LAMM 2017 - EVENT DETAILS

AT REGISTRATION, LOOK FOR THE DESK SHOWING YOUR FIRST TEAM MEMBER'S SURNAME (AS ON THE ENTRY LIST). YOU DO NOT NEED TO KNOW A TEAM NUMBER.

INDEMNITY FORM
Each team must complete one of these forms and hand it in at registration. You will also find the form on tables near to registration. Please save yourself time and hassle by downloading and printing one from here.

LAMM LOCATION
Further information about the location will be provided by 13:00hrs on Thursday 1st June. You should receive a LAMM email on Thursday lunchtime. Those with Internet access should visit www.lamm.co.uk where details will be provided. If you don't see a new home page with the event venue, please click on REFRESH, to update your browser window.

LAMM 2017 TEES - BACK TO OUR ROOTS
If you haven't yet ordered your LAMM tee, now is the time. For more information, please click here.

LAMM BEER - RAISING MONEY FOR ARROCHAR MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM
In 2010 you may remember that a LAMMer was seriously injured on the Sunday and Arrochar Team saved his life. We will be providing real ale from a very local microbrewery on Friday evening and on Sunday. A pint of beer will be £3.00 but you can donate more if you wish and ALL this money will go directly to the Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team who will be supporting us at the event. PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY. Other soft drinks can be purchased from Wilfs.

LIVE MUSIC ON FRIDAY EVENING
As it is the 21st Anniversary LAMM we've decided to indulge ourselves a little. The same group, 4 In a Bar, who played music in 2014 will be with us again in the LAMM Marquee from 19:30. It won't be loud and you'll still be able to chat with your mates. We hope it will add to the convivial atmosphere and help to wash the beer down.

TEAM CHANGES
Please make any team changes online before you come to the event by clicking on EDIT MY ENTRY. The last chance to enter the LAMM or make changes online is 23:59 on Thursday 1st June. This will help us considerably with the smooth running of the event. Report any even later changes to the Information Desk at registration.
Please register for the Outdoor Industry or University MM championships if your team fits the bill. See the appropriate links.

COURSE DISTANCES/ASCENT
These statistics are based on the Planner's Route Choice.

Course
Saturday
Sunday
E
39km 2,410m 28.5km 1,820m
A
32km 2,010m 26km 1,440m
B
26km 1,520m 22km 1,470m
C
24km 1,180m 21km 940m
D
20km 1,070m 18km 910m

The Score course is 7 hours on Saturday and 6 hours on Sunday.

ROUTE GADGET
As the competitors are setting off on Saturday and on Sunday we will display our map on the website showing all control sites and the routes for the day. Folk back home will be able to see the magbnificent LAMM area. By the time you arrive home on Sunday evening we hope to have loaded all your results into Route Gadget. Please make an effort to visit the Route Gadget web page where you will be able to add your routes to the map and compare them with those of other teams. The
routes are automatically linked with your SPORTident data and you will be able to replay the event.

THE ORIGINAL WILFS EVENT CATERING who supported us at the LAMM for many years are joining us again this year to provide a variety of food for purchase on Friday evening from 16.00. This will include Soup, Pizza, Chilli in a bowl, baked potatoes, pasta bowl, a number of cakes and the usual brews. On Saturday morning, cereal and bacon rolls will be on the menu from 06:00. A free meal is provided to each competitor on Sunday at the end of the event. Visit www.wilfs-cafe.co.uk.

COMPASS POINT FOR LAST MINUTE PURCHASES
Rick and Angela Houghton will have their mobile shop at the event on Friday night and Saturday morning. Telephone: 01253 795597 or email rick@compasspoint-online.co.uk. Order online from www.compasspoint-online.co.uk.

EVENT PARKING, EVENT CENTRE, ACCOMMODATION & CAMPING
The LAMM car park will not open or be signed until 15:00 on Friday so please do not arrive until then. It will close at 23:30 and re-open at 06:00 on Saturday. This year we are parking cars on one side of the huge flat camping field and there will be space for camper vans. We think it is best to leave a tent up on the camping area throughout the weekend and you can change in it on your return. If you don't have a second tent, a rucksack can be left in the event marquee and we will provide labels.

A river runs by the camping field with easy access through a gate in the field wall. There is only one habitation above the camp and if the river is flowing normally, it should be reasonably safe to drink the water. But be aware that the river level is low at the moment. If you are in any doubt about water quality, you should boil or purify it. If you walk out of the field at the main gate and cross the bridge over the river, there is a tap on the outside of the cream building immediately on the right. The distance is about 400M from the camping area.

REGISTRATION will be open from 16:00 - 23:30 on Friday but be closed between 22:00 and 22:30 for the marshals briefing. At registration you will receive your TWO SI-Cards and wriststraps, 2 LAMM car stickers and 2 pairs of foot shaped SIDAS plastic bags. The Information Desk will provide your Saturday start time and allow you to register any VERY LATE team/course changes.

