Beyond the Tay Adventure Challenge

BEYOND THE TAY ADVENTURE CHALLENGE

ATHLETE GUIDE 2021

Welcome to this exciting event delivered by Beyond Adventure and Still Going Strong Events.  We are delighted that you have chosen to be a part of this and are looking forward to hosting both adventure sports enthusiasts and those putting their toes in the water for the first time. This family friendly event offers an opportunity for everyone to get involved.  Aberfeldy and The Tay Valley has some of the best scenery in Scotland, particularly at this time of year in early autumn creating a stunning backdrop.

The Beyond the Tay Adventure Challenge is a circular 14 km Run/Hike from the picturesque Highland Perthshire Town of Aberfeldy to Kenmore followed by a 13 km paddle back to Aberfeldy. 

We are Proud to work with our local Partners

The Course

The route delivers some spectacular Highland Perthshire scenery. Following your event check-in at Beyond Adventure, Riverside, the race start is on the front lawn of Dewars Whisky Distillery.

Aberfeldy Run/Hike Section : Distance 14km

Adventure challenge run section

Paddle Section

Adventure challenge run section

Classes

You can enter as:

Solo

Pairs (complete the river section in doubles canoe or kayak) - Within this category is an Adult & Child section.

Relay (one person for the land section and one person for the water section)

Solo competitors should be 16+ years old.

The event is designed to allow a competitive element alongside a participation element.

Pairs

We welcome entries from pairs. 

Following on from the success of our ‘adult & child’ category for our 2019 event we will promote this category again. Parents take the decision as to whether or not their child is old enough to take part.

New for 2020

Additionally our brand new ‘Schools’ Category allows young people of secondary school age to compete for their school.

Relay

We welcome relay entries, Relay category entrants will be two members, one run/hiker and one paddler with changeover/transition at Taymouth Marina. Relay category entrants will have a different bib colour

Allowable craft

All categories of paddlesport craft are allowable from racing kayaks through to paddleboards. The boats paddled down the river section of the event prescribe which category participants compete in. i.e. tandem crews must paddle an accepted doubles craft.  Canoes, kayaks, stand up boards and sit on tops will be available to hire from Beyond Adventure.

Hire Costs are : Kayak, SUP £10  -  Sit on Top, Open Canoe £25

Please email us at the BA office to book your craft :  email@beyondadventure.co.uk

Event Fees

Solos: £35.00

Pairs: £60.00

Relay: £60.00

Prizes are awarded as;

Solo

1st, 2nd & 3rd Male

1st, 2nd & 3rd Female

1st, 2nd & 3rd Male U18

1st, 2nd & 3rd Female U18

Pairs in Tandem Craft

1st, 2nd & 3rd

1st Adult & Child

1st School

Relay

1st, 2nd & 3rd

Key things you need to do to before taking part

Register and pay for the event here.

Read the information on protecting the environment about biosecurity and follow the link to “Check – Clean – Dry”. http://www.nonnativespecies.org/checkcleandry/index.cfm It is every paddler’s responsibility to turn up at the start with a canoe or kayak that is both clean and dry, so that no Invasive Non Native Species enters the River Tay.

Read the Event Safety and equipment guidance within this document to ensure yourself and your equipment including boat are properly prepared and equipped in advance.

Read the Event rules in the pdf file at the end of this document

You must check-in in person.

Key Timings

Sunday 27 September

Boat Drop Off Opens 08:00- Closes 09:30 At Kenmore Hotel - riverside

Check-in Opens 07:30 – Closes 09:30 At Beyond Adventure, Riverside

Event Briefing to all athletes 10:15 At Beyond Adventure

Event Starts 10:30 At Start Line, Dewars Whisky Distillery

Side Events Program Starts 14:00 At Beyond Adventure

Celebratory BBQ 14:30 At Beyond Adventure

Event Prize Giving 15:00 At Beyond Adventure

Check-in

Event check-in is located at Beyond Adventure, Riverside, Aberfeldy, Perthhsire PH15 2EB turn in at 40mph/derestricted speed sign leaving/arriving eastern side of Aberfeldy

