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Vale of Clara

Date Sunday, 05/11/2023
Venue Vale of Clara
Address Rathdrum, Co.Wicklow
Event Format Leinster League
Club Website AJAX
Start Times 11:00 - 12:30
Contact donal.wickham@gmail.com
Grid reference T 184 896
Latitude/Longitude 52.944316, -6.2395236
Google Maps Click here
Pricing

Adults: €8 / personChildren: €5 / childStudent: €5 / studentUnwaged: €5 / personOAP: €5 / personFamily Discount: €20 (Maximum of 2 Adults and no more than 5 family members / family)

Summary The Vale of Clara Nature Reserve contains one of the largest stands of semi-natural native hardwoods in the country. The area has many paths and is rich in rock and contour detail. The nature reserve is bisected by a tributary of the Avonmore river. The stream has a steep slope on the southern side. The terrain and path network give many route-choice options. Runability underfoot in ‘white’ forest is generally fast. In places, bilberry bushes can impede running speed. Where running speed is significantly impacted by bilberry growth the ‘undergrowth – slow running’ screen is used to indicate this. Where bilberry growth is particularly dense the ‘undergrowth – walk’ screen is used. There are virtually no brambles in the forest.
Notes

Entries are now closed for this event as we have reached the limit of comptetitors - there will be no entry on the day

The pin on the map and the Grid Reference shows the location of parking and registration / download in Ballygannon Wood. Ballygannon Wood is 1.5k north of Rathdrum village on the R755 (Rathdrum to Laragh road).

Course lengths as follows:

Yellow 11 Controls 2.7 km 75 m

Orange 11 3.3 km 90 m

Red 15 4.8 km 130 m

Light Green 11 3.4 km 115 m

Short Green 11 2.9 km 95 m

Green 13 3.8 km 115 m

Blue 19 6.0 km 235 m

Brown 25 8.5 km 270 m

SIAC will be enabled. Control descriptions will be on the map and loose CD’s will be available at the start. Maps are printed on water-resistant material at a scale of 1:10,000 for all courses on A4 paper. Contour interval is 5 meters.

Event Officials:

Planner: Alan De Lacy
Organiser: Donal Wickham
Controller: Marcus Geoghegan

Start/Finish: There is a 10-15 minute walk (1k) from parking / registration to the start and a similar walk from the finish back where download will be available. The start and finish are close to one another so jackets could be left at the start for collection after the finish if required. The route to the start and back from the finish involves crossing the new pedestrian bridge across the Avonmore River – please do not let children shake or bounce on the bridge.

After all the recent rain conditions underfoot are very wet and slippery - the Avonmore river is very high and the route to the start and the return pass along a section of it - please ensure children do not approach the rivers edge.

Please note that start times are from 11 to 12:30 although we will make every effort to start people before 11.

Parking in Ballygannon Wood is limited - please follow directions of event helpers and if possible car share.

Refreshments (Tea/Coffee) will be available at the Registration area – please bring your own cup as none will be available on the day.

Important: Please follow the country code and leave no trace principles. Please bring all of your rubbish home with you – don’t leave it to the organisers to dispose of full rubbish bags.

 

Thanks to the National Parks and Wildlife Service for permission to use the Vale of Clara Nature Reserve and to Coillte for granting permission to park on their land.

 

Difficulty rating 5/10 Paths through mostly runnable forest with some rough parts
PreEntry

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Entries open on 27/10/2023 @ 17:00 PM
Entries End 03/11/2023 @ 23:59 PM
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