Shapwick Bunny Hop - Welcome Back!

Supporting Shapwick Village Hall and Village Defibrillator 

Provisional Race Details

A trail run of approximately 7.5 miles around the lanes and footpaths of Shapwick and Shapwick Heath.

Easter Monday, 18th April 2022
Registration from 8.30 a.m. for a 11.00 a.m. start 
(race briefing 10.45 a.m.)

Entries: This is an advance entry event and entries will close at 5.00 pm on Friday April 15th 2022. There will be no 'on the day' entries this year.

Race numbers will not be sent out to you but will be ready for you to pick up when you arrive on the day.

HQ:  The race headquarters are at Shapwick Village Hall, Station Road, Shapwick, TA7 9NJ.  The hall will be open from 8.30 a.m.  You will need to register and pick up your number upon arrival – please allow at least half an hour before the start.  Due to UK Athletics rules, competitors must be 17 or over.  

Start:  The race starts at 11.00 a.m.  Assembly is at the Village Hall for a race briefing at 10.45 a.m. after which you will be accompanied to the start at Vicarage Lane (a 5 minute walk up the road).

The Course:  The course is the same as in all previous years.  It is a loop of 7.5 miles around Shapwick that starts at Vicarage Lane, crosses fields to Chestnut Lane and then more fields to Buscott Lane where it continues on the road until Ashcott Corner.  It then crosses the Nature Reserve, takes the drove past Canada Farm and returns back up farm tracks and Kent Lane to the village green at Shapwick Village Hall.  The route is slightly downhill for the first half and uphill for the second.  There are distance markers every mile.  

The route will be marshalled and we will also use arrow signs and tape to mark the way (black arrows printed on an orange background).  These will be attached to stiles, gates or stakes in the ground.  Red and white stripy tape will be used to draw attention to any hazards such as overhanging branches.  Most of the route is off-road and where this is the case it is entirely on public footpaths.  As a general rule, if the route is unclear follow the public footpath signs (small yellow arrows).  Overall, please follow all directions given by marshals.  A detailed OS map of the route will be pinned up in HQ on the day, but a rough sketch map is shown below.   

Note that, unless we have a spell of very dry weather, it is likely to be muddy and boggy in some of the fields.  Since the road sections are short, off-road trainers are strongly recommended.

Note: a detailed OS map of the route will be pinned up at HQ on the day of the event.

First Aid:  First Aid cover will be available at HQ (the Village Hall) at the start and finish, and also on the route.  St John Ambulance volunteers will be stationed at the Shapwick end of the Nature Reserve (mile 4.75).  If you need assistance during the race, please speak to the nearest marshal who will phone for help.  

Race Numbers:  Your race number should be secured to the front of your running top using safety pins.  On the reverse is a space to fill in any medical information that you think may be relevant in the event of an emergency – please do this.  

Safety:  The roads will not be closed to traffic.  Please take extra care on the road sections and stay close to the verge on the left hand side.  There is one significant road crossing at 5 miles as you come off the Nature Reserve.  This will be marshalled: please follow instructions.  

In several sections there are electric and barbed wire fences, overhanging brambles and rickety stiles and footbridges over streams.  It is usually very muddy and/or boggy but if there is a dry spell the ground may be rutted and uneven.  There is deep water next to the track on the Nature Reserve.  

Please take care also if parking/dropping off in the Village Hall car park as runners will be finishing close to the edge of this and supporters will be gathering.

Country Code:  Please remember to keep to footpaths and close any gates behind you that you have had to open.  Please do not drop litter.  It is also lambing season so be considerate of livestock.  Please be aware that there will be other users on the Nature Reserve and footpaths.  Runners may not take dogs with them for the whole course due to the restrictions on the Nature Reserve which forms part of the course.  In the past, some people have run with their dogs for the second half of the race, picking them up from a supporter at the point marked 'Westhay' on the map.

