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Surrey County Cross-Country Championships: Denbies, Dorking - Saturday 7th January

Dear Toby, I am, in my capacity as Surrey County Officials Secretary and as Chief Marshal for the Surrey Cross-Country Championships at Denbies this coming Saturday, contacting you in your capacity as the Hon. Secretary and / or main contact for British Airways A.C., which appears on the list of Surrey affiliated clubs. I would be grateful for your assistance in forwarding, cascading or otherwise communicating the information below to any members of your club who are planning to compete or to spectate at these Championships.

The information to which I am referring has in fact been posted on the SCAA website since late last week at http://www.surreyathletics.org.uk  , and that has also, I understand, been highlighted by Steve Holt, the Championships Secretary to those club contacts who have sent in their entries by e mail. However, in the interests of ensuring that this message reaches as many relevant people as possible, I have agreed with the meeting manager, Tom Pollak, that I should also e mail club secretaries in this way.

The information to which I am referring is, as per the SCAA website:

“Information re Facilities for athletes and spectators at Denbies Wine Estate

Competitor's Numbers These will be issued to Team Managers on the day near to the start. The numbers include a declaration on the back which athletes are requested to complete before pinning onto your vest. This information could prove vital to your recovery if you should suffer an injury during the event.

Refreshments These are provided for race officials only at the Start / Finish area. Others may use the public commercial Denbies facilities inside the main winery building (less than 5 minutes’ walk from the Start / Finish area). However, please respect these by removing / cleaning muddy footwear &c before entering the building.

Toilets / Showering / Changing facilities There are Public toilets inside the winery, and Portable toilets near the Start / Finish area. There are no Showering or changing facilities at Denbies. Athletes should arrive at the course already changed.

Access within the course The course follows paths / tracks within the vineyard. Please keep to the defined paths and do not walk between / among the vines, lest these be damaged. We are all guests of Denbies! There are support wires by the ends of the vine rows: keep well clear of those.

Parking Competitors, team managers, coaches, parents and supporters MUST park in the Friends Life car park adjacent to the A24 (entrance is from Pixham Lane) and walk to the course. Allow at least 20 minutes. The safest place to cross the A24 (a busy dual carriageway with fast moving traffic) is via the pedestrian subway in the approach road to Dorking Station. The entrance to this pedestrian subway is on the right hand side of Station Approach (which can be reached directly on foot from the Friends Life car park in c5 minutes) as you are walking away from the station (opposite the Lincoln Arms pub). After passing through the subway, Ashcombe Road may be crossed en route for Denbies via the traffic light assisted crossing. You are NOT permitted to park in the Denbies Car Park [parking there for race officials only] or on the approach road to the estate from the A24.

Travelling by Train Should you choose to come by train, there are 2 stations which are approximately 20 minutes’ walk from Denbies. On the line from London to Horsham use Dorking Station. On the line from Reigate to Guildford use Dorking Deepdene Station. These stations are both located on the eastern side of the A24 and to the South of Denbies. On leaving the station you will need to go in a northerly direction (towards Leatherhead) and then cross over the A24 to the western side. Again, the safest place to cross the A24 is via the pedestrian subway in the approach road to Dorking Station (see directions above).

NOTE. The courses consist of a variety of surfaces ranging from grassland to gravel paths and cross a concrete road. Runners should be advised to wear footwear appropriate for this range of terrain.”

Note too some further information in respect of parking / getting to the course that:

• The car park stewards will not be able to assist with crossing the A24, but will be happy to point you towards the pedestrian subway (see above). While taking that route involves a slight detour, it will only add c5 minutes to your overall walking time, especially if you park at the far end of the Friends’ Life car park (near the row of tall conifers), and:
• Exit the car park on foot at that end, and continue on the footpath for c30m before bearing right under the railway bridge.
• After passing under the railway bridge, you will be in Lincoln Road. Continue along Lincoln Road to the end (c100m) and turn sharp right into Station Approach, with the Lincoln Arms pub on your right. The entrance to the pedestrian subway is on the other side of Station Approach (opposite the pub).
• There is no pedestrian specific phasing in the traffic light sequence covering the A24 at its junction of Ashcombe Road, nor are there pedestrian specific spaces in the central reservation of the A24 at that junction (or elsewhere on this stretch). It is also worth noting that the timetable of races is different to that used in recent years: it particular the Senior Women’s race is no longer the penultimate race.

Thanks for your assistance with this.

If your club is not involved with this event, I apologise for troubling you: otherwise I look forward to seeing your club colleagues (and possibly you in person) on Saturday.

Regards, (Embedded image moved to file: pic06902.gif) Peter Crawshaw Officials Secretary Surrey County AA

T: 01737 761626 M: 07850 676022 E: officials@surreyathletics.org.uk