HIGHLAND CROSS - the unique coast to coast midsummer charity duathlon
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Highland Cross Participant Bulletins Participant Bulletin 1 - 7th May 2024
Participant’s Booklet
No matter how many Crosses you have taken part in, please study the booklet! There are changes and memory can play tricks on you!
Rules Please read ALL the rules and the Safety Advice.
Your individual event number You have now been issued with your individual event number by SiEntries. This must be displayed on all baggage and bikes that you want Highland Cross to convey for you. Please carefully read page 4 of the booklet.
Rehydration fluid on the course Once again, we will be providing a product from Active Root a Scottish based company who have developed and manufactured it in Scotland.
The Foot Section of Highland Cross is a cupless event Please follow the advice on providing your own cup or water bottle given on page 13 If the day looks like being hot, please start the event carrying fluid of your own choice.
A new Medical warning from our Medical Team Please see the medical warning on page 13. Our wonderful Medical Team state that: Do not be tempted to start the event carrying an injury or hiding an illness.
The Medical Team has advised that no participant should enter the event if they have been in any way unwell in the 48 hours prior to the Start.
Nothing matters more to us than our participants getting home safely. We have had a number of instances of folk allowing their urge to take part to overrule their commonsense and ending up very ill. If you have been unwell prior to the event please do not attend and let us know by e-mail that you are dropping out due to medical reasons and get well safely at home.
New safety layouts at the Strathglass/Beauly Toll junction and on the route into the Square for the Finish Please look closely at the sketch plans on pages 18 and 19. These new provisions have been brought in as a direct result of near misses between participants and oncoming cars. PLEASE study the changes and stay in the coned off lanes for your safety and to protect the future of the event as we know it.
Further regular bulletins will be issued in the run up to the event please read them all and please check that your team colleagues are getting theirs. If anybody is not getting their bulletin ask the Team Owner to check the e-mail address that is displayed on the team’s SiEntries page and correct it as necessary. If you have problems, check the FAQs page on the event website or as a last resort e-mail info@highlandcross.co.uk with details so that we can help you out.
______________________________________________________________________________________ Participant Bulletin 2 - 14th May 2024 Event Merchandise Our great friends at The Sign Centre, Inverness have once again produced commemorative merchandise for the event. The graphic for this year features the original logo for the 1983 Midsummer Madathon which developed into Highland Cross. The designs and ordering process are in the illustration below.
______________________________________________________________________________________ Participant Bulletin 3 - 16th May 2024 Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance Many folk will recognise various versions of this old saying – some more polite than others. With the Cross five weeks away now is the time to check that you have all your preparations in order. Emergency Kit The Organising Committee expect all participants to carry the Emergency Kit detailed in the event brochure. 1. A whistle to summon help – 6 blasts of the whistle repeated at one minute intervals 2. A weather protective suit 3. A small amount of high energy food You may get away with a t-shirt and shorts some years but an injury causing a minor slowdown on a windy, damp day can have serious effects and if you end up sitting waiting for help you can be in serious trouble without the emergency gear. Please take it with you. The link below will take you to a superb video from Mountaineering Scotland about the necessity to carry kit in case you have to sit and wait for help. PLEASE WATCH IT and take account of its learning when developing your kit for the day. It was filmed on a windy day with a temperature of 13 deg C – common conditions on Highland Cross. Last year was a hot one but we have had snow on the Cross! A minor twist or sprain can change the whole nature of the risk of the Cross. We will try to get supporting resources to you as quickly as possible, but they will not be immediately there for you. