- Sunday, October 8, 2023
- 9:00 AM 2:00 PM
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Race on the Chase is now in its fifth year!
Sorry, no dogs on the course. Any dogs at the venue or any meeting point should be always under control and please remember to bag and remove poo.
TIMINGS
Registration starts at 07.45.
Marathon 09.00
HM 09.30
10k 10.00
VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
Unfortunately, this year our event clashes with the Salisbury Marafun event. This means that the access road to the Racecourse will be closed at 8.30, meaning you need to be sure to leave in plenty of time to get to the venue before the road shuts.
When planning the event, I had on idea this was taking place. We u the second week of October last year, having moved it from the first to avoid a clash with the Cladrendon event!
HELPING OUT
Tricounties is something I fit in around an already busy life. I do rely on volunteers at every stage to deliver a safe and enjoyable event. If you can help in any way this would be much appreciated. This could be course marking prior to the event, bringing along a home-made cake or two for post-race sustenance, marshalling on the day or helping collect the hundreds of markers that are spread over 40 odd miles. Please contact me on 07860 590488 if you can assist in any way.
GETTING THERE
We now start and finish all races at SALISBURY RACECOURSE. This is very well signed from all directions, and is a short taxi journey from Salisbury station for those who wish to travel by train. The post code is SP2 8PN, W3W fists.reaction.civil . We will also have our event signs out.
PLEASE ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME DUE TO ROAD CLOSURE.
THE VENUE
Salisbury Racecourse offers lots of new benefits. It is extremely accessible, but also very rural, our Marathon route has passed through for years. There is a very large flat carpark right on site, suitable for all vehicles. The permanent buildings provide a great sign-on area and proper flush loos and hot showers. We will have a coffee/food van in attendance, and refreshments will be on offer for competitors’ post-race.
SIGN ON
This will open from 07.45 and is in the building right at the start. Numbers will be allocated here. We will have safety pins, but for every reason please try and recycle ones from previous races.
THE ROUTES
Please bear in mind this is a trail race, and to fit in with public rights of way it’s hard to get the distances spot-on. I’m also keen to give you a scenic and varied route over a selection of terrain. I plan the routes using OS maps, so distances are not super accurate. Because of this the 10k is more of an 11k, and the other 2 routes are pretty accurate.
All distances leave directly from the race HQ and soon cross a minor road before joining the Old Shaftesbury drove. The surface is hard and the track wide here, so it provides the perfect area for faster runners to break away, and slower runners fall back before the tighter sections of the route. At just under 2k the 10k runners leave the drove at a road junction and head left over a field. Both other routes continue along the drove until 3.5k when they take a left turn down a bridal path. The marathon and HM split at the 12k point where there is an aid station. From here the Marathon route heads away, eventually to cross the A354 at Martin Down. The HM follows the ridge before dropping back into the Chalke Valley and eventually joining the 10k runners at 15.5k. Soon after this they have an aid station. Then to Stratford Tony where they cross the valley road to make their way up the hill to the finish.
Marathon runners climb Martin Down, and then descend into Martin village where an aid station is situated, at 20k. From here they go over the hill into the next valley, then up onto Whitsbury Down. From here it’s to Clearbury Ring, then to Nunton Dairy for the final aid station at 34k. The route then follows the valley to Coombe Bissett where they re-cross the A354 and make the climb to the Old Shaftesbury dove to continues back to the Racecourse.
The vast majority of the routes are trail. In places you will be running on tarmac or concreate, but these will be private farm roads. There are road crossings, so take care. Signs will be in place to warn runners as well as the cars on the road. The Marathon crosses the busy A354 in 2 places so take extra care. If sufficient volunteers are available, we will man as many crossings as possible. The marathon passes through 2 equestrian establishments, and I ask runners to be cautious and quiet to avoid upsetting the horses. In other places the route takes you through fields where cattle graze, so be sure to shut all gates please.
All routes will be signed with red arrows on a white background. Warning signs will be placed where you approach significant road crossings.
ELIVATION
The countryside here is rolling, and hills are a regular feature, they will provide a challenge and a rewarding view!
Marathon 627m
HM 334m
10K 180 m
AID STATIONS
The marathon has 3, the HM 2 and the 10k 1. They are spaced to provide an even gap as possible. Some are in remote areas and do not make good meeting up places for supporters. They will be well stocked with fruit, water, coke, sweets, savouries and so on. All will be manned by volunteers so please thank them for their efforts. IT IS A CUPLESS RACE, SO PLEASE BRING A REFILLABLE RESEPTICAL.
MEETING WITH SUPPORTERS
Due to the very rural nature of the race meeting points are quite limited. Many of the roads are single track and do not offer good parking options. Please respect the villages and farmers by parking courteously, possibly in conjunction with supporting a local pub or shop.
Some suggestions are below.
10k
Point where route leaves Old Shaftesbury Drove on Portfield road. friends.perfectly.incur
Bishopstone. custodial.measures.fiction
HM
Broad Chalke (Also Marathon route). The Queen’s head pub. tonal.ferrets.livid
Croucheston. storyline.prompt.bedrooms
MARATHON
Vitrall Gate off Howgare Rd adding.nerd.shifters
Martin Down carpark – just off A354 dizzy.unscathed.newest
Martin Village (Aid point 3) doses.returns.tarnished
Odstock (Yew Tree Pub). snuck.eyeliner.after
Bottom of Drove Lane. debut.taskbar.tone
PHOTOGRAPHS
Our ace photographer, Phil Benham will be out on the route taking pictures. These will be available via our FB page a day or two after the event. We encourage everyone to share their pictures on social media.
KIT LIST
Please check the weather and dress appropriately. Trail shoes are recommended, as the terrain is varied with stony tracks, potentially wet grass and steep climbs. A fully charged mobile phone with the medics team number and race organisers number saved. Ideally the what 3 words app installed as well. If conditions are dull, then bright clothing would be ideal to make you more visible at road crossings and on the very small sections of roadwork the routes involve. CUPLESS RACE, PLAEASE BRING A RECEPTICAL.
COVID
We will have hand gel available at aid stations and sign-on. The venue is very specious so you will be able to distance yourself from other if you wish.
RESULTS
We will be using local company Timing Monkey, and results will be available though their website.
CONDUCT ON THE COURSE
As mentioned before, all gates found shut need to be properly closed when you are through. The marathon route in particular passes through at least 3 fields where stock is grazing.
NO LITTER
Please respect other trail users. The Old Shaftesbury Drove and Ox Drove are byways and you may find groups of trail riders, horse riders and 4×4 enthusiasts as well as walkers and mountain bikers. It can be quite busy! Routes also pass through peoples’ gardens in places, so please respect their properties.
MEDICAL ASSISTANTS AND EMERGANCIES
Should you suffer any injury we have a mobile medical team on site. Their number will be available at the sign-on desk, and I suggest you save it to your phone, as well as the race organiser, Mike Simpson’s (07860 590488). Aid stations will have basic first aid kits.
Our medic for the day is ADAM 07581 017924