Entries for the 2017 Manx Telecom Parish Walk are invited from midnight tonight but please read the rules before entering

Walk Rules for Competitors and Support Vehicles

1.     Failure to comply with road safety regulations may lead to disqualification without warning. For the purposes of the Parish Walk Rules 3 & 14 are deemed to be road safety regulations.

2.     The Organiser’s marshals are there to ensure, so far as is reasonably possible, the safety of all competitors and their support vehicles/attendants. If a competitor or their support crew/attendant fails to comply with a marshal’s instruction or verbally abuses a marshal they may be subject to one of the penalties outlined in rule 18 below.

Competitors Rules

3.     Important New Rule. Due to new rules governing road races the wearing of headphones or similar devices is prohibited, anyone who is seen to be wearing any form of headphones during the race will be disqualified. Headphones worn for medical reasons will be permitted if the competitor is able to provide a medical certificate to confirm their requirement.

4.     The route must be followed as laid down by the organisers and all officials and marshal’s instructions are to be obeyed.

5.     No running or jogging is allowed. The race is organised under IAAF rules of race walking. This event will be judged as a Category B Race and Rule 230 interpreted accordingly.  The use of poles and any artificial aids are prohibited.

6.     Pacing i.e. an attendant driving, walking or cycling with a competitor is not allowed. Pacing will result in time penalties or disqualification. Attendants must walk behind competitors when supplying drinks etc.

7.     If the time limit for arrival at a checkpoint is exceeded, then the competitor may be asked to retire by a race referee. All retirees must report to officials at a checkpoint. If a competitor stops between checkpoints they must report to the next church along the course. Failure to report will mean omission from the final results. Retirees should return their timing dibbers to the official at the checkpoint they have retired at or reported their retirement to.

8.     Any competitor that does not return their timing dibber to the official at their retirement church or on completion of the walk must return it to the organisation within 14 days. Failure to do this will incur a £25 penalty that will be taken from your payment card. To return your timing dibber you should follow the ‘I forgot to return my timing dibber’ link on the Parish Walk web site.

9.     The race referees have the absolute power to withdraw any competitor deemed to be physically unfit to continue. A certificate of medical fitness may be requested by the race referees prior to the event. Competitors must fill in medical details on the front number.

10.  Competitors must wear bright coloured clothing and a bib that displays significant reflective material when worn with a number. Competitors must use footpaths wherever possible. If there is no footpath you must walk on the right hand side of the road facing oncoming traffic, except where indicated by Parish Walk signs or when directed by marshals. You should try and cross roads at well-lit junctions.

11.  Race numbers must be unaltered and displayed front and back on the outer layer of clothing, above waist height at all times and must not be obscured by waterproofs or rucksacks. For walkers safety, rucksacks are not permitted after Ballaugh as they obscure the reflective bib.

12.  With the exception of guide dogs, competitors are not permitted to be accompanied by any animal.

13.  Competitors continuing beyond Ballaugh must be individually accompanied by an attendant in a car. The sharing of a support vehicle is not permitted. Attendants must wear hi-viz reflective clothing.

14.  After 22.00 hours walkers must wear an illuminated light source/s that is/are visible simultaneously from the front and rear.

Support Vehicles/Attendants Rules

15.  Only one support vehicle per entrant is permitted on restricted roads. Camper vans and larger vehicles will not be permitted on restricted roads.  Support vehicles must display a race number.

16.  Parking and giving assistance to walkers is prohibited along the No Stopping Zones as designated on the route description. All forms of support vehicles must obey road traffic orders; drivers must ensure they do not stop on corners or in locations that could cause an accident.

17.  Attendants in support vehicles must wear hi-viz reflective clothing.

Penalties that can be awarded if competitors or their support crew/attendants infringe the above rules;

18.  Infringement of rule 3 will result in immediate disqualification. Time penalties will be imposed on a competitor for any infringements of all other rules

1^st Infringement -15 minutes

2^nd Infringement – 45 minutes

3^rd Infringement- Disqualification

These time penalties are cumulative and will be added to the race time at the conclusion of the race. In the event that the penalties added take the total time over the 24 hour limit, then that competitor will not be classified as a finisher. Competitors and their support crews/attendants are deemed to be a single entity when imposing penalties.