Sherpas go off at 11.05<\/span><\/p>\n Lightweight and unloaded Rabbits go off at 11.10<\/span><\/p>\n Rabbits should hope to overtake most of those in front of them. They can do this maybe<\/span><\/p>\n by running a bit faster. Or (come to think of it) when running-speeds are down to 1\u00bd mph<\/span><\/p>\n maybe route-choice and scrambling-ability are far more relevant. Far more.<\/span><\/p>\n The weighing procedure<\/strong><\/p>\n Everyone and their rucsac-contents will be weighed at the start. You can bring along your <\/span><\/p>\n own preferred rucsac-contents \u2013 or alternatively use bags of pre-weighed stuff that we <\/span><\/p>\n will bring along.<\/span><\/p>\n Mike Hayes<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Just in from Mike Hayes below … read it and weep (and please note the Cruiser and Middleweight categories are no more). Am thinking on whether the 40@40 League order should be determined by the ‘Sherpa rankings’ or not (i.e. on basis of additional weight carried, rather than total weight). 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