Opening Times:

Sunday 27 September, 07:30 - 09:30

At check in you will receive:

Your race bib

Boat sticker

Athlete wrist band (gives you access to all event areas )

Event T shirt - if you have chosen to buy one

Start and Vehicle Logistics

All participants are responsible for taking their boats to Kenmore Hotel on the morning of 27 September 2020. Boat drop off will be open from 0800-0930 and boats, buoyancy aids and helmets will be checked at this time. If you have hired a craft from Beyond Adventure then it will be taken to the start line for you. Having deposited your boats, cars will be parked at Beyond Adventure, Riverside, Aberfeldy, Perthshire PH15 2EB where the race will start and finish.

There are toilets available at check-in.

Safety and Equipment

The safety of participants and our volunteers is paramount. The Run/Hike section is off road for the majority of the route. You should wear appropriate footwear, E.G. Good quality Running or Fell Running shoes, or Hiking Boots/Shoes.

Please ensure you were appropriate clothing to the weather conditions and carry nutrition with you in terms of energy drinks and bars. There will be no drink or feed station on the route but there will be water available at the paddle transition at Taymouth Marina.

All participants are required to provide a buoyancy aid and helmet. Remember that the weather can be cold in September and it can be wet and windy therefore we expect participants to have appropriate clothing with spares for the river section. Closed cockpit kayaks and open canoes must have additional buoyancy and end loops fitted. All equipment will be checked for suitability when dropped off at Taymouth Marina.

Safety cover will be provided at Chinese Bridge and other sections of the course. However, the majority of the course you will be on your own.

The race will be supported by a sizable and professional Course Marshal, First Aid and Water Safety Team. How to summon assistance will be described at the pre-race briefing.

There will be a Race Control office at The Beyond Adventure by the river, Emergency contact details will be published in the final race information, and at the pre-race briefing.

General River Information

The Tay is the biggest-volume river in Britain, passing through beautiful scenery. The entire river is flowing, fast at times. There is a rapid section from Chinese Bridge to the confluence with the River Lyon, where the standard reaches Grade 2. Here there are standing wave trains which will capsize an open canoe or open cockpit kayak if the correct line is not taken.  There will be safety in place and, in the event of a capsize, our experienced team will fish you out. Our recommendation is that novices paddle sit on top kayaks which are available for hire and are easy to clamber back on to in the event of a swim.

We recommend two guidebooks that cover this section of river:

Scottish Canoe Touring

Scottish Whitewater: 2nd edition

Both are available from the Scottish Canoe Association (http://canoescotland.org) or any reputable bookseller. Participants unfamiliar with the river might wish to consider a guided reconnaissance – see the Scottish Canoe association website or elsewhere for possible providers.

Race Recce and Training/Practice Opportunities

We have set aside 4 dates for training opportunities before the race day.  

Come along and have some coaching on the river with one of the BA instructors.

Dates are :  Tba Aug and  Tba Sept

The costs for these practice days are £55 per person or £100 per pair per day.

Call Beyond Adventure on 01887 829202 or email@beyondadventure.co.uk to book.

General Medical and Safety 

In the event of an Emergency or Injury alert another competitor or race marshal. If there is neither in close proximity stay calm and wait for the sweep team to meet you.

In the event of an emergency or serious incident to either your team or another team (we expect you to all take care of each other as part of the spirit of the race) ensure that one person stays with the casualty and another is sent in the direction of the race to the nearest marshal who will alert race control. If you are carrying a mobile phone as part of your race kit call 999 and follow up with a call to event control.

Side Events Program

Beyond The Tay Adventure Challenge is also delivering an exciting side events program which includes:

Come Try Paddle Sports sessions

Indoor Climbing Wall

Boat and Equipment second hand sale (participants can bring their own items to sell)

Bouncy Castle

TO READ OR DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE RACE RULES AND FEES PLEASE CLICK ON THEN LINK BELOW.

BEYOND THE TAY ADVENTURE CHALLENGE 2020 RACE RULES AND FEES

EXPEDITIONS WITH BEYOND ADVENTURE