First Start Fitness Metropolitan Cross Country League match, Saturday 10 October

The first Start Fitness Metropolitan Cross Country League match is on Saturday, 10 October at Claybury, Woodford Green.

Course location

Claybury. Roding Lane North, IG8 8NQ

HQ to course walk time: 15 minutes.

Race HQ

WGEL Clubhouse, Ashton Playing Fields, 598 Chigwell Road, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 8AA – more information here

Changing facilities and showers: Very limited changing facilities this year, unfortunately with no access to the showers due to an event. Men's and women's toilets at Ashton Playing Fields can be used. There are no toilets at the course.

Refreshments: Unfortunately the WGEL clubhouse/bar at Ashton Playing Fields will not be open (as the Hammer Circle of GB have hired it for the weekend). However there will be light refreshments in the adjacent hall.

Course description

Goes narrow soon after the start. Winds through rough fields, then woods including a steep uphill and steep downhill, before returning around a field to the start.

There is a mixture of terrain, e.g. field and gravel paths, so both spikes and studs will be fine, but, unless there is a lot of rain in the next couple of weeks, the ground is likely to be hard, therefore trail shoes and good road trainers are also recommended.

Transport

Underground: Woodford Station (Central Line). If coming from the Central London direction, cross under the subway to join Snakes Lane East. After 1km, at t-junction turn left into Chigwell Road. Under the Motorway Bridge and the Ashton Playing Fields clubhouse is on your left. Please check www.tfl.gov.uk for planned engineering works.

Bus: 275 from Walthamstow to Woodford. W14 from Leyton and Leytonstone to Woodford Bridge.

From the clubhouse to the course: cross Chigwell Road at traffic lights and head up Gaynes Hill Road. Then right at t-junction into Roding Lane North. Entrance to the course is on your left

Car: Take the A406 and exit onto the slip road A1400 and then at the Charlie Brown roundabout take the first exit, A113, Chigwell Road. Then proceed past junction of Broadmead Road and Snakes Lane East and under M11. Go straight ahead through three sets of traffic lights (including a crossing set for pedestrians) and turn left into Ashton Playing Fields, just after you go under a road bridge. There is parking for approximately 150 cars at Ashton Playing Fields and limited parking on Roding Lane North and nearby residential roads. Please do not park on grass verges, look out for any restrictions and do not block access.
Please note: If you plan to drive to Claybury, please make sure that you leave lots of time, since the approach roads from central London are terribly congested.

Timetable

  • 1.00pm - Under 11s –1500m
  • 1.15pm - Under 13 boys – 3000m
  • 1.20pm – Under 13 girls – 3000m
  • 1.35pm – U15 boys/17 men – 4000m
  • 1.40pm– U15 girls/U17 women – 4000m
  • 1.55pm – Adult women/U20 women– 6000m
  • 2.35pm – Adult men/U20 men – 8000m

Other information

All entries taken on the day. You do not need to enter in advance. Please arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of your race as you will need to register and collect your race number from the Serpentine volunteers, who will be based by the Serpentine flag on the course near the start line area.

NOTE: This season, unlike past seasons, the number allocated to each runner at the first race at Claybury can be re-used for the rest of the Met League races - so if you hang onto your number after the race, you won't have to get a new number at the second and susequent Start Fitness Met League races.

You must run in a Serpentine top. If you do not yet have your Serpentine top, you can exchange your voucher for one in the Kit Room on a Wednesday evenings (between 6.15pm and 6.40pm). If you won't be able to get to the Kit Room before the race, please contact the relevant team captain before 7 October.

Listening devices such as I-Pods are not allowed on safety grounds when competing.

The Serpie post race pub will be the Crown and Crooked Billet, Woodford Green for much need post race refreshment and food.

Note: there are no toilets at the course.

See the league website for more information

For this first race of the season, we need 2-3 Serpie helpers to act as Team Managers and assist with registering the runners and handing out numbers before the start and helping to record the finishers. If you're coming to support, can you help too? After handing out numbers, there will be plenty of time to cheer the runners on before the first finishers come in and you're needed to help at the finish. If you'll be able to help, please contact one of the team captains to let them know.

Contact

Women's team captain:
Jo Beak
jobeak@hotmail.com
07966 915 468

Men's team captain:
Fraser Johnson
fraserjohnson@mac.com
07595 331 720

Submitted: 30 September 2015

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