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=384326876240796 Each year we end up helping find and return gear loaned to injured folk by good hearted fellow participants. This means that the injured party were without the correct kit and other folk put themselves at risk by loaning gear to them! Bike Every year our wonderful volunteer Bike Doctors work miracles on bikes in Affric Quarry that were not really ready for the day, but there is a limit to what they can achieve! There have even been a number of bikes discovered in the Quarry with repair lists attached to them for their attention! Please make sure that your bike is ready for the event and that you have the spares that you need and can use for punctures etc on the route. Our Support Crews do not have cycle spares or puncture repair sets with them. If you arrive at Bike Loading on Friday and have an urgent need for “bits” our friends from Highland Bikes will have their mobile shop in attendance for last minute purchases. Baggage Think very carefully about the bags that you are going use to protect your baggage going to Affric and to Beauly. We recommend some sort of robust DRY BAG. The Bike Pound at Affric and the Baggage Pound at Beauly are open to the elements and there is no way that baggage can be kept off the ground in wet conditions. If you are using a rucksack or sports bag, please use strong waterproof bags as a liner. All baggage must bear your event number on a waterproof label, and we recommend that you place a label with your details inside the bag. Please underline the number to indicate how it should be read... 611 can be 119. Fluid on the Foot Section The Foot Section of Highland Cross is a “cupless event” – participants are responsible for bringing their own choice of cup or bottle with them. See page 13 of your information booklet - click here - which shows one style of cup that you might find useful. We will have fluid stations with water or water and rehydrating fluid at regular intervals along the way. We recommend that you start the day carrying some fluid to suit your own needs and if the day is forecast to be hot carry a bit extra. ______________________________________________________________________________________Participant Bulletin 4 - 24th May 2024 Transport to Morvich Please use the event buses wherever possible! If you cannot use the event buses, please follow the instructions below… Access to Morvich for folk arriving in non event vehicles Please approach Morvich via the junction at Ault a’ chruinn off the A87 to the South of Morvich and NOT via the junction on the North side of the causeway. We have applied for a Road Traffic Order on the road and there will be an effective one-way system for access. IN at the Ault a’ chruinn access and OUT at the North side of the causeway. Parking is extremely limited in the area, and we appeal for participants to be dropped off at the Morvich road T junction before Croe Bridge and for cars to leave the area. These measures are necessary to reduce disruption to the community of Morvich that hosts the Start and has supported us so generously over nearly four decades and to protect participant and volunteer safety. Morvich Breakfast Bar The Loch Duich Primary School Parents and Teachers committee intend to organise the Morvich Breakfast Bar once again. If you intend to avail yourself of an “athletic breakfast” prior to the event please make sure that you have some cash with you and in small denominations if possible. All funds raised support activities for the young folk. The Breakfast bar has become something of an institution on the Cross! Fundraising Highland Cross exists to raise funds for folk in Highland disadvantaged by medical or social causes. We have learnt of some amazing fundraising efforts by participants and we are hugely encouraged by these. Thank you to every team who are exerting themselves to generate the best sum possible. We have four wonderful charities nominated as main beneficiaries – Cantraybridge College, Highland Blindcraft, Highland Disability Sport and L’Arche Highland. Any funds remaining after the pledges to them are fulfilled will be distributed in smaller grants to other Highland charities. In 39 years, participants in Highland Cross have generated £5.9m for charities! This is an amazing total but the need continues… Justgiving - click here to set up a fundraising page for the 2024 event. ______________________________________________________________________________________
Participant Bulletin 5 - 28th May 2024 Bus choices The supply of buses in Highland now is challenging and although we have booked sufficient capacity, there is little room to spare. Therefore, it is vital that participants assist us by being accurate in their bus choices and sticking to them. Participants have all made their bus choices on their initial application forms. Please ensure that you have made the correct choice of departure point on the Saturday (Inverness or Beauly), and if your circumstances have changed, please amend your entry as soon as possible and no later than Noon 17th June. Also, if you are changing from being a runner to a walker, or vice versa, please amend your entry by Noon 17th June. To make amendments to your entry, please get in touch with your “Team Entry Owner” who will be able to update bus/walk or run changes for you. If you are registered as a runner, do not travel on the walkers' buses. We are aware of runners