OVERPRINTED MAP
Each team will receive 2 maps, approx. size (80cm x 60cm) which will be handed out on the way to the start. The map is at 1:40000 scale with a contour interval of 10m and is based on data from the relevant OS 1:50000 sheets. The map has control circles for all controls overprinted on it. From the grid references on your Control Descriptions, you will be able to identify the control circles for your course. For the Score Course, the values of the controls will also be printed on the Control Descriptions which you will receive as you start.

A word of warning, with the map based on the OS 1:50,000, not all crags are marked accurately and some small streams are not marked, so be wary of using these features for fine navigation. Just remember it is not a purpose made orienteering map, but a map for travelling through mountains and gives you exactly the information you need for the LAMM.

If you haven't already purchased laminated maps with your entry, these can be purchased at Registration - price £3 each. For those whose maps are not laminated, map bags sized 60cm x 45cm will be available for purchase at registration. Plain maps are not waterproof so please ensure that you take a large enough map bag with you and if the weather is really bad we suggest that you save one map for use on the second day. After the event is over, any remaining LAMM maps will be available at the LAMM shop.

START TIMES ON SATURDAY MORNING
Late registration will be open from 07:00 - 09:00. Assembly times are between 07:00 - 09:40 for B/C/D/Score and between 07:30 - 08:45 for Elite/A. Assembly is a maximum of 15 minute walk from the camping area. At the start enter the taped area corresponding to your course. The description sheet is waterproof paper and will give a 6-figure grid reference for each checkpoint on your course, plus a written description and code to look for at the checkpoint. Except on the Score Course, all checkpoints must be visited in the order shown on the sheet.

VISITING CONTROLS
Pairs must stay within visual and verbal contact of each other and BOTH MEMBERS MUST VISIT EACH CONTROL CARRYING THEIR EVENT RUCKSACK. We are aware that in previous years, a few teams have cheated by leaving rucksacks on the way to an out and back checkpoint or one member descended to a control before climbing back up the hill to join a weaker partner. Controls will be marked with an orienteering-type orange and white nylon marker and a SPORTident station will be attached to it. This will usually be sited at ground level, weighted down with rocks. Always check the 3-digit identification code on each SPORTident station to ensure that you have visited the correct one for your course. If you think the station is not working, please note or memorise the 3 letter word written on the station. Any closing times will be marked against the relevant checkpoint description and you should not expect to find a checkpoint marker if you arrive after this time.

USING A SPORTident SI-Card
Each competitor will carry an SI-Card and both members must punch at each checkpoint. Failure to punch by either team member at any checkpoint will lead to disqualification. This is intended to ensure that in future all unmanned checkpoints are visited by both team members. Each team member must visit registration to either receive a hire SI-Card or to present their own card so that we can confirm the card number. To ensure fair play and that both team members visit each control, all SI-Cards will be attached loosely to your wrist using a tamper proof wrist strap. This will remain attached all weekend and will be cut off you either when you finish or if you retire. If you lose the SI-Card or don't hand it in the charge will be £30.00. If you break your SI-Card the charge will be £15. We use these wristbands for non-orienteering events of more than 2 hours duration. Also you will quickly get used to carrying the card on your wrist. Wrists do swell during exercise and providing you have attached the card loosely, you will hardly notice that you are wearing it overnight.

You will not be penalised if you inadvertently dip your SI-Card at an extra control that is not on your course but you must dip your SI-Card at all the controls in the correct order on any course other than Score Course. Ensure that the station is NOT upside down when you insert the SI Card. If you are using a traditional SI-Card the station should beep/flash and if you are using a SIAC, the card will beep/flash. If you are using a SIAC at a control that has not been visited for an hour, you will need to dip your SIAC in the station to wake it up. and your SIAC will then beep/flash.

THE MIDCAMP
This year, the midcamp is another wild location with a nice flat camping area. Those teams arriving later could need to camp on rougher ground and if we have rain before the event, it could be soggy underfoot. If you are in any doubt about the quality of your groundsheet, please consider bringing a thin plastic sheet to place under your tent.

  • NO LITTER, CLOTHING OR EQUIPMENT WHATSOEVER is to be left behind when you leave as it will be quite difficult for us to litter sweep every location used for a tent. Be vigilant. If your neighbour leaves litter, please mention it to them!
  • There will be 8 portaloos and the usual slit trenches. Sorry we can't provide more loos but getting loos to this isolated midcamp will be unbelievably challenging and we are beyond grateful to . There is to be no Al Fresco crapping anywhere within 2KM of the midcamp
  • Take your water from the nearby river upstream of the tape that we will place across the river. Please don't wash in it or pollute it in any way upstream or near where people are collecting water. But be aware that the river level is low at the moment. If you are in any doubt about water quality, you should carry enough gas to boil or purify it.

