Martin Stone	Event Organiser	Debbie Thompson	Entries Admin. & Map
Chris Hall	Planner	Mike Greenwood	Controller

THE VENUE: The challenge begins right now. The venue is about 2 HOURS DRIVE NORTH OF GLASGOW/ EDINBURGH and 3 HOURS DRIVE WEST OF ABERDEEN. The exact location of the event will NOT be divulged to any competitor until 36 hours before the event. From 18.00hrs on Thursday 10^th June there will be two ways to obtain brief details of the location:

• Those with Internet access should look on web site http://www.staminade.demon.co.uk, where details will remain until after the event.
• If you are still living in the technological Dark Ages, please telephone Lowe Alpine on UK 01539 740840 (7 lines) between 18.00hrs on Thursday 10^th June -> 08.00hrs on Friday 11^th June to hear a brief recorded message. This message will be removed at 08.00hrs on Friday 11^th June and no further assistance can then be provided. Please do not jam Lowe Alpine’s switchboard during normal business hours on Friday 11^th June with questions about the event – they will not be able to assist you.

DON’T SPREAD THE WORD: Should you become aware of ANY ASPECT of the event by accident, we are relying on you to keep it to yourself and under no circumstances to spoil it for others by ‘spouting off’. Anyone found to be passing on this information will be disqualified, have their entry fee returned and be barred from future events.

A SPECIAL WELCOME TO FOREIGN COMPETITORS: A number of teams are making the journey from European countries to take part in the event.

TAKING THE COACH FROM GLASGOW TO THE LAMM If you have already notified us of your wish to join a coach for transport from Glasgow Bus Station or Airport on the Friday afternoon/evening, we will be sending you full details by 5^th June. It is not too late to take up this offer, but please return the Coach Booking form (sent out with the entry form or accessible on the web site) to us as soon as possible. Coach ‘managers’ will try to ensure that connections are kept with late-running trains, coaches and flights, so long as we are made aware that people are arriving on them.

If you live in the Glasgow area and in return for FREE TRANSPORT would be prepared to ‘manage’ a coach, please contact MARTIN STONE on 01931 714106 within the next week.

ARRIVING ON FRIDAY: Yellow LAMM signs will direct you to the parking area. The car park will not open until 14.00, so it will not be possible to park your car until then. Wherever possible please share transport with another team, as parking space is especially limited this year. Parking will be on the camping field where the Event Centre is located. There will be no car key deposit so please keep your keys with you. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage, should an unfortunate incident occur. Do not arrive at the parking area after 23.00, as it will be closed to avoid disruption to local people and other competitors. If you cannot make this closing time, you should camp en route and see the note below for those arriving on Saturday morning.

ARRIVING ON SATURDAY MORNING: We think that you will enjoy the event more if you are able to arrive on Friday. However, if this is not possible, the parking area will be open from 07.00 – 09.00 on Saturday morning. We will generate a start time for you when you visit registration.

WILFS OUTDOOR CATERING who attend orienteering events and mountain marathons all around the UK will be present to provide a variety of food for purchase on Friday evening from about 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. A free meal is provided to each competitor on Sunday at the end of the event.

BAR: There will be a bar selling cans of beer, lager and soft drinks which is being organised by local people. Please do your best to support them in the ‘usual way’.

REGISTRATION will take place in one of the marquees from 17.00 – 22.00 and from 22.45 – 23.30 on Friday night. KNOW YOUR TEAM NUMBER WHEN YOU COME TO REGISTER. All teams arriving on Friday, must register on Friday. Teams arriving on Saturday morning may register from 07.30 – 09.00 on Saturday morning. Each team will receive 1 control card, 2 small control description poly bags and 2 special maps.

CALLING ALL DOCTORS: We realise that it would be nice to get away from the ‘day job’, however it would reassure us to be able to identify a few doctors at the mid-camp who could liaise with members of the mountain rescue in case of emergency. If you don’t mind the imposition, please make yourself known at registration.

CHANGE OF PARTNER OR COURSE: Should it be necessary to make a change, please do NOT telephone us. You can email, fax or write to us with this information until 7^th June. After this date, inform us of changes at registration. If a team member has changed, report to the Information Desk before proceeding to registration.

MERCHANDISE: Biros, indelible marker pens, suitable-sized map bags, videos of Jura 1997, the handbook "Mountain Navigation For Runners" by Martin Bagness (at a special event price of £4) and the number one glucose/electrolyte drink STAMINADE will all be available in the marquee. Additional maps may also be purchased at the end of the event.

