News - Mon 10th Sep 2018 - Race Director's Rules & Regulations Reminder - Salomon Skyline Scotland

Race Director's Rules & Regulations Reminder

10th Sep 2018

Shane Ohly is the Race Director of Skyline Scotland™ and he has written this article highlighting the most important rules and regulations of the event for the benefit of all participants. 

 

Stian-Angermund-Vik-2017-Salomon-Ring-of-Steall-Skyrace

Left: Race Director Shane Ohly, with Stian Angermund-Vik - Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace™ winner 2016 and 2017 ©guillemcasanova.com

 

Many of the athletes already know me from having competed in one of the Skyline Scotland™ races in previous years, or in one of the other events that Ourea Events organise. However, many of you don’t know me, and I want to take this opportunity to warmly welcome you to the event, and to explain my style of race management clearly. 


Rules

I want all the athletes attending whether they are elite or recreational runners to have a great time, and one of the key elements of the event that makes this possible is fairness. Fairness results from good rules... that are also enforced. Therefore we have a set of Universal Event Rules and specific Race Rules (VK, ULTRA, SKY and Glen Coe Skyline), in addition to the International Skyrunning Federation Rules… that is a lot of rules, but they are mostly common sense.
 
We refer to our general event rules that are used across all the events we organise as our ‘Universal Event Rules’, which means they are applied universally regardless of whether you are the potential winner or last finisher. Even without the added scrutiny of the 2018 Skyrunning World Championships, we adopt a zero tolerance approach to any infringement of our rules. This means that if any athlete breaks the rules they will almost certainly be disqualified. We would prefer to avoid doing this of course.
 
Our first Universal Event Rule, is that not knowing the rules, is not an excuse for not following them! Therefore, I am highlighting below the rules which I think are most likely to be broken through lack of attention. If you are a National Team Manager, please ensure that your athletes know these rules.

 

  • Marked Mandatory Routes: Participants must follow the marked (i.e. flagged, waymarked or signed) mandatory routes without deviation. They may go directly from each marker to the next, but deviation (such as cutting corners in zig-zags or taking a direct line to a later marker) is forbidden.
     
  • Mandatory Kit: Participants must comply with any Equipment List and carry all mandatory items as specified at all times. Any transgression may result in not being allowed to start the race or disqualification.
     
  • Support Runners: Participants are not allowed support runners. Any person attempting this will cause their officially entered associate(s) to be disqualified immediately and all the runners involved may receive life bans from Ourea Ltd events.
     
  • Race Number: When issued, participants must display one race number on their front at all times and (when issued) a second race number must be attached to their rucksack. Race numbers can be obscured by waterproof clothing only. Race numbers must not be folded.
     
  • Littering: Any participant seen dropping litter will be disqualified.
     
  • Rubbish: Participants may not dispose of any rubbish or food wrappings along the route. The only location at which rubbish can be deposited is at the official support point (in the designated drop zones) or at the finish. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
     
  • Headphones: Participants must NOT wear headphones or listen to music at any point during the race. This rule will be strictly enforced.
     
  • Trekking Poles: Participants may use trekking/hiking poles EXCEPT:
    • Salomon Ben Nevis Ultra™:  Across the CMD Arête (CP4-5)
    • Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace™: Between checkpoints 1 and 2 (Devil's Ridge), and between checkpoints 4 and 5 (An Gearanach)
    • Salomon Glen Coe Skyline®: Up Curved Ridge (CP1-2), and on the Aonach Eagach (CP10-11)
  • Poles must be stowed neatly whenever not in use. When using poles, there should be strong regard for the safety and easy passage of others. This rule will be strictly enforced.
     
  • Equipment Dumping: It is not possible to leave equipment with anyone whilst on the course with the exception of equipment/food exchange at the official support point. See below.
     
  • External Support: Supplies of additional food, drink and kit is allowed but only at the official support point. Outside assistance accepted anywhere other than the official support point will lead to disqualification.
     
  • The Golden Rule: Once registered, each participant must report to the finish of the event and download their timing data before departing. This is an important check to account for everyone being safely off the course. Any timing equipment or GPS trackers must be returned. People who register but then fail to start must report to the Event Team and return any equipment.

 

Registration

For many reasons including liability, safety management, and fairness it is essential that we know exactly who is doing our races. Therefore, please note the following:

  1. If the athlete intending to participate has not got an entry (i.e. is not on the entry list now publicly available) they will not be able to start. There is no possibility to enter any race at this late stage.
  2. Each athlete must register in person - no one can register an athlete on their behalf!
  3. It is only possible to register within the registration opening times:
  • Salomon Mamores VK®: 13:00-16:00 on Thursday 13th
  • Salomon Ben Nevis Ultra™: 17:00-22:00 on Thursday 13th  
  • Salomon Ring of Steall Skyarce™: 18:00-22:00 on Friday 14th and 07:30-09:00 on Saturday 15th
  • Salomon Glen Coe Skyline®: 17:00-20:00 on Saturday 15th

It will NOT be possible to register without photographic ID. A passport, photo driving license, national identity card or military ID are all accepted (a high-quality photocopy is acceptable - we must be able to identify you from the photo). A bank card is NOT acceptable.


Race Start

The Salomon Ben Nevis Ultra™, Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace™ and Salomon Glen Coe Skyline® are mass start races. There are almost 900 entries for the Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace™ and whilst the first 1km is on a road, after this point the trail narrows… Therefore, we have a special entry lane for elite athletes so that they can start at the front. To get access to the elite entry lane you must have a GREEN TICK on your race number; see example below. 


 
Example of Race Number 2018


 
All of the officially entered national team athletes should have this green tick on their race number automatically. We have included other genuinely elite athletes in our list of those eligible for the ‘green tick’. If when you collect your race number there is no green tick, and you think you should be starting at or near the front, please speak to one of the registration team.
 
Start Gate: Please also note that ALL athletes must enter the start pen through our timing gate so that we can record who starts each race. The entrance is clearly marked with ‘Start’ flags.  Please do not be tempted to jump over any barriers… if an athlete does this, and does not pass through the timing gate, they will not get a race time… i.e. they will be disqualified! 

Start Time: Please ensure that you are in the start pen at least 15 minutes before the start. There may be a long queue to clear the Start Gate and enter the Start Pen. It is the athletes' responsibility to leave sufficient time.

Start Toilets: There are a large number of portable toilets at the start.


Questions?

I hope that this article makes clear some important elements of the Skyline Scotland™ event for all concerned. My personal goal is that as many athletes as possible have an absolutely amazing time taking part in their race and attending the event. The very last thing I want to do is disqualify anyone, so please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions relating to the rules, or come and speak with us once you arrive at the event.

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