SUNDAY MORNING STARTS
The start regime for the Sunday morning will be flexible. Chasing Start times for the leading teams on Elite, A, B, C and D courses will be displayed near the results by 20:00 on Saturday. The Chasing Start will begin at 06:00 and will last for 90 minutes. If you are not on the Chasing Start list you may start anytime from 06:30 onwards until 07:30. All teams in the Chasing Start should come to the midcamp results tent after 20:00 to be given 4 race numbers which indicate your course and position. Each team member will wear the numbers pinned on the front and on the back of the rucksack. For these teams, Sunday will be all about head to head racing and far more of you than ever before will be able to experience the exhilaration (and pressure) of racing on Day 2 of a Mountain Marathon.

Teams that retire or are disqualified on Day 1 are very welcome to start Day 2 and we don't need to be informed about this. If your partner pulls out and you would like a new team mate to join you for Day 2, come to the Download Tent anytime from 06:00 and we'll try to help you form a new team. Teams will start from a taped area close to the mid-camp and those that are not in the Chasing Start will use their SI-Card to record their start time. Competitors will receive course description sheets in the taped area just after they start. Any teams taking more than 9 hours to complete Day 1 or who are concerned that they will miss public transport will be given the opportunity of starting at any time from 06:00 onwards.

On Sunday morning there is NO Chasing Start for the Score course and you may start at anytime from 06:30 - 07:30. You will receive the description sheet for all Sunday controls which shows score values. Please don't all come at once as we would like there to be a small gap between each team. We suggest that the inexperienced teams who may overshoot the 6 hours, those who have a chance of winning a prize and those who are depending on our coach transport should start early. If you are likely to be a prize winner, please don't finish after 14:00!

SUNDAY COURSES CLOSE AT 16:00. YOU MUST BE BACK BY THEN.

PRIZEGIVING
This will take place by the Event Centre marquee at 14:00 and will last no more than 30 minutes.
Prizes will be awarded to the first 4 teams on each course, first mixed and first women's team in each class. A prize will be awarded to the veteran's team on each course with the best handicap results where the total age of the team is 90 or more on Saturday 3rd June. On the linear courses, the adjusted time is calculated by deducting 30 seconds per hour of running time for each year the combined age of the team exceeds 90. On the score course, the adjusted score is calculated by adding 1.5% to the score for each year the combined age of the team exceeds 90. We will also provide a small prize for each Junior aged under 18 who completes a course.

There are also prizes for the teams with most LAMM appearances, also the best University team and team associated with the Outdoor Industry. We are very grateful to inov-8 for providing the prizes which this year have a retail value of £4,000. We only provide one prize per person so that the prizes can trickle down to more teams.

POT HUNTING!
Prize-winners in previous years (other than Elite) are ineligible for prizes when competing on a course & category (unless veterans) where they have previously won a 1st or 2nd, Mixed or Ladies prize. We reserve the right to decide a team's eligibility for a prize where one team member who has previously won a prize pairs up with another previously unplaced member and they enter a lower course.

LEADERS ON COURSES WILL HELP TO WRITE THE LAMM WEBCAST
This year we will again pull out all the stops to keep those at home informed about the LAMM during the weekend. At the end of each day top teams on courses will be asked to step into a "room" or maybe a shed or a tent where we will have a few laptops setup. We would like them to write a paragraph or two about their experiences of the day. Please write whatever springs to mind and we think that this will help to make the reportage from the event come alive. It is really wonderful to be able to welcome Jon Brooke back to the LAMM after his serious illness. Jon will be taking digital photographs out on the course and writing about the event as it unfolds. He will compile a section of the LAMM webcast that contains the competitor's stories of the day and pictures of each team. If any other team has the urge to tell the world about their day on the Scottish hills there will be space. Its a flexible arrangement so we'll just see what happens…..

THE LAMM WEBCAST
We may be living in a technologically advanced age but the Scottish Highlands still present significant communications problems and this year it will be especially difficult to provide updates from the midcamp. However we will try to not disappoint. Those with access to the Internet on Friday night will be able to see something of significant interest from 18:00! We aim to upload photographs and reports on Friday evening, Saturday morning by 10:30, Saturday evening by 22:00, Sunday morning by 10:00 and Sunday evening by 20:00. We will also display the courses each day after the competitors have started and upload photographs of each of the prize winners. Results will also be displayed at the end of each day showing overall positions on each course and also split times between each checkpoint. Andrew Leaney from SPORTident UK will also be processing results and acting as our webmaster for the weekend.

DISPLAYING YOUR PHOTOS
After the event is over, please send us some digital photographs that you've taken during the event. The photos will be displayed on the website. Please only send a maximum of 2 of your very best photos and no bigger than 0.8MB. Email them to andrew.leaney@sportident.co.uk. You can see the photo gallery of previous events here.

