Dear All,

As you will be aware, the usual LDWA 100 event has been cancelled this year but a local member, Colin has a suggestion for Dorset members  to join him if they are still keen to complete a similar but unsupported event. Details below.

Please note that this is only a tentative suggestion at this stage and it will only take place if it can be arranged to be fully compliant with both Government COVID-19 guidelines and LDWA rules in force at the time. Anyone intending to do such an event must take care to ensure that their training is also within guidelines which say, at the moment, that your daily exercise should be in your local area.

If you are interested in Colin's suggestion please contact him directly.

Anne Brown

Dorset LDWA Walks Secretary

dorset.ldwa.walk@gmail.com

Colin's Sir Fynwy Virtual 100

You will probably have seen that this year’s 100 has been cancelled, but there is an intention to allow people to do a virtual 100.  That is to say to walk 100 miles over the late May Bank Holiday following normal 100 rules.

It is my intention to try and walk a virtual 100 so this email is designed to find out if there is anybody else in Dorset who would be interested in walking a virtual 100 or helping out over that weekend.  If you are not you can stop reading now, but if this has perked your interest then read on.

It is very hard to plan any sort of event at the moment, because it is impossible to say what the rules and regulations relating to the prevention of COVID 19 will be at the end of May.  We could still be in a near total lockdown or we could all be vaccinated and able to walk with as many people as we like and hug each other in congratulation for making the next checkpoint.  My guess is we will be somewhere in between these two extremes; maybe we will be governed by the rule of 6 again (or some other number when outdoors).

Due to this uncertainty, we need a plan that can change, possible even change with only a few days’ notice.  I therefore have considered three options:

1)      Walk the Sir Fynwy route.  This route (description & gpx) has been published on the web.  I have walked about half of it as the South Wales Group walked it back in 2019 as a series of social walks.  I can recommend it as a great route, although there are some significant climbs in the Black Mountains.  There are likely to be a number of LDWA members from around the country who will also be considering doing the route this weekend so it could be a quite good social event.  However, this makes it the option where we will need to have considerable relaxations of COVID rules.

2)      Walk the Dorset 100 route; with a few minor modifications, mainly around checkpoints and avoiding the bits that cross private land, or to pass a shop where additional supplies can be purchased.

3)      Walk 4 or 5 different loops from a single location.  I could organise this from my house.  I know of lots of routes and I could easily check them out over lockdown.  For those who don’t know I live just outside of Owermoigne, so we have good access to loops along the coast and inland ridges, and loops out onto Winfrith Heath.  I promise to make the last loop over the nice flat heathland.  I also have a cabin in my back garden that has a toilet and running water; with a microwave and kettle, this would make a great self-service checkpoint.  This option would be achievable with more stringent COVID rules and may be the best option if we only have a very few walkers.

Obviously, we will not have the usual number of checkpoints, but we may be able to provide some support.  It is possible that there will be volunteers who would be prepared to operate a checkpoint out of the back of a car.  In addition, we could arrange stash points where we hide a selection of supplies in a remote area (and hope no other people or animals eat them).  If COVID rules are significantly relaxed it may even be possible to book one or two village halls.  However, I would stress this is likely to be one or two halls on the whole route not the usual regular checkpoints.

You are able to enter the Sir Fynwy Virtual 100 via SI entries and this costs £20.  If you do this and complete a hundred then you will receive a certificate and your 100 will count towards 10 and 20 hundred awards.  If you want to walk the 100 I am organising, there is no requirement to enter the Sir Fynwy Virtual 100, but I would strongly encourage you to do so as it supports the LDWA who have lost out considerably by the cancellation of the hundred and other events this year.

In addition, there may be a small charge for entering this 100.  This would be only to cover the expenses of any volunteers and if we were to use a village hall, the hire costs.  If there is sufficient interest in this event, we could seek a subsidy from group funds to cover part of these costs; but that is obviously subject to approval by the committee

Things to consider if you are interested:

1. a) All 100 mile walks are tough, this one is likely to have the added challenge of having very limited checkpoints and support.
2. b) On a normal 100 some of the later checkpoints are open for a considerable time.  We can not expect volunteers to stay at the checkpoint for such long periods.  Therefore, if you expect to complete the 100 in a particularly fast or slow time checkpoints may not be available or could be only a stash point.  If opening times have to be limited, I would try to skew this in favour of slower walkers as they will probably need more support.
3. c) You will be required to carry all the mandatory kit for a 100, even if you have not elected to enter the virtual 100.  You will also need to carry more food and water than you would on a normal 100.
4. d) The 100 may not have a route description, or the description may be incomplete.  There will be a gpx available so you will be need to be able to follow this on an electronic device or paper map.
5. e) All entrants will be catering for themselves.  There may be a possibility to transport food checkpoints or stash points.
6. f) There will be no sweepers or support if you get lost.  We can have a simple mobile phone based system where walkers check into checkpoints, so their progress can be tracked.
7. g) If you need to retire, you will need to arrange your own transport back to the start.  Due to COVID you CAN NOT expect any volunteers to give you a lift.

At this point I am not expecting anybody to commit to this 100; I am not sure any of us can make any commitments at the moment; and I am fully acceptant that people may want to, or be required to, drop out at the last minute.  However, in order to gauge interest, please let me know if you fall into one of the following groups:

1)      I would be interested in walking a 100 on the late May Bank Holiday.

2)      I would be interested in supporting a 100 walk over the late May Bank Holiday.

3)      I would be interested in supporting a 100 walk over the late May Bank Holiday, but only if it is held in Dorset.

Colin Utting

mail@cdutting.co.uk

07775 853 360