Events and Activities

The Blast Up The Beacon Tower Run!

Still time to enter - deadline extended!

The forthcoming Olympic games has inspired us to host an event unlike any we have done before.  We are challenging members of the public to see how fast they can run from the ground floor of The Beacon to the mezzanine on the top floor.

Organised in partnership with the Cumberland Athletics Club, this is a time trial event in which members of the public aged 18 or over are invited to register in the following categories;

- Male (21 - 39yrs)

- Female (21 - 39yrs)

- Veteran Male 40yrs +, 50yrs +, 60 yrs +

- Veteran Female 40yrs +, 50yrs +, 60yrs+

- Junior male (18 to 20 yrs)

- Junior female (18 tto 20 yrs)

- Team

Winners of the various categories will have a choice of prizes which include a 6 month North Country Leisure Gym/ Swimming Pool pass and tickets for Rosehill and Whitehaven Civic Hall. 

Participants can also take advantage of a Buy One Get One Free on museum admissions during August 2012.

 To get involved, download an entry form here.  They will also be available at our Reception Desk, the Copeland Tourist Information Centre in Whitehaven's Market Hall and other locations tbc.

To enter this event you must first read and comply with our full Terms & Conditions, as stated below.

The Beacon Tower Run
28 July 2012,
In conjunction with Cumberland AC Running Club

Aim
The aim of the Tower Run is for runners /walkers to ascend the 96 steps of The Beacon as fast as possible.
This is a fun run to be played by our rules as it is cannot be covered by UK Athletics licensing and therefore its Ts &Cs
Purpose
- To complement the Fun and Games exhibition in The Beacon which is put on as part of the wider national celebration of Sport in the Olympics London 2012
- To Promote The Fun and Games Exhibition
- To raise awareness of Cumberland AC
- To increase club membership of Cumberland AC
- To increase visitor numbers to The Beacon
- To increase awareness of the Beacon
- To celebrate the Olympics
- To have a fun night out

Entry Fee
£3 – this covers insurance and presence of St John Ambulance, Staff, venue, some prizesthere will be no financial “profit” from the event

Race Limit
120 runners.  This is to keep the event manageable in terms of time and volumes in The Beacon Building

RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR EVENT
Registration
Registration by official entry form to be returned to the Beacon by Thursday 12 July, who will then pass these to Susan Denham-Smith (Cumberland AC – Race Organiser). Start times will be published on The Beacon web site www.thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk W/B 16 July.

Payment must be in cash at the Beacon. Team entries may be made by card. If the race limit has not been reached there may be space for entries on the day.
Minimum race age limit 18 years. 

Prize categories: Prizes will be allocated according to the following categories
- Junior Female - Junior Male (18 – 21yrs)
- Male (22-39yrs) 1st 2nd 3rd
- Female (22 – 39yrs) 1st2nd 3rd
- Vet Male 40yrs +, 50yrs+, 60yrs +
- Vet Female 40yrs +, 50yrs +, 60yrs +
- Team (any 3 male female or mixed there will be only one team prize)
Apart from team prizes only one prize per person.  
Only 1 prize per person, (except team prize) if 2 higher value to be awarded.
Prizes are being sought from local businesses, with some prizes being annual passes for the Beacon. 
All runners will be given a voucher to allow Buy One Get One Free entry to the Beacon (day tickets only) during August 2012 only.

START Procedure
Start time of event is 5:30pm Saturday 28 July 2012.
Entrants will have been allocated a time via email/Beacon website. 
Registration opens at 4:30 in the education suite, access West Strand Road
Entrants will be allocated a paper number and safety pin.
Timers will start the clocks synchronised 10 minutes before start time (approx 5:20pm)
Finish timer and 3 finish marshals ascend to 4th floor mezzanine
Runners will be lined up in groups of 20:
1-20
21-40
41-60
61-80
81-100
101-120
Start timer will count down each runner, who will set off in turn to run up the Beacon Stairs every 30 seconds for 10 minutes.  Followed by a 10 minute break to clear the mezzanine floor and bring times and finish list to the Statistician.

In the event that a runner is missing from the group of 20 ,everybody else in that group will move forward 30 seconds (or the number can be allocated to an Entry on the Day) up to the end of that group.  HOWEVER Nobody from the following group will be moved up.  This is to keep the groups true to their allocated times and avoid a muddle for the statistician ie group 1-20 will set off at +10minutes, 21-40 @ + 30minutes, 41-60 @+50, 61-80 @ +70, 81-100 @ +90, 101 – 120@+110.

We will not be able to reduce the waiting time to clear the mezzanine floor as this will cause a muddle if runners starting later have not arrived at registration. 

Marshalls will be positioned to ensure the smooth running of the course and ensure nobody gets lost (see further item on marshals)

On the 4th floor in addition to the timer there will be 3 additional marshals.  The Number Logger will scribe the order of runners reaching the finish on a paper sheet to ensure the finish times are allocated to the correct number.  This sheet will accompany the times printed from the timing clock to the Statistician at the end of each 10minute (20 runner section).  In addition there will be a Crowd Marshall (to ensure safety on the floor and give out water) and the Floor Clearing Marshall, whose duty is to shepherd the runners back to the Ground floor after each section. The Floor clearing Marshall will have a radio.

Statistics – Statistician (Mark Denham-Smith) will produce a spread sheet which can process the times and categories. After each 10 minute section a Leader Board will be updated in the Harbour Gallery 

First Aid
4 First Aiders will be present in accordance with their assessment.