The Great Barrow Challenge | Event Info
Event Information
Information Sheet
Welcome to The Great Barrow Challenge. We hope you enjoy your time here with us and book your place as an annual event. We have detailed some information below which you may find useful during your visit. Please do not hesitate to ask any of The Academy staff should you require anything. The event was created to challenge the individual both physically and mentally. We adopt a positive attitude here at The Academy and ask you to do the same.
Our address:
The Academy Health and Fitness Centre
Church Farm
Church Road
Barrow
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP29 5AX 01284 810446 info@suffolkacademy.com www.greatbarrowchallenge.co.uk
Directions
From the A14 take the turning for Barrow (Junction 41) As you come off the turning follow the signs for Barrow. Follow these and make a left turn just after the primary school, leading on to Church Road. Follow the road and take a sharp left turn just before the Church on the bend, through the Japanese serenity Gate. You have reached your destination!
Parking
Free for campers. £2 per day for those not camping at the Academy. On arrival you will be directed to the car park and issued with a permit which must be displayed.
Payments
We do not accept credit/debit cards at The Academy so please have sufficient cash for your stay.
Start Times
Please see the relevant challenge page.
Entry on the day is permitted, however there may be queues to register if you have not pre booked.
MEDALS
Those who complete the full distance on all four days will be awarded the Great Barrow Challenge medal. This is a prestigious medal and we hope all recipients will wear it during the Saturday celebrations. A presentation will be made to the winners of the medal on the Saturday at 6pm. Should you wish to leave early then your medal may be collected from the event control desk upon completion of the walks.
If you register on the day or after 1st August your medal may have to be posted to you, which may take up to 6 weeks, as we have to have them made.
RUGBY SHIRTS
The prestigious Black ‘Earn it or Burn it’ rugby shirts may only be worn at The Academy by those who have completed the full 4 day challenges at the maximum distance. For those who have pre-ordered them, these will be available for you at event control when you finish your challenge.
CERTIFICATES
Are available on request for any participant of the challenge and may be collected on the day if pre ordered or they will be posted to you.
COMPLETING THE CHALLENGE
If you decide not to complete the challenge, PLEASE let us know or we may use valuable resources (SEARCH PARTIES, HELICOPTER ETC) looking for you.
THE CHALLENGES
Walking and Running
The four days each have a different route from the previous one. The first day is a mixture of road and off road with a large portion walking through forest and parkland. There are no facilities on the first day and is arguably the toughest of the 4 walks. The 2nd of the walks are mostly cross country through 2 beautiful parks with several pubs along the route. The 3rd day is mainly road walking through small country lanes several pubs along the way. The 4th day is again mainly road walking with 4-5 pubs along the final stretch to start the celebrations!
Cycling
As with the walking and running, each day is a different route from the previous one and generally getting more difficult as the days go on! All routes are on road and we have tried to keep to small side roads, however, there are stages when you have to cross or cycle along busy main road, but these are kept to a minimum. Please comply with the Highway Code at all times. Day 1 is around Norfolk with long stretches of open road. Day 2 is around Suffolk and similar to day 1. Day 3 is around Stevenage in Hertfordshire and consists of numerous turnings and small country roads and Day 4 is a large loop around Huntingdon (Cambridgeshire) is mainly flat with long stretches of open very rough uneven road.
WHEN YOU ARRIVE
Please park in the main car park and go to the ‘Event Control’ tent which will be clearly marked. If you have pre registered there will be a welcome pack awaiting for you together with your unique challenge number which should be pinned to your front at all times during the challenge (safety pins provided). Please do not lose your number as they cannot be replaced. You are welcome to keep them upon completion as a souvenir. If you are camping you will also be given a complimentary parking permit which should be displayed at all times in the windscreen of your car. You will then be directed where to park.
If you have not pre registered you will be given an application form which must be completed in all cases for insurance purposes. This together with the appropriate fee should be handed in to Event Control who will then issue you with the appropriate welcome pack. If you are not camping a £2 per day parking charge will need to be paid for your parking permit.
For 2011 the main lawn area is being used to park while our additional 4.5 acres of car park are being developed. Please use your car at a minimum during this year’s stay to prevent the lawns being damaged.
MAPS & DIRECTIONS
You will receive a map and directions for the routes that you have registered for. There are also signs along the route to help you. Please follow the written directions given, these are your priority directions. Do not rely on signs which may have been tampered with. Should you get lost then please call The Academy with details of your last location and they will be able to assist you. The Great Barrow Challenge involves many challenges along the way including finding your way around the course!
