Llangorse Lake Swim 2017 - Swimmers Information

Can you beat the Afanc?!

Dear competitor

Thank you for entering the Llangorse Lake Big Swim. The weekend has come about thanks to the support and generosity of the people who own the lake and surrounding countryside and live and work nearby.

Our aim is to organise a tough but fun event which works alongside the natural environment and local community of Llangorse. All of the organisation and marshalling is done by volunteers and any profit made from the race is donated to local community clubs and schemes, local charities and to preparing for next year’s event.

The race is insured but we also recommend taking out private insurance to cover any potential injury or illness. We look forward to welcoming you all on September 30th Nicola Goodwin – Race Director 07966 546068llangorsetri@hotmail.co.uk

DirectionsThe swim takes place at Llangorse Lake in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The swim HQ is at Llangorse Sailing Club next to the lake. The village is reached via the B560 from Talgarth or Bwlch and the postcode for the lake and common is LD3 7TR. The common and sailing club are accessed via a single track road which is often busy with horses, pedestrians and cyclists so PLEASE TAKE CARE. Please follow the signs and marshals to the parking area. Depending on the weather conditions, this will either be in a field next to the sailing club (with thanks to the Davies family) or on the common.

Registration

Registration takes place on Saturday 30th. Registration opens at 12 noon for the 6km swimmers and at 12.30 for swimmers doing all other distances. Registration will close at 13.30. The race team will be in and around the lake and campsite from Thursday so please just get in touch if you arrive early and have any questions.

Registration will work like this:- You’ll check your number on the list on the boards- You’ll be signed in and then asked to sign a waiver saying that you

understand the risks of taking part in the swim. Your number will then be written on your hand. Please tell us if you plan on not wearing your wetsuit as you sign in.

- You’ll collect a coloured swimming hat which must be worn during the swim section. If you are choosing to wear two hats please wear the coloured hat on the top. It’s a special Llangorse hat and we’re sure you’ll love it. Please make sure you wear the correct hat as this helps us to identify you in the water.

- You’ll collect your timing chip – this is VERY IMPORTANT! Please make sure that you wear your chip on your ankle and secure it under your wetsuit. It’s best to put it on straight away so you don’t lose it. You must return your chip at the end of the race (we’ll have marshals taking them off you as you get out of the water). Failure to do so will result in a financial penalty.

- You can pick up a baggage label if you want to leave a bag at HQ during the swim. This is where you can leave your towel, clothes, shoes etc. Please don’t leave any valuables unattended.

Timings

We will be starting you all in waves according to your swim distance. There will be a briefing for all swimmers at the start before each wave.

12:00 – Registration opens for 6km swimmers12:30 – Registration for all other race distances 13:30 – Registration closes 13:40 – Swimmers’ individual food and drink is taken out on to the floating aid ship. Please make sure you hand in your bottles etc. at registration

13:50 – Briefing for 6km swimmers14:00 – 6km Swim Start

14:10 – Briefing for 4.5km swimmers14:20 – 4.5km Swim Start

14:30 – Briefing for 3km swimmers14:40 – 3km Swim Start

14:50 – Briefing for 1.5km swimmers15:00 – 1.5km Swim Start

16:50 – Last swimmers exit the water17:00 – Prize-giving

We will aim to stick to these times but please be aware that they may be affected by events on the day

Marshals

All of our marshals are giving up their valuable time to make the race run safely and smoothly and to help you have fun. Please give them a smile. We will have local canoeists and sailors keeping you safe on the water plus members of local swimming clubs and Hereford Triathlon Club assisting you at registration. The judo club will be showing their strength by helping you out of the water and the cricket club will be showing you wear to park and handing out the hot drinks and food after the race.

Changing area and toilets

There will be numerous toilets available next to transition/registration and at the swim start. We HATE toilet queues so we make sure there are enough!The fab people at Llangorse Sailing Club are also allowing the swimmers to use the changing rooms before and after the race. There are also limited showers at the sailing club plus showers at the camp site nearby (20 pence needed)

Swim course and temperature

The Big Swim takes place in the beautiful Llangorse Lake, the largest natural lake in south Wales. Swimming is normally forbidden in the lake so thanks to the Blackham family, Llangorse Sailing Club and the Llangorse Users Group, competitors will get the only chance in the year to enjoy the beautiful water. Please don’t attempt to swim in the lake before or after the events as we don’t want you to upset the wildlife or get squished by a boat or a water skier.

During the past few weeks the water temperature has fluctuated between 15 and 17 degrees. We are expecting sunshine and showers at the lake during the next ten days so the temperature is likely to remain the same or rise slightly. We’ll be posting temperature updates on our Facebook page and via twitter.

Natural Resources Wales, who monitor this special place, have requested that all competitors make sure that their wetsuits, swimsuits, tri-suits and trunks etc. are thoroughly cleaned and dried off between your last swim and entering the water at Llangorse. This is to avoid any cross contamination and protect the biodiversity of Llangorse Lake.

A compulsory briefing will take place for all swimmers in the pen before the swim start. Please make sure that you attend this. Swimmers will then get the chance to get into the water and warm up before the start. The swim will be started in waves according to the race distance.

