2025 GLCL ROAD Series: Fixture 2 of 5 Pont-Y-Pwl

RACE	GLCL 2025 ROAD RACE 2 (Ponty-Y-Pwl)
HOST	Pont-Y-Pwl & District Runners
VENUE	Blaenafon Heritage Railway NP4 9AX
DATE	Tuesday 20th May, 2025
CONTACT DETAILS	Dimitri Vorrés  (07765 145977)
TIMETABLE	Race briefing: 19:20 Race start time: 19:30

PARKING

There is parking at the Railway Station and at the Station overflow car park, you can also park at the Big Pit Coach park indicated on the map. Please avoid parking on the approach roads to the Station and BIg pit, there is ample parking at the car parks indicated.

At the Railway Station donations for parking would be greatly appreciated, this will be used by the Heritage Railway to buy Coal so they can keep operating.

TOILETS

Toilets are available at the Railway Cafe, although the cafe itself has closed so access will be from the platform. These are the only Toilets available so limited in number.

COURSE

The race starts and finishes on the cycle track please be aware of walkers, cyclists, dog walkers etc. run with appropriate caution.

The route starts and finishes at the Heritage Railway Station and heads out to Forgeside via the Big Pit. Please be aware of pot holes and uneven surface on parts of the track. Marshals will guide you through the Big Pit and onto Forgeside, obey marshal instructions at all times.

The route through Forgeside to Blaenafon is on minor roads, please keep to the left hand side of the road and follow marshal instructions. When you get to Church Road stay on the Pavement as directed by the marshal, the route turns left into Kennard Place and into Gilchrist Thomas Industrial Estate. You will head through the estate heading back towards the Big Pit but getting onto the cycle just after Rhymney Brewery. 

On the cycle track you will proceed north towards Garn lakes. Please keep to the right hand side on this section as faster runners will be returning on this section of the cycle track.  At Garn Lakes marshals will direct you to the  lakes to complete a small loop before returning to the cycle track heading back towards Blaenafon. At Forgeside you come off the cycle track and return to the start the way you came, keep to the RHS of the road through Forgeside.

Marshals are positioned around the course to direct you the right way.

When you finish and leave the finish funnel please leave as directed do not return to the finish area, thereby avoiding your timing chip being recorded more than once. Also do not return to the course while the race is in progress, either to warm down or support runners.

FIRST AID

First aid is provided by St. Johns Ambulance, if you require assistance make a marshal aware and first aid will be notified.

RISK ASSESSMENT

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13VEvwDi7U8EaeKoeio0tCTH-9jTUt1JY/view?usp=sharing

UKA PERMIT

25RRWA00120

OFFICIALS

Race Referee: Mike Heare,     

Race Adjudicator: Christine Vorrés

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

 

2025 GLCL ROAD Series: Fixture 1 of 5 Chepstow

  

RACE	GLCL Road Race 1 Chepstow
HOST	Chepstow Harriers
VENUE	Aust Services, M48, Junction 1, Bristol BS35 4BH
DATE	Tuesday 6h May 2025
CONTACT DETAILS	Douglas Briggs  briggsdouglas@yahoo.co.uk  07731403500
TIMETABLE	Race briefing: 19:20  Race Start: 19:30

 

 

PARKING 

 

Gympanzees 

 

Parking is available at Gympanzees which is at the top end of Aust Services (M48, Junction 1, Bristol BS35 4BL) please follow the car parking signs. This is an organisation that is looking to covert the old services and more recently an insurance company into a leisure and activity facility for children with learning and physical disabilities. More information can be found on their website: https://www.gympanzees.org . We are encouraging runners to make use of the parking here, there is no time limit and it has been generously provided by Gympanzees to us but all we ask is that you make a contribution in the collection buckets that our marshals will have at the entrance.  Marshals should also have a QR code you can scan, which I am to make available in advance via Facebook. It is a short walk/jog from here to the start line. Whilst the car park is big we would always encourage members to car share as much as possible 

 

 

 

 

 

TOILETS 

There will be 2 portaloos and porta urinal at the Gympanzees car park. 

 

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 

 

 

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 6th May is around 20:45. 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:	06/05/2025	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