MARSHALS & CHECKPOINTS
The marshals on the route are all volunteers so please be nice to them. They are not responsible for the routes. All of them have phone access to both The Academy and First Aid. They will have water for you. If you are aiming to complete the full challenge and qualify for the medal you must ensure that you get your control card stamped at the relevant checkpoint(s) along the way, usually the furthest from the start. Failure to do this may cause your challenge to be invalid for reward purposes.
FIRST AID
This is provided by St John Ambulance for the duration of the challenge and is available at The Academy. They also have a mobile ambulance along the route which marshals will be able to help you contact. Please use their services if required.
For emergencies along the route use 999.
WATER
Water will be available at the checkpoints but it is advisable to carry your own especially in hot weather. Bottled water is available for sale at The Academy and to refill empty bottles and the convenience store.
Energy Drinks/Snacks
These will be available to purchase from the control before you begin a challenge and may be available at some checkpoints along route. Protein muscle repair and carb refuel will also be available in easy mix packs.
Photographer
Our official photographer John Evans will be around during all 4 days of the challenge if you wish to have your photo taken please arrange this directly with John. He will take other photos along different routes and photos will be available for purchase.
ON SITE
ACADEMY STAFF
The Academy staff wear black shirts with the Academy logo on it. They have the ultimate say in what happens at The Academy and all directions from them must be followed. They are here to make your visit enjoyable and safe.
TOILETS AND SHOWERS
We have male and female toilets and showers both in The Academy building and on the field for those camping. Hot water is available 24 hours per day. These are free of charge but please treat them as you would your own. If the challenges get busy then this may cause queuing. This would not happen if people pre booked their places and we would know correct numbers and be able to hire in additional facilities if required.
ACCOMMODATION
This consists of either sharing an indoor studio (this is mixed and holds approx. 30 people) and comes on a ‘first come first served basis’, sharing our large military tents (these are both single sex and mixed), or you bring your own tent. You will also need to bring camp bed, sleeping bag etc, etc as at this stage we can only supply the basic tent.
MEALS
Breakfast will be available from 6am with Sausage/bacon/egg rolls and teas etc. Evening meals will be available from 5pm – 7pm at a cost of £6 but must be pre-booked and paid for at latest on the morning prior to 10am. Burgers/snacks will be available in the evening from approx. 7pm – 9pm. Should you have any meal requirements then please speak to Academy staff who may be able to help.
BAR
The Academy is lucky to have its own Caribbean Bar a free house serving a great selection of real ales at club prices. Please keep noise down from 10pm and respect those who wish to get a good night’s sleep. On the final day (Saturday) we have a party to celebrate the end of the challenge, two bands will play and the bar will be open until 2am.
ENTERTAINMENT
During the week the bar will be open on site which has a large screen TV, however, there will be minimum music entertainment as people need to get a good night’s sleep. On the Saturday night we have several live bands which finish around 11.30pm and the bar stays open until 2am.
DINING OUT
There are two pubs in Barrow which both serve food, we can recommend the Weeping Willow pub who support this challenge. Continue along the Street past the convenience store on the right and bear left just after the shop they are 200 yards on the right. There is also a fish and chip shop close to the local convenience stores.
CONVENIENCE STORES
There are 2 of them in Barrow, these are on the main high street and are open from 7am to 8pm weekdays and Saturdays.
FEEDBACK
Your feedback would be greatly appreciated to enable us to improve for next year. Please use the suggestion box in the main Reception. A feedback form is enclosed.
SPONSORSHIP MONEY
Before you leave please let us know your approximate amount of sponsorship by using the sponsorship poster on display, this is the only way we can calculate how much the Challenge as a whole has raised for charity. You are welcome to hand in any sponsorship money to the Academy up to 14 days after the event and we will send it off to the charity for you. If you are writing a cheque please make it payable to ‘The Academy’.
CHECKPOINTS FOR THE 125 MILE CYCLE
Day 1.
