Langdale Horseshoe - Final Details

With only a few days to go until the Langdale Horseshoe, please see below some information which should be read carefully by all entrants. If you are unable to run, I am afraid there is no facility for refunds or substitutions at this late stage.  

SiEntries Pre-event Details On The Day

You will have received one or two emails from SI entries asking you to update details online. This must be done before you travel as we will not be using paper forms on the day so it is vital that we have this information on record beforehand.

Getting here...

We are planning to use the normal parking field, which can be found here. Please bring £4 cash per car for parking, but note that to incentivise car sharing we will not charge for any vehicle with four or more runners. This money goes directly to the farmer who has supported the race for over 40 years.

We would also like to remind people of the £2 bus service – the 516 runs from Kendal to the Old Dungeon Ghyll and back hourly and the timetable can be found here. For those runners arriving by bus, please keep your ticket and hand it in at registration for the chance to win a spot prize! 

Timings…

Parking will be open from 8.45am with registration opening in the barn shortly after 9am. Registration will then close at 10.30am and all runners should be ready and on the start line at 10.50am for a race briefing before the race gets underway at 11.00am. Please ensure that you allow plenty of time to get through kit check and registration. Following the race, we will aim to start prize-giving at around 3pm at the front of the pub. 

Weather & kit…

At present, whilst the forecast is uncertain and could change dramatically, it looks like we could be in for a chilly day on the fells with some wind, rain and possibly sleet on the higher tops. The onus is on you to make sensible decisions based on the weather. Have a read of the FRA’s hypothermia leaflet here and, as an absolute minimum, please bring:

• Full FRA kit: waterproof tops/bottoms (taped seams), hat, gloves, map, compass, emergency food, whistle
• Additional items which the Race Organiser may require you to carry on the day: long sleeved thermal top and bivi bag (not blanket)

Whether or not these additional items are required will be confirmed on the day and this will be at the sole discretion of the Race Organiser. If you do not meet the kit requirements you will not be permitted to race – no exceptions.

Pete Bland Sports will, as usual, be in attendance. They have supported this race for years, so please consider purchasing from them. 

Checkpoints and cut-offs…

Please refer to our website for general information on the course checkpoints and cut-off times: https://www.amblesideac.org.uk/races/our-races/langdale-horseshoe/. Many of you that have done the race previously will note a new checkpoint at the outflow of Angle Tarn. This has been added to give race control a better understanding of runners’ whereabouts. Note that we have removed the cut-off at Esk Hause (but not the checkpoint – you must still visit and dib!) and replaced it with a cut-off of 1h45 at this new checkpoint. For absolute clarity, please see the full set of cut-offs below. These cut-offs are in place for runners’ and marshals’ safety, so please respect them. If you are cut off or retire, please return to the finish area via the shortest route and hand in your dibber; under no circumstances is it acceptable to carry on around the course.

LocationCut-off timeAngle Tarn12:45 (after 1h45)Bowfell13:35 (after 2h35)Crinkle Crags14:15 (after 3h15)Pike O'Blisco14:50 (after 3h50)

Finish line…

At the finish line your number will be recorded by a marshal and you will need to dib. Once this is done, you must return your dibber to the SPORTident, located where where you registered. Anybody who fails to do this will be assumed missing, and we don’t want to call out a search party for a runner who’s sat in the pub with a dibber!  Failure to hand in your dibber could result in your exclusion from future events.  

Online Results 

There is no mobile signal at Registration and so results will not appear online until shortly after the end of the race at https://www.sportident.co.uk/results/Ambleside/2024/Langdale/ 

In the meantime there will be a results scoreboard where you hand in your dibber.  

Pies… one only!

As usual we will be providing a warm pie to all racers. These will be available shortly after the first finishers return at the side of the pub. The marshals will be the last people back down and the coldest and wettest, so please don't eat more than one pie - to do so will deprive them of theirs! In addition, we will also be providing water/squash – please bring a cup to reduce waste if possible.
 

Finally, a few brief but very important reminders…

• This is a traditional fell race and runners should follow the FRA runners' rules here. As such, navigation using any kind of GPS or display of any form of electronic map is strictly prohibited (whether a “map” or merely a “breadcrumb trail” of either the route followed or a pre-loaded route to follow). Any runner seen to be flouting FRA rules will be reported to the FRA and may be banned from entering this race in future.
• All marshals on the hill and those helping at the start and finish are volunteers and are sacrificing their day to make this race happen for your benefit, so please be polite and do what you can to ensure they too have an enjoyable day on the fells. Please have your number on your vest (not on your shorts/longs) and display it to marshals, even if this means pausing for a moment.
• Remember the golden rule: if you retire from the race, whether through injury or otherwise, you must report to race control at the finish even if you have already reported your retirement to a course marshal whilst on the hill.

 See you all on Saturday!

 Thanks,

Tom, Hanno and Jo

Ambleside AC