The course will be marked on the Friday and will take the swimmers from Llangorse Sailing Club, across to the far bank with views of St Gastyn’s church and back towards The Crannog – the only such ancient lake dwelling in England and Wales. In the event of significant weed or algae we will move the swim elsewhere in the lake. We’ll notify all swimmers at registration if there are any changes.

The swim course will be clearly marked with large yellow buoys and a course map will be available at registration. We will have boat and canoe support on the water to help any swimmers who may get into difficulty.

The water quality is monitored by both us and the various bodies who monitor the lake and we will be taking the temperature regularly in the week before the race and on race day. As in all open water swimming, we would advise you to avoid swallowing any lake water and cover up any open wounds. If you find yourselves in difficulty at any point whilst in the water please lie on your back and raise your arm and a kayak or boat will come to your assistance.

Aid Stations

There will be a floating aid station on a boat which will be placed near to the beginning of each loop. It will have water, cola (flat), sweets and ready salted crisps. You can also leave your individual drinks and food there. Please mark them clearly and leave them in the designated box at registration. The box will be taken on to the water at 13:40 so please make sure it’s there in time.

First aid and personal safety

This is a challenging but achievable swim. It is your responsibility to make sure that you are fit and well enough to take part. The race is insured but we would advise that you look to take out additional personal injury insurance before taking part. There will be a professional first aid team at race HQ plus numerous first aid trained marshals on all stages of the course. If you feel ill or sustain an injury please report to the next canoe marshal.

If you find yourselves in difficulty at any point whilst in the water please lie on your back and raise your arm and a kayak or boat will come to your assistance.

Litter

Llangorse Lake and the surrounding area is part of the Brecon Beacons National Park and a SSSI area. Please leave it in as beautiful a state as you find it. Any competitor who is seen dropping litter will be dealt with by a penalty or disqualification. If you have any litter please give it to a marshal on the course who will happily dispose of it for you.

Timing and results

The race will be timed by DB Max using a chip which will be issued at registration. It is your responsibility to make sure that you hand in your chip at the end of the race and failure to do so will result in your being charged for a lost chip. The provisional times will be available as soon as you have finished and the provisional results will be posted as soon as the last person has finished. The results will be available on our website and the DB Max website on the Saturday evening.

A list of prize categories will be displayed at registration. The prize giving will take place at 5pm or as close to that time as possible at the finish line. If you think you have won a prize please stay for the prize giving, no prizes will be posted out.

Spectators

We’d love to see as many spectators as possible come along to cheer you on. Spectators can watch from the sailing club’s clubhouse, the Crannog or along the banks of the lake.

We will be taping off the start and finish area and only competitors will be able to enter here. This is to keep everybody safe and relaxed before and after the swim. Please make sure that you let your loved ones know that they cannot enter this area. They will be able to take great photos from the banks of the lake and the pontoon.

Where to eat, drink and stay

There is ample accommodation situated right next to transition and the race start at the Lakeside Caravan and Camping Park. The lakeside and village contains excellent places to eat, drink and relax and play areas for children so it’s an ideal place to be based for a family or team weekend. The Lakeside team can also provide information about hiring boats and canoes, fishing or enjoying some of the many water sports on offer. There is also a well-stocked shop, café run by Sarah and the team and the lakeside bar where Karen and Stuart will give you a warm welcome. The Big Swim team will be staying on site on the Friday and Saturday nights so please come and say hello. For more details and to book accommodation – www.llangorselake.co.uk

If you’d prefer to stay nearby in Llangorse village, Bwlch, Talgarth, Brecon or Hay then there are hundreds of available options including an Air B and B run by our canoe marshals Lawrence and Rose. There’s loads of things to do in the area including canoeing, walking or browsing the bookshops in Hay.

We are also in the heart of the best region in the UK if not the world for locally sourced food and drink. Take the time to visit the Welsh Venison Centre and farm shop in Bwlch or the Talgarth Mill and Café (as featured on the BBC) or the River Café at Glasbury (one of the team’s favourite cycling stops):www.beaconsfarmshop.co.ukwww.talgarthmill.comwww.wyevalleycanoes.co.uk

In Llangorse village you’re spoiled for choice with The Castle Pub or at The Red Lion pub. If you’ve got children or are making it a club weekend then Ryan and the team at Activity UK and the Base Camp Café can help organise loads of activities for you. www.redlionllangorse.co.ukwww.activityuk.com

Thank You

The weekend would not be possible without the support of the Blackham family, the Llangorse Lake Users Group and the local community. We are raising money for the Llangorse Sailing Club plus a number of other local sports clubs and charities. The sailing club are also providing our HQ for the weekend plus the water safety boats and volunteers.

Huge thanks must go to all of the marshals without whom the race weekend would not be taking place and to the community of Llangorse, Talgarth and the surrounding villages.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch should you have any questions:www.llangorsetri.comllangorsetri@hotmail.co.uk@LlangorseTriFacebook – Llangorse TriathlonNicola - 07966 546068