WHILE COMPETING
Please remember not to touch any deer calves, even if they appear to be distressed as the mother will often reject them if human scent is detected. Also try to avoid stepping on nests of baby grouse - the estates get annoyed. A number of rivers in this area soon become uncrossable after prolonged rain or even a heavy shower. If in doubt, move UPSTREAM, not DOWNSTREAM to cross and if moving downstream, ensure that if all else fails you can cross by a bridge. Carry all your rubbish back to the Event Centre on Sunday and be prepared to show it during a kit check.

RETIREMENTS
Should you retire and return to the Event Centre during Saturday or early on Sunday, please dip your SI-Card in the station marked RETIREMENTS which you will find in a cardboard box marked RETIREMENTS located on a table in the centre of the marquee. Then place your hired SI-Card in the box. Please leave a note if you have your own SI-Card. At all other times, please report to the finish. THIS IS THE GOLDEN RULE AND MUST BE ADHERED TO WITHOUT EXCEPTION. Failure to follow this procedure will result in the local Mountain Rescue team being called out. Any competitor doing so will be blacklisted for all future events. It is the responsibility of competitors to make their own way back to the Event Centre. The mid-camp will be at an isolated location and unless you have suffered a broken limb or other severe injury it is unlikely that we will be able to offer transport back to the Event Centre.

ACCIDENTS
Use your whistle to summon assistance from other competitors. Put the casualty in a sleeping bag or tent while someone, preferably two people, go for help. Someone should stay with the casualty at all times, although if you cannot summon help you may have to leave them on their own. Make a careful note of the grid reference, nearby features, time and nature of injuries. Telephone the 24 hour emergency phone number shown on your Control Description sheet and ask for a suitable message to be passed to the Mountain Rescue Team.

Adders are quite active at this time of year; however it is extremely unlikely that anyone will be bitten. Should you be unlucky, immediately wash the bite to remove venom on the surface, dispel any notion of continuing competitively and rest with the relevant limb lowered below the heart for about half an hour. Bandage the limb above the bite just tightly enough so that the veins below bulge but pulses can still be felt. "Milking" the bite area to expel blood and plasma could be tried too. If you are not feeling too feverish or nauseous after this rest, proceed gently either to the mid-camp or to a road, whichever is the nearer. Seek medical advice as soon as possible.

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER
This is printed on the control descriptions and should only be used in extremis. Rescue facilities are only available to deal with potentially life-threatening situations. An emergency medical kit is available on Saturday at the midcamp and on Sunday back at the Event Centre.

COMPULSORY TEAM KIT

  • 2 person tent with a sewn-in ground sheet. Tents may be hooped bivi's but must have poles/hoops.
  • Food for evening meal and breakfast, stove and means to produce hot food/drink
  • First aid kit to include wound dressings (one large), triangular bandage, roller bandage & anti-inflammatory tablets/ointments (not compulsory).

COMPULSORY INDIVIDUAL KIT

  • Compass & whistle, map, pencil & paper
  • Torch (not penlight) with spare bulb & 6 hours light. A torch with multiple LEDs is fine
  • Sleeping bag or Blizzard Pack
  • Survival Bag
  • Waterproof cagoule with hood (not a windproof) and overtrousers (these can be showerproof)
  • Hat & gloves
  • Tracksters/thermal bottoms (lycra tights OK if weather forecast is good)
  • Thermal vest or similar and warm thicker top
  • Hill food for each day with a small amount of emergency rations to remain at the end of day 2
  • Please carry some money with you (a note) in case you get stranded miles from the Event Centre.

A Goretex bivi bag may be used as a sleeping bag but not as a tent. The survival bag must be a bag rather than a blanket. An example of a specialist lightweight product is Adventure Medical Kits Heatsheets Emergency Bivvy (100gram).

Footwear must be lightweight boots, fell running or orienteering shoes - no flat-soled trainers permitted. Trail shoes may not be ideal for contouring but will be acceptable as long as the heel is not too high. The ideal shoe for most is a fell running shoes manufactured Inov-8, PB, Saolomon and New Balance.

Teams should be prepared for random kit checks on arrival at the midway camp and at the end of the event. We will expect to see your rubbish.

FORBIDDEN KIT: You may record a GPS track on your watch but you may not use any device to show your current location either on a map or as a grid reference. Altimeters are allowed.

MIDGES
The midges WILL be quite annoying if it is humid or still. We strongly recommend that you bring some insect repellent or a net.

CAMPING IS AVAILABLE ON SUNDAY NIGHT You are very welcome to camp at the Event Centre on Sunday night.

Please join the LAMM email mailing list to receive regular updates about the LAMM

Route planning above Loch Duich

The clouds over mid camp

Racing together - the spirit of the event

Lowe Alpine Mourne Mountain Marathon