EVENT T-SHIRTS: This year we will offer a special edition LOWE ALPINE DRYFLO TEE SHIRT manufactured by Lowe Alpine themselves and overprinted with the 1999 event logo. This garment is a high performance material offering high moisture wicking capabilities, making it an ideal fabric for outdoor use. The versatile fabric is ideal for active mountain sports such as fell running or mountain biking and also makes a great base layer. These special T-shirts will be available in different styles and colours, priced at £19.50, a discount of about £10 on the street price. They can be purchased during the weekend in the marquee and should these sell out, a mail order list will be compiled and items despatched by the end of July.

COMPASS POINT SHOP: The shop is a supplier of Lowe Alpine kit and will be present at the Event Centre to provide an opportunity for any urgent last minute purchases before the event and replacement of trashed gear afterwards. If you are flying to Glasgow and are unable to carry GAS CYLINDERS with you, contact the shop beforehand to ensure that enough cylinders of the right type are brought to the event: Rick Houghton at rick@compasspoint.demon.co.uk or on 01253 795597.

RUCKSACK & BIKE STORAGE: You have the option to leave a ‘base camp’ tent erected throughout the weekend at the Event Centre containing spare kit. If this is not possible, one rucksack per person can be handed in at the smaller marquee on Saturday morning from 07.00. You will be given a baggage label marked with your team number. Please try to attach the number to the top of the rucksack so that when hundreds of items are stored in the marquee in team number order, labels can easily be checked when you come to collect on Sunday. Bicycles may also be left in the baggage marquee. The event centre will be manned at all times, but we cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage in the unlikely event of an incident.

These distances are only approximate but we will endeavour to ensure that the fastest time is achievable given good weather. Please do not be misled if you feel the distances are short. These are straight lines drawn between the controls, the terrain is mountainous even by Mountain Marathon standards with plenty of climbing. Day 1 will take significantly longer than day 2 and the courses will combine relatively fast high level routes with lower level sections, which demand more technical navigation.

THE MAP: Each team will receive 2 copies. This year, 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 paper is not waterproof and a suitable map bag would be between A2 and A3 size.

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

NOTES ON VETTING: All entries will be vetted for suitable experience and each team must be able to navigate in the hills. Elite entries must have completed an Elite or A course at a recent mountain marathon, A entries an A or B course. Alternatively they should have achieved a fast time in a long fell navigation race or similar event. Other impressive achievements will be considered! These courses could involve some scrambling.

PLEASE READ THIS WARNING: This year you could be tackling the most challenging mountain terrain ever used for a British MM and the daily distances will reflect this. If you are not both competent and confident when moving across steep, rough mountain terrain, you will inevitably be spending longer on the hills than you anticipated. In view of this, please make a realistic assessment of your capabilities and ensure that you are tackling a course which best reflects your mountain skills. Please be prepared for the worst possible conditions as the competition area is very isolated and these hills are exposed to serious weather. Bear in mind that you are very much on your own once you have started. Although the organisers will ensure that the event is as safe as possible, your safety is ultimately your own personal responsibility, just as it is with any trip into the hills

COMPULSORY KIT: Each team must carry a tent with ground sheet, 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).

A Goretex bivi bag may be used as a sleeping bag but not as a tent. Footwear must be lightweight boots, fell running or orienteering shoes – no flat-soled trainers permitted.

RECOMMENDED KIT: If you feel there is any risk that the water you may drink en route or at the camp sites is not pure enough, you should consider using suitable water purification tablets. This would be more significant after a period of unusually dry weather. Midge repellant and sun screen should also be considered.

FORBIDDEN KIT: GPS and any Satellite Navigation device such as Magellan - altimeters are allowed.

HIND CALVING: The event takes place during the hind calving period. Should you discover a newly born calf that is apparently alone and in distress, please give it a wide berth and under NO CIRCUMSTANCES TOUCH IT. On her return, the mother is likely to reject the calf after detecting human scent.

NO DOGS: Sorry but no dogs are allowed on the courses at the request of the landowners.

DAY 1 START: Day 1 start times are between 07.30 - 09.30. At the start enter the taped area when your start time is displayed. An official will note your team number as a safety check. You are advised to use the small plastic bags provided at registration to protect the description sheet, which is not waterproof. The description sheet 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. The checkpoints must be visited in the order shown on the sheet.

