RACE FORMAT

iROC™ is designed to test your endurance and all round adventure racing skills – running, navigation and biking. There are six exciting and challenging races for you to choose from:  two fell races, two orienteering races and two MTB races. For each style of racing there will be one race at night and one during the day… that’s six different races in total.

We expect most competitors to compete in all six races but only a true all rounder will be able to win overall. Every race will share two common features; a ‘mass’ or ‘rapid fire block’ start and a course that loops back through the event centre after the first (and shorter) loop. This is to ensure maximum spectator value and opportunity for anyone with the right attitude to get involved and have a go (see the ‘Come and Try It’ section for more details).

Remember that each race is planned and designed as a standalone event and will be as tough and challenge in its own right as normal fell, mountain bike or orienteering race.

There will be short prize giving ceremony for the winners of each individual race immediately after each race has finished.

iROC™ has a brilliant and unique format, which was universally praised after the 2009 event. Don’t miss out – Enter now!

 

Date	Time	Activity	Duration / Distance* / Elevation
Friday 28th May	22:00 to 02:00	Race 1: Night Orienteering (Score Format)	90 minutes
Saturday 29th May	09:00 to 18:00	Test Run, Ride and Orienteering	N/A
Saturday 29th May	10:00 to 17:00	Come & Try It - Adventure Racing	TBC
Saturday 29th May	22:00	Race 2: Night Fell Race	9km / 430m
Sunday 30th May	11:00	Race 3: Day Fell Race	14km / 620m
Sunday 30th May	15:00	Race 4: Day Orienteering	10.4km / 475m
Sunday 30th May	22:00	Race 5: Night MTB Time Trail	18km / 620m
Monday 31st May	09:30 to 15:30	Race 6: MTB Enduro	6 hours

* Times and distances approximate.

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Race 1 - Night Orienteering – Score Format
Friday 28th May 2200 to 0000

The first race of the iROC™ weekend is the Night Orienteering. There is a large start window to allow competitors travelling sufficient time to arrive and register. Once registered, simply head to the ‘punching start’ and beginning whenever you like. Once you have started (and the clock is ticking) you’ll be issued with a map and details of the different control values and you’ll have 80 minutes to locate as many controls as you can. Competitors can select which controls to visit and choose their own route between the controls. There will be a spread of controls to locate, from easy path junctions to technical features (TD5). Controls which are furthest away and technically more difficult, will gain the most points but there will be plenty of easier controls for less experienced navigators to locate (although they will score fewer points). The more controls you visit the more points you’ll score. Controls will be laid out so that the optimum routes will necessitate passing back through the event centre. Points will be deducted for arriving back late. For competitors trying to clear the course, this will be a tough test of navigation and route choice made all the more difficult because of the darkness. There will be a free meal from Wilfs available to all competitors at the end. A great way to kick start your Bank Holiday weekend of adventure.

You can download the 2009 iROC™ orienteering map here
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Test Run, Ride and Orienteering
Saturday 29th May 0900 to 1800

Daylight hours on the Saturday are dedicated to allowing competitors the opportunity to ‘test drive’ the different race courses. This will be particularly important to anyone looking to set a fast time on the MTB Night Time Trial, as this will be competitors only opportunity to ride the course before the race. Much of the MTB Night Time Trial course and MTB Enduro course overlap so this is also a great opportunity to check out this course as well.

We are introducing a very exciting extra feature to the orienteering race at the 2010 iROC™… This is labyrinth maze constructed from crowd control barriers, which will offer a high intensity navigation challenge at the start and finish of the orienteering race and brilliant spectating. Competitors will have a chance to run a short model event that includes the labyrinth during the day on the Saturday.
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Come and Try It – Adventure Racing
Saturday 29th May 1000 to 1700 for U14 Races

Ever fancied having a go at mountain biking, fell running or orienteering? Whether you are spectating, friends and family of a competitor or from the local community iROC™ will be the perfect opportunity to ‘come and try it’!

There are two ways in which you can get involved.

1. Join in with any of the six main races at iROC™.

Don’t be daunted however, as the course are designed so that they feature two loops with the shorter loop first. This means you can share the excitement of the start with all the other competitors and race with them on the same course. At the end of the first loop, you can either finish at that point or if you are still up for it, continue and complete the second loop.

The best way to think about these races is as an adventurous fun run, bike ride or navigational challenge. However, the course will be hilly and muddy so come prepared! A mountain bike is essential for either of the main MTB Races, good quality and grippy footwear recommend for the fell races and headwork’s/bike lights are mandatory for the night races.

2. Free U14 Adventure Races.

On Saturday 29th May there will be a series of free to enter mini races for the under 14’s. This will include a bike race, a fell/trail race and an orienteering race. Details of these races will be added to the website shortly.

See the Come and Try It – Adventure Racing section for full details.

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Race 2 –Night Fell Race
Saturday 29th May 2200

The Night Race marks a change in tempo for the weekend with the races coming fast and furious thereafter. Competitors will gather in the starting pen before a mass start releases the hordes into the darkness. No map will be required as the entire route will be marked with reflective tape and lit with hundreds of glow sticks. Much of the course is visible from the event centre so this races promises to be a visual extravaganza for both competitors and spectators alike. Mud, river crossings and steep ascents and descent will all feature in this incredible night running challenge.
Just think of the amazing sense of satisfaction you’ll have crossing the finishing line and being able to going straight into the main marquee for a very well deserved beer! There will also be a free meal from Wilfs available to all competitors at the end.
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Race 3 – Day Fell Race
Sunday 30th May 1100

