Meanwood Trail Race Information

RACE DETAILS

13th Meanwood Valley Trail Race

Under U.K. Athletics Rules - U.K. Athletics Licence 10572

Saturday 17^th May 2008 - 10.30 a.m.

from Leodiensian Club ("Old Leos"), Crag Lane, off King Lane, Alwoodley, LS17 5PR

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YOUR RACE NUMBER

Thank you for your entry for the race - please find your number enclosed.

If you are unable to run,

PLEASE DO NOT GIVE YOUR NUMBER TO SOMEONE ELSE,

as this might cause incorrect allocation of prizes,

and could cause confusion if an accident or emergency were to occur.

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ABOUT THE RACE

The Meanwood Valley Trail is a footpath from Woodhouse Moor near Leeds City Centre to Golden Acre Park at Bramhope. This path forms the first 7 miles of the Dales Way long distance footpath from Leeds to Bowness-on-Windermere.

Our Trail Race starts and finishes at the Old Leo's Club, just 300 yards off the Meanwood Valley Trail. The course is a single lap of approximately 7.5 miles mainly on footpaths with some grassland. There is just one 100 yard stretch of road, run twice, which enables us to make the only road crossing on our route. Yet at the southernmost point we are less than 3 miles from Leeds City Centre!

Due to the road section and a section of tarmac path, the route is unsuitable for spikes. But some of the footpaths are stony and/or muddy. Depending on the amount of rain in the weeks before the race, runners should choose between fell or trail running shoes with long rubber studs or studded road-running shoes - previous experience is that fell/trail shoes are more likely to be better!

In our first year, 1996, we had 95 finishers. This had risen to nearly 200 by 1999. From 2000 to 2007 we have averaged 300 finishers with a peak of 356 last year. We hope to have more than 300 this year.

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"RULES OF THE PATHS": Please note that some of the race is on public footpaths and bridlepaths and although we will be putting up notices to give advance warning of our event, walkers and horseriders have equal right to use these paths. Marshals will ask walkers/riders to keep to the left - runners should keep left when meeting walkers and overtake on the right when coming up behind walkers.

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AIREDALE TRIPLE TRAIL: Meanwood is the third in a 3 race series, the other races being:

Guiseley Gallop: Sunday March 23rd at 10.30 a.m. Website http://www.skyrac.org.uk

Baildon Boundary Way: Sunday April 6th at 10.00 a.m. Website http://www.baildonrunners.tk

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LINEHAM FARM CHILDREN'S CENTRE: All profits from the race are being donated to Lineham Farm, which, each year, gives over 1000 deserving local children a unique, rewarding and memorable holiday in the country. Over the last 8 years we have raised over £6500. Please contact us if you would like further details of the charity or would like to raise money for them.

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Promoted by Valley Striders

Course designer, Geoff Webster, and the rest of the Valley Striders Race Support Team hope you enjoy the course and the event - Good Luck!

For further information, please contact Bob Jackson on Leeds 289-2830, or visit the race website: http://www.valleystriders.org.uk/trail.htm

DIRECTIONS

From Leeds City Centre and the South (including M1 and M621)

Follow the A61 through the City Centre towards Harrogate for 4 miles out of Leeds

On reaching the roundabout with the A6120 Outer Ring Road, turn left

At the next roundabout (just before the shopping centre which includes Sainsbury's and Homebase), turn right onto King Lane

Follow King Lane for approx 1 mile; there is a parade of shops on the right hand side, at the end of the parade turn left onto the drive/track to Old Leo's (there is a sign for Old Leo's, also a blue 'P' sign, but there is no roadsign for Crag Lane)

If you are early, continue along the drive/track and park near the Clubhouse. If you are not so early, find a side road to park and jog the 200 yards to the Clubhouse. Do NOT park ON King Lane as this may cause an obstruction. N.B. Car-sharing will ease parking and save fuel!

From the North East and East

On reaching the A6120 Outer Ring Road, follow signs for Bradford

Cross over the A61 (Leeds-Harrogate) roundabout, then follow (3) above.

From the North West and West

On reaching the A6120 Outer Ring Road, follow signs for York

Immediately after Sainsbury's supermarket (on your left), turn left at the roundabout and follow (4) above

From Ilkley and Otley

From Otley, take the A660 (towards Leeds)

Immediately after Bramhope, at the little roundabout, turn left up Kings Road

At the next T-junction, turn right, then after 200 yards bear left onto King Lane

Continue across a cross roads, and through a narrow left hand bend. After passing a dozen houses, the road narrows again down a hill. Two-thirds of the way down this hill, on the right hand side, is the driveway to the Clubhouse. If you reach some shops you've gone 50 yards too far!

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FACILITIES

Please arrive early if you wish to park near the Clubhouse. If the car park is full, please respect access for local residents and do NOT park ON King Lane as this may cause an obstruction - the Police have commented on this.

Inside the Clubhouse, separate changing rooms for men and women will be available before and after the race. (NB valuables are left at your own risk). After the race, there will be 15 showers available for men, and 2 for women.

The Start and Finish are both less than 100 yards from the Clubhouse.

The bar in the Clubhouse will be open after the race for competitors (and during the race for spectators!)

The bar in the Clubhouse has been recently redecorated. Please change your shoes before entering the bar. You are also requested not to bring kit-bags into the bar.

Results will be displayed as soon as possible after the finish. If you require a printed copy of the results, there will be envelopes at the Enquiry Desk - self-address one of these and leave £1 inside.

Prizes will be presented in the Clubhouse soon after 12 noon.

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Supported by		Bottle of "Meanwood Meander" For all finishers 01943 466515 for enquiries
and		Mail Order 01943 601581 Shops at Leeds Road, Ilkley and Leeds Road, Nelson
and		William G Search Plant Hire 0113-263-9081

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For a list of entries received to date, visit our website http://www.valleystriders.org.uk/trail.htm

Please let your friends know that Late Entries will be accepted on the day at £2.00 extra
subject to a Race Limit of 400 - please check website for number of entries to date