CHECKPOINTS: Each checkpoint will be marked with an orienteering-type orange and white nylon marker. This will be sited at ground level, weighted down with rocks. Always check the identification code letters on each marker to ensure that you have visited the correct one for your course (thereby avoiding disqualification). Volunteers who will ask for your team number will man some checkpoints. 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.

OVERNIGHT CAMP: Please adhere to signs and protect the water source by washing downstream of the drinking water collection area. No rubbish is to be discarded on the hills or at the mid-camp. ALL rubbish MUST be carried out and taken back to the Event Centre with you on Sunday afternoon. Spot checks will be made at the finish. The mid-camp will be at an isolated location and unless you have suffered a broken limb or other severe injury there will be absolutely no chance of a lift back to the Event Centre.

DAY 2 START: There will be a chasing start for the leading teams which will begin between 07.00 – 07.30, depending on the spread of fast times. This will carry on until 07.50 and the majority of the teams will make a mass start at 08.00. Day 2 start times will be displayed on the results board when a reasonable number of teams have completed Day 1. Teams which retire or are disqualified on Day 1 may ONLY start Day 2 if they inform the relevant marshal from 06.00 otherwise it is assumed that they are non-starters. Teams will start from a taped area close to the mid-camp. Course description sheets will be issued in the taped area. Chasing starters will receive description sheets as they start and the mass starters from 07.50.

DAY 2 FINISH – THE EVENT CENTRE: Random kit checks will be made and rubbish generated during the weekend must be displayed. A free meal will be served by Wilf's Outdoor Catering to all competitors. The prize-giving will take place nearby at around 14.00.

PRIZES: These will be vouchers that can be spent by at Field & Trek shops (or by mail order) on Lowe Alpine goods and will be awarded to the first 4 teams on each course, first mixed and first women's team in each class. A handicap prize will be awarded to the first veteran’s team where the total age of the team is 80 or more on Saturday 12^th June 1999. The handicap is based on an allowance of 1 minute per hour of running time for every 2 years of age increment over 80 years.

DAY 2 COURSE CLOSING TIME: All teams must be back by 16.00 on Sunday whether or not they have completed their course.

RETIREMENTS: Teams must hand in their control cards if they are retiring, either at the mid-camp or at the Event Centre. THIS IS THE GOLDEN RULE AND MUST BE ADHERED TO WITHOUT EXCEPTION. Failure to follow this procedure will result in the Arrochar Mountain Rescue being forced to stay in the area on Sunday evening. They have jobs to return to on Monday and will be extremely annoyed if you cause a false alarm. Any competitor so doing will be blacklisted for all future events. Should you retire and return to the Event Centre during Saturday or early on Sunday, please place your control cards in the labelled box in the marquee, otherwise hand them in at the finish funnel. It is the responsibility of competitors to make their own way back to the Event Centre and should you be unfortunate enough to retire at the mid-camp it is unlikely that we will be able to offer transport.

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 Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team who will be present all weekend.

LIFTS REQUIRED/OFFERED: We are publishing details of those offering lifts on our web site. Last year we were able to solve a number of transport ‘crises’. If you have a particular travel problem and have been unable to find a solution, we will do our best to help. Contact us as shown below if you are either a donor or hopeful recipient.

LOOKING FOR A PARTNER? The web site worked wonders for a few ‘desperate’ competitors last year. At least 10 partnerships were forged through the site and some teams were very successful. If you lose a partner or are looking for a partner, check the web site and contact us if you would like your name to be added to the on-line list.

CAN YOU HELP?: We almost have enough helpers now. However, if you are thinking of coming to the event but are not competing, and would be willing to work hard at parking, registration, marshalling competitors, the starts, finishes, and the mid-camp, please telephone us on the number below no later than 31^st May. We would prefer helpers who can commit to helping from Friday afternoon and for the whole weekend.

NO TRIVIAL PHONE CALLS PLEASE!: Sorry to be so blunt but we would really appreciate it if you re-read these details to find the answer to your question or ask a friend who has experience of mountain marathons. If all else fails get in touch with us.

ADMINISTRATION ADDRESS: For all correspondence, EMAIL: martin@staminade.demon.co.uk, FAX 01931 714107, write to Lowe Alpine MM, Sleagill head farm, SLEAGILL, PENRITH CA10 3HD or in the last resort telephone 01931 714106, Always quote your team nr.