travelling on walkers' buses which has nearly caused a lack of seats for properly registered walkers. This is important as the organisers are arranging for buses to be in place in line with what competitors have requested. Bike Loading It helps the organisers to have as many bikes loaded as possible on the Friday evening at Inverness, irrespective of where you depart from on Saturday morning. Again, if appropriate, please amend your record. Safety Equipment Please review your equipment choices for the day especially the Safety Equipment that we expect you to have. Please watch the video in that we gave you a link to - see Bulletin 3 - 16th May. Highland Cross is a cupless event on the Foot Section Participants are reminded that that we will not be providing cups on the Foot Section of the event. It is your responsibility to bring a cup of your choice to the event. ______________________________________________________________________________________
Participant Bulletin 6 - 5th June 2024 Transport, Bike Transport and Walker/Runner choices Please ensure that you have made the correct choice of departure point on the Saturday (Inverness or Beauly), and if your circumstances have changed, please amend your entry as soon as possible and no later than Noon 17th June. Also, if you are changing from being a runner to a walker, or vice versa, please amend your entry by Noon 17th June. NO CHANGES CAN BE MADE AFTER THIS TIME The changes can be made directly on the SiEntries system by the Team Owner – please make any changes as soon as possible, that will greatly assist us in our planning and bus hire dispositions. Information on how to make changes is in the FAQ section of the Highland Cross website.
Participants opting to arrive at the Start in their own transport. Please note that there is NO PARKING at Morvich for supporters’ vehicles. Please arrange to be dropped off in plenty time to walk the 1 kilometre to the Start and to go through Registration and Safety Band fitting. Remember that there will be a “one way system” in operation – IN from Allt a’ Chruinn and OUT via the junction nearest the Dornie Causeway. Safety Equipment Please ensure that you have prepared the Safety Equipment that you are expected to carry on the day. The excellent video from Mountaineering Scotland shows graphically why you must carry it. We have a safety and support system to assist you but it cannot get to you instantly if you have a problem. You must be prepared to look after yourself with the kit that you are carrying. Historically the weather on Highland Cross has varied from snow to heat waves with every conceivable variation! Please review the video at https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=384326876240796 Cycle preparedness Please ensure that your bicycle is fit for the day and that you have the spares that you need to carry out running repairs in your baggage at Affric to take with you on the journey to Strathglass. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Participant Bulletin 7 - 13th June 2024
Parking in Beauly Participants MUST NOT park their vehicles in Beauly Square or on the approach road to it outside the shops on the night of Friday 21st or the morning of Saturday 22nd June.
Please refer to Page 19 of the event brochure. The whole area, as shown on the sketch, including the Square and the area shown with the double dotted line will be covered by a No Parking Order and the Police will have the authority to have vehicles parked there towed or lifted away with a considerable subsequent cost to the owner!
Please park your vehicles well away from these areas and preferably in the car park in Braeview that is clearly shown in your event brochure. Ill considered parking in Beauly creates safety hazards for participants on the day, creates challenges for the Organisers when negotiating for permissions to stage the event and is disrespectful of the Beauly Community who have supported us over the decades.
With less than two weeks to go, please look closely at your arrangements:
Are your transport options and contact details completely up to date on the SI Entries system? Have you sourced your cup for the foot section? Have you assembled your emergency kit for the day? _______________________________________________________________________________________ Participant Bulletin 8 - 20th June 2024 Weather The weather reports are quite variable for the 22nd but the omens look decent. However, the course is wet and rain is showing in some forecasts for Affric for Thursday and Fridy (sorry about that, all the volunteers working to set things up there on those days..…) With Highland weather you have to expect the unexpected and prepare accordingly – remember we have had both snow and a couple of heatwaves on the Highland Cross day down the decades!
Please ensure that you have your emergency kit plus sunscreen and insect repellent.
Labelling your Bicycle and Baggage Please follow to the guidance on page 6 Put a label with your details INSIDE your baggage.
