Serpentine Handicap, Saturday 30 July

Runner in Hyde Park

I'm posting this note on behalf of the Handicappers following concerns that some members have raised over whether the race will go ahead this Saturday, 30 July

Royal Parks staff have assured us that the route along the north bank of the Serpentine will be open and that the fencing that has been blocking the footpath in the vicinity of the Triathlon site will be removed for the weekend.  However, if the route is blocked, I have measured an alternative course of the same distance that can be used.  Either way, the race is on!

On one other important matter, there will be a permanent alteration to the usual course, starting on Saturday.  The area in front of the Lido Cafe is increasingly busy and there is now a significant risk of an accident between a runner and someone using the Lido Cafe.  The Royal Parks Agency has stopped all other races from going in front of the cafe.  Accordingly, we have been asked to divert the route behind the cafe by using Rotten Row, returning to the normal route just beyond the cafe.  Hugh Jones has accurately measured the revised course for us and it will be the same distance as that currently used.  Hugh's map can be downloaded from www.coursemeasurement.org.uk/detail.php?area=South&no=2005008 or   http://runningcourses.org.uk/south/map/05-008.pdf  

In the circumstances, the Handicappers have asked if runners can try to arrive early to register and I'm sure they can count on your cooperation.

Malcolm French – MalcolmFrench@aol.com

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