Facilities: There are toilets at the Village Hall (Race HQ) which will be open throughout the event.  There are no actual changing rooms or showers but there will be plenty of space on the mezzanine level of the hall to both change and leave baggage.  Baggage may be left in the hall and there will be race officials present in the hall throughout the event.  There is limited car parking at the Village Hall but plenty more in Shapwick School car park (about 50m north of the hall) and the field behind this.  There will be signage and/or a marshal to guide you when you arrive.  If you park elsewhere in the village, please do so with consideration to residents, road users and pedestrians.

Water Station:  There is a water station at approx 4.75 miles (where the Nature Reserve meets the road – see 'Westhay' on map).  Water will also be available at the Village Hall at the start and finish.  

Results:  Provisional results will be announced at the Village Hall as soon after the race as possible.  Full results will also be posted on our website and www.fullonsport.com.

Prizes:  The presentation of prizes will take place as soon after the race as possible at the Village Hall.  There will be a prize for first, second and third overall male and first, second and third overall female, and first place in each of the following categories: MV40, MV50, MV60, MV70; FV35, FV45, FV55, FV65. Further age categories may be added, dependent on number of entries.  Second and third places in the age categories will also be announced.  There will also be a prize for first Shapwick runner/resident home. 

Refreshments:  There will be hot and cold drinks for all participants after the event at the Village Hall.  Brunch will also be available for participants and supporters and donations for refreshments will go to Shapwick Village Hall.

Fun Walk:  Non-runners/families may like to take part in a non-competitive 4 mile walk which follows part of the run route.  Recommended start time will be 10:30 a.m. after the junior races.  The route will be the same as in previous years, heading down through the fields to Buscott farm, then turning left to wind back through the lanes past Coppice Gate, Northbrook, and Beerways Farms to the village of Shapwick. It is likely to be muddy.  The whole route will not be marshalled but our ‘walk leader’ will be walking the route starting at 10:30 a.m., some directional arrows (black arrows printed on orange card) will be present, and copies of the map will be available at the hall.  There is no charge for taking part in the walk but donations to this year’s chosen charity would be appreciated.    

Walkers take part at their own risk, and children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  However, so that we know who is out on the course, we ask all those intending to walk to sign the list at the Village Hall before setting off.  

Mini Bunny Hop:  Once again we will be holding a mini Bunny Hop which is a fun run for primary school children (age 4-11, school years reception to 6) and will start at 9.00 a.m. so that parents can potentially support before taking part in the main race or can still fit in the family walk if they wish.  The race is held on the fields behind Shapwick Village Hall HQ. The Year 1-2 course is approx 400 metres, and Year 3-6 route is around 800 metres. Entries on the day only (£1 per child).  There will be medals for all junior entrants. Please note the earlier than usual start time.

Midi Bunny Hop: The Midi Hop is a longer race for secondary school children (age 11-16, school years 7-11).  This will start at about 9.30 a.m. from the Village Hall and will be approximately a mile in length, including a short road section. Entries on the day (£1 per child). There will be medals for all junior entrants.

Medals: There will be medal for all junior entrants

Charity: Shapwick Village Hall and Village Defibrillator.

Organisers: 

Race Director Teresa King 01458 210107 or 07866 751593

Entries Anthony Lipmann 07785 330042 alipmann@hotmail.com

Junior Bunny Hop Steve Campion 01458 210918 or

Junior Bunny Hop John Anderson 07780 683391

Marshals Tom Mills tommills78@gmail.com 01458 211155

UKA Race Licence Number: Licence Pending

Declaration

By entering this race you are declaring: I am medically fit to participate in the event and understand that I enter at my own risk and that the organisers shall not be held responsible for any injury, illness, loss, damage, action, claim, costs or expenses that might arise as a result of my participation. I agree to abide by UKA Rules for Competition. I understand that my entry fee will not be refunded if I personally am unable to take part on the day. Under current Data Protection Law (and GDPR from May 2018) I agree to my personal details being stored electronically by Shapwick Runners and Fullonsport for the purpose of organising and marketing the Shapwick Bunny Hop.  I consent to be contacted by email by Shapwick Runners or Fullonsport in relation to Shapwick Runners events including the Bunny Hop.

EVENT HQ ADDRESS: Village Hall
Station Road
Bridgwater
TA7 9NJ

USEFUL TIMES Event start time: 11:00:00
Registration open from: 08:30:00