After a great nights sleep on our perfect camping field, what better way to start the day… This will be a tough, hilly course following tracks, paths, crossing rivers and taking direct routes across open countryside and fells. Expect to get muddy, expect your legs to burn and expect some amazing running terrain. The course will be fully signed so no map will be issued for this race and no navigational experience is required. Again, you can be sure that the anticipation will be heavy in the air as you gather in the starting pen for an exciting mass start. Once the start gun goes it’s just a simple test of stamina and speed between you, the fells and all your fellow competitors. First across the line takes maximum points.
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Race 4 - Orienteering Race
Sunday 30th May 1500

The first of the ‘rapid fire starts’ with competitors starting in blocks of four at one minute intervals (start times based on the results from the first three races with fastest starting first). As for the 2009 event there will be four loops for each competitor to complete that all pass through the event centre. Each person in each starting block will have a different initial loop to reduce opportunities for following. However, new for 2010 will be a labyrinth maze at the start of the first loop and end of the fourth. This will make for great spectating and intense orienteering as competitors navigate the intricate maze constructed from crowd control barriers.

The great thing about this race is that ultimately everyone ends up running an identical distance and locating the same checkpoints. You just need to concentrate on your map, your course and your checkpoints.

The technical difficulty of the orienteering in this race will not be as hard as the night orienteering with most (but not all) checkpoints positioned on prominent features. A competent fell runner or adventure racer will be fine! If however, you do miss a control rather than being disqualified, you will be automatically ranked below a competitor who found more controls regardless of finishing time.

You can download the 2009 iROC™ orienteering map here
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Race 5 - Night MTB Time Trial
Sunday 30th May 2200

Competitors raved about this race at the 2009 event and for 2010 we have upped the ante… considerably! The second ‘rapid fire start’ again sees competitors starting in blocks at one minute intervals (start times based on the results from the first four races with fastest starting first). However, this year the course is longer with a new uphill singletrack section in the forest and some major improvements to the downhill singletrack (that put the fear into competitors in 2009) so that it’s smoother and faster than before. No map will be required as the entire route will be marked with reflective tape and lit with hundreds of glow sticks. However, you’ll still want the most powerful bike lights you get your hands on, because the course will feature technical single track, lightning fast descents and some challenging ascents. Fastest time picks up maximum points.
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Race 6 – MTB Enduro
Sunday 31st May 0930

This is it. The final race after a grueling weekend of adventure kicks off in true Enduro style with a mass running start at 0930. After this short dash competitors will have 6 hours to complete as many laps of the hilly Enduro circuit as they can with each lap passing through the event centre.  This is a tough Enduro course with many competitors in 2009 claiming it could be the toughest MTB Enduro course in the country thanks to its hilly and technical nature. The course is fully way marked so no map is required. Any competitors feeling the heat can opt use the ‘punching start’ and start anytime like after 1000. If a rider completes a lap just before the 6 hour mark they should aim to start another lap. Riders cannot start another lap after 6 hours. The winner is the rider who has completed the most laps after the 6 hours has elapsed (if two riders are tied on the same number of laps, then the quickest time will determine the winner).
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Scoring
We are using the same system as the 2009 event, which worked extremely well and resulted in close, competitive racing across the field.

Everyone who completes a race will score points. After all six races the person/team/pair with the highest cumulative number of points will win. The amount of points available per race is fixed at 400 with the winners (both male and female individuals) also receiving two bonus points. Regardless of the number of finishers the last competitor will always score one point. A formula is applied to the results so that each position scores points between 400 and one point. For example: 1st = 402 points, 2nd = 399 points, 3rd = 397 points, 4th = 396 points etc etc, with last place = 1 point.

This scoring system means that regardless of the winning margin in each individual race, to win overall you would need to excel in every race.

Individual, Team or Pairs Entry
You may enter as either an individual, a team of three or as a pair. As an individual, your finishing position in each race will equal a certain number of points, with the first place scoring maximum points. The overall individual winner will be the person with the highest number of point’s after all five races.

If you choose to compete as a team, your individual scores in each race will be added together to create a team score. This way, whatever position you are battling for, it will make a difference to your team’s overall score. Obviously, having all three team members finishing all six races will ensure the team is eligible for the maximum number of points. With the exception of Race 4 (orienteering race) you will be able to race together and support each other if you wish.

If you enter as a pair you have two choices; either to enter all six races each (select: ‘Pair (Both Racing)’ on the entry form) OR enter the six races between you, so that one of the pair races while the other is resting (select: ‘Pair (1 Racing)’ on the entry form).

If you choose to compete as a ‘Pair (Both Racing)’ your individual scores in each race will be added together to create a pairs score. This way, whatever position you are battling for, it will make a difference to your pair’s overall score. Obviously, having both members of the pair finishing all six races will ensure the pair is eligible for the maximum number of points. With the exception of Race 4 (orienteering race) you will be able to race together and support each other if you wish.

If you choose to compete as a ‘Pair (1 Racing)’ your individual scores in each race will still be added together to create a pair score but only one of the pair will be able to compete in each race. This category is especially designed for parents who may have a young child to look after or for a pair who want to have a more relaxed weekend. Having a child is not a requirement of entering this category! Please note that both members of the pair will need individual SI cards still.

The Yellow Jersey
The leading individuals (both male and female and based on overall score) after each race will be given the famed Yellow Jersey to wear for the next race… Will they be able to keep hold of it though???

Prizes
In 2009 there was a £2000 cash prize pot… Details for the 2010 event are yet to be confirmed but you can be certain they’ll be excellent!

Electronic Timing
SPORTident timing will be used for all six races. This gives accurate results and is our check to ensure everyone has returned safely at the end of each race.  You are welcome to use your own SI card if you have one. If not, you will need to hire an SI card (the dibber) for £2 for the weekend or £1 per race, when you enter online. SI cards will be issued at registration.