Around the 60 mile stop
The Kings Head
Norwich road
Ashwellthorpe
NR16 1EL
01508489419
Manager – Elaine
Day 2
Around the 90 mile stop
The Barn at Assington
The Street
Assington
Suffolk
CO10 5LW
01787 880366 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 01787 880366 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Manager – Debra
Day 3
Around the 66 mile stop
The Bell Public House
High Street
Standon
Hertfordshire
SG11 1LA
Tel: 01920 821639 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 01920 821639 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Manager – Nick
Day 4
Around the 71 mile stop
Riverside Park Ambience Café
St Neots
Cambridgeshire
PE19 7BD
01480 219999 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 01480 219999 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Manager – Anil
AND FINALLY
Thank you to our Sponsors and everyone who has helped to raise money for Help for Heroes and the other charities, but most of all thank you to YOU, our walkers, runners and cyclists who have made the challenge possible. We look forward to seeing you with your friends next year or at one of the other three challenges held throughout the year.
With best wishes
Glen Moulds
Founder
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP
Contact us if you would be interested in becoming one of our sponsors for the four day event: we would be happy to talk to you. Call us on 01284 810446 and ask for Glen or Melissa.
Talk about the challenge and training for it on facebook
Testimonial
The Great Barrow Walk
Situated only a few miles away from Bury St Edmunds and the A14, Barrow is a sleepy little village with one hell of a walk.
Myself (Tim Wyer) and George Buxton, decided to squeeze one final walk into the season before winter. After all the Nijmegen training one would hope another 4 x 26 miles wouldn't be too difficult. We arrived at the reception area on the first day, to be warmly greeted by Glen (the event coordinator) and his team. This was only the second year of the walk, but you wouldn't know it as every thing was in hand and covered. We were pleased to see four other BDWF walkers there, in the form of “the boys from Devon and Cornwall”.
Walk day one:
A nice warm sunny day. Starting in Barrow the walk passes through the small Suffolk villages of Herringswell and Tuddenham before joining the Ickfield way. This is mainly road walking and turns into all bridle path as you go through the National nature reserve that leads through Thetford forest (Elvedon). This is pretty remote territory, fields of open grassland with many deer tracks in the soil, and lots of purple heather. After reaching the half way point the path turns and the returns through the Kings Forest. The bridle path here is a bit worn in places and shows a lot of very small fragments of Suffolk black flint. This is the famous flint that was mined thousands years ago in neolithic times at “Grimes Graves” just down the road. The forest walk is a long straight track almost totally silent, with only the noise of the crows to be heard. After breaking out of the forest we return onto the road and back to Barrow, passing a medieval pack horse bridge on the way (I can only assume the medieval horses weren't too large as the bridge was very narrow and thin in the middle). On returning to the finish location (the Academy) the other (finished) walkers applaud as you cross the line, which I thought was a very nice touch and brings everyone together.
Walk day two:
The weather turns. The route is a mixture of track and road and takes you through Ickworth estate. We saw a herd of fallow deer (about 9) which made my day. I must admit we did get lost this day and followed day three markers. But after calling the help line to get advice on the route we were rescued by a nice young lady who came out to pick us up and dropped us back on the route. The weather didn't help as the rain fell for most of the day. Finishing in over 10 hours and with 29miles on the GPS we were the last to finish.
Walk day three:
Seen this route before. More rain, the villages around here are very beautiful. Many thatched cottages and all looking very expensive (see how the other half live). Today is approx 1/3 track and 2/3 road and passes at least three public houses, (George could now get some tea). The walk in takes you through a deer park, which holds hundreds of deer, a reminder Bambi will end on a plate.
Walk day Four:
Nearly all roads today. The route goes through Newmarket, the gallops and the town centre. The Gallops is the training ground where the race horses are put through their paces. The size of this place is awesome; it’s the size of an airbase. We didn't see any horses today, I expect they have Saturdays off. There are approx three pubs on the route back, so more tea for George. On completing the walk every one waits and applauds as each person finishes, again a very nice touch. All the medals are given out at the end once the last person has finished.
I must say this is a very pleasant walk, going through some beautiful locations, but is quite tough, I think it’s the mixture of the on and off road and the weather didn't help. The atmosphere with the other walkers and the administration and support teams is fantastic, and the walk soon becomes a very personal journey (very similar to your first Nijmegen). This is one of those rare locations where you get to know almost everyone on the walk, and in the support teams, and come away with many new friends.
So why don't you give it a go next year. I guarantee once you attend you will return year after year.
Timothy Wyer
PS
from George.
This is a part of Suffolk I have never walked before and even in the rain the countryside was pretty impressive. Yes I would do the walk again for two reasons, 1. It was a challenging walk and 2. It was done to raise money for Help The Heroes, that in itself is a good enough reason.
George Buxton