Parking in Beauly You MUST NOT park in Beauly Square or on the approaches to the Square. Please use the Participants’ Car Park at Braeview – please look at the map on page 16 of the information booklet (sent to you on 12 April via SiEntries).
Folk making their own way to Morvich. If you are making your own way to Morvich please ensure that you are there in ample time to go through Registration and get to the Start for your 09.00 or 11.00 start time.
There is no spectator or drop off parking at Morvich Because of the fleet of buses arriving at Morvich from 07.45 to 09.00ish, please approach Morvich off the A87 via the south entrance to the road at Ault a’ chruinn. There will be an effective one way flow operating, as there is not enough space on the single track road for passing traffic. It will operate IN from the South off the A87 and OUT onto the A87 at the Cemetery junction on the North side of the causeway.
Foot Section Please carry the safety equipment listed in the booklet on page 14 The Foot section is a Cupless Event – make sure that you are carrying a cup with you.
Running repairs to bicycles on route Please carry your own puncture repair kits etc. Our support vans do not carry spares or repair kits. They are there to get folk withdrawing out to safety quickly.
Cycle Safety From Fasnakyle to Beauly you will be cycling on OPEN ROADS with no priority over other road users – please cycle with extreme care. The road is a standard public road that varies from two lane to single lane and is maintained to the local authority standard – there may be uneven and damaged road surfaces. If you have to stop, please get off the carriageway if at all possible.
Changes to the road layouts Please study your booklet to see the new coning provisions at Beauly Toll and on the approach to the Finish. Please see the plans on pages 18 and 19 of the booklet. _______________________________________________________________________________________
Participant Bulletin 9 - 12th July 2024 Our congratulations go to all the amazing participants who completed their personal challenge on the 40th Highland Cross! Our massive thanks go out to all the volunteers who made the day happen safely and so full of joy!
With Highland Cross rapidly becoming a good memory we are continuing our work to bring benefit to our four great nominated charities.
Fundraising Please maximise your fundraising in every way possible and ensure that the funds that your efforts have generated are paid in as soon as possible, and no later than 31st July 2024.
If you have been using an online platform to gather your sponsorship the funds should have come through automatically.
However, if you are using traditional means please follow these steps:
Bank by 31st July 2024 using the bank details as follows:
Account name: Highland Cross Sort code: 80-91-26 Account number: 00439605
Please use your surname and participant number i.e. SMITH 123 as the bank reference when paying in as this will identify your payment on our bank statement.
Alternatively, you can send a cheque, made payable to Highland Cross, to the Organisers along with your sponsor sheet (if applicable). As well as ensuring that your participant number is written on the sponsor sheet, please also mark on the reverse of the cheque your participant number to help with allocating the sponsorship to the correct team.
Photographs of the day
Photographs of the day can be obtained from two great sources: “Official images” Our official photographers were Alligin UK based in Skye their gallery can be accessed as follows and all images for personal use are free of charge as another momento of your participation in the 40th Highland Cross! “…participants, families and friends they need to use the add to cart feature, for which there is no charge. These users do not need a login.
Add to Cart - Instructions Select Image Select the Add to Cart icon Select ‘Personal Use Download’ as licence Choose image size (all no charge) Repeat for whichever images are required via ‘continue shopping’ or Checkout.”
Images by David Stewart
David is a past participant in Highland Cross and a talented photographer.
He has made the album on the following link available for personal download.
2024 Highland Cross - Google Photos
If you wish higher quality images David is willing to prepare these if you contact him directly on highland.life@gmail.com
The images were captured at Athnamulloch.
Lost property
If any of the following items belong to you, please email imfo@highlandcross.co.uk to claim them.
F & F cap Pr BLOC sunglasses (all black) Pr UVEX sunglasses (black/blue arms) Pr Specsavers glasses (tortoiseshell) Cateye Velo wireless cycling computer Francis Stuart Cycles torch Wide angle optics
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