Competition Area
The actual assembly area will only be disclosed when the final race information is dispatched to all competitors by mid August each year. lt is against competition rules to reconnoitre after the area has been disclosed.
Courses
Competitors are entered in pairs as teams of two (Men, Women or Mixed Teams) and the team working aspect is very important, both having to stay together but be mutually supportive throughout the entire competition. There are 7 courses: the distances and times for each course are as shown. All courses are ‘open’ but the organisers reserve the right to seed teams. Course distances and planned winning times are in reasonable weather conditions.
Class Distance (est.) Winner’s Time
- Elite (E) 80km 12 hrs
- A class 65km 11 hrs
- B class 50km 10 hrs
- C class 40km 9 hrs
- Long Score 7+ 6 hrs (day 1/2)
- Medium Score 6+5hrs
- Short Score 5+4hrs
Elite Course
With international flavour catering exclusively for the most competent and experienced. Only those with proven ability can be accepted for this class. Entry limit is 60 teams.
A Course
Also exceedingly demanding and embracing the same hazardous terrain but reduced in distance and climb. Entry limit is 100 teams.
B Course
Less demanding than the ‘A’ course in both distance and climb. Entry limit is 250 teams.
C Course
For teams with limited Mountain Marathon experience who have good hill walking experience. Entry limit is 320 teams.
Score Competition
In order to alleviate the problem of teams using the same route and the effect that it can have on the environment of the land, we have 3 Score categories:
- Long Score (LS): suitable for the Elite to experienced B category of competitors who have had previous Mountain Marathon experience or for orienteers who have extensive mountain experience. Time over the two days - 7 hours day 1, 6 hours day 2. Entry limit is 230 teams.
- Medium Score (MS): additional challenge for Short Score competitors or as an alternative to the B class. 6 hours day 1, 5 hours day 2. Entry limit is 280 teams.
- Score Short (SS): suitable for teams with hill walking experience who are good at navigating or for orienteers who want to use their skills of navigation in the mountains. 5 hours day 1, 4 hours day 2. Entry limit is 230 teams.
The time stated for the score class is an indication, it may vary according to the terrain etc. On all courses a handicap system will be introduced for veteran class teams, whose combined ages achieve a minimum of 90 years. The handicap will not influence the official race result but an additional handicap prize will be awarded. Women’s and mixed teams are eligible to compete on any course and the best performances will be recognised with special prizes. We have continued with the award per class for the best family team i.e. father/son etc.
The course distances quoted here are based on a formula to produce a winner’s time as indicated but where the nature of the terrain is calculated to retard progress i.e. excessive climbing or hazardous conditions, then the course distances would be adjusted accordingly.
All teams are expected to be able to finish their course in a time of that of the winner plus 50%. Competitors who doubt their ability to complete a course within this time are advised to enter a shorter course.
Note: this event is not suitable for novices to British mountains, at least one member of each pair in all classes should be experienced.
The event map: effectively, the map is a specialised mountain orienteering map, produced expressly for each OMM event. The waterproof maps supplied to each team member are specially produced for the competition with the courses pre-marked and ground survey corrected around the checkpoints.
To protect sensitive areas such as SSSI's and/or to respect landowner permissions some areas are marked out of bounds and must be respected. Scale 1.40,000; i.e. 2.5 cm representing one kilometre; contour intervals 15 metres. The grid of kilometre squares with grid references and other map symbols will correlate to OS maps.