Important: there is an issue with access to a path on the route.  An order has been made to make it a right of way, but it is being disputed so a route change may be necessary this year - see item on navigation page.

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The 28th running of the event will take place on

Saturday 16th October 2010

The event is now held on the third Saturday in October

Don't forget your torch (early starters, and those finishing after 6:30 pm)

Sunrise 07:33  Sunset 18:07

Dawn Twilight - day - dusk twilight: 07:00 to 18:42

(for comparison: for 13 Dec, date of 2008 event, Dawn 07:26 SR: 08:07, SS 15:51 Dusk 16:32)

Go to the Travel, Accommodation, and Navigation page for practical information:
Getting to the event
Where to stay
Finding your way round the course (strip map / written description)
Route changes for this year (and changes over the last few years for those who have missed recent events)
Route between checkpoints for supporters (by car)

FAQs - answers to common questions raised about the event

Forum Discussion

 

Low-down on the route, stage by stage overview (corresponding to the relay - individuals enjoy the full experience)

If you see a photographer, smile please; he may be from Armada Photography.  Look for the results on their web page

The event is held under TRA rules
Following discussions with the TRA in connection with our race permit, we have been asked to emphasise that there are two level crossings on the route. Anyone disobeying marshal’s instructions at these level crossings will be disqualified. Nevertheless, you are primarily responsible for your own safety, and you should only cross if both you and the marshal consider it to be safe to do so.

You will of course understand that under TRA rules anyone disobeying any instructions from a marshal or any other official risks disqualification, as does anyone deliberately taking an unauthorised route (short-cut, or in some cases a longer ‘easier’ route) or running under someone else’s name, for example.

Participants are also expected to obey The Countryside Code, which is dedicated to helping members of the public respect, protect and enjoy the countryside. Follow the links below for more information to the five constituent sections.

Be safe, plan ahead and follow any signs

Leave gates and property as you find them

Protect plants and animals and take your litter home

Keep dogs under close control

Consider other people

Changes are detailed on the Navigation Page

Organisational Changes 2009

Change of date - to be brought forward 2 months.  Most people should be able to finish in daylight - and certainly there will be less dark, and less plough.  All runners / joggers should get round in daylight if starting at 7 am

Further details to be arranged, including start times

4 route changes are already under consideration - to be confirmed.  
Changes marked # have been incorporated into written description, $ into Wainwright map

Stage lengths (now confirmed for 2009) 

1	Start to Grange	17.0
2	Grange to Treeton	10.5
3	Treeton to Harthill	12.3
4	Harthill to Woodsetts	9.5
5	Woodsetts to Firbeck	9.2
6	Firbeck to Maltby	7.6
7	Maltby to Old Denaby	9.9
8	Old Denaby to Finish	5.0

$# Stage 2: 
After Hilltop, take the path between fences to the left of the new buildings.  Follow path to pylon at bottom of hill. From here, there are two alternatives (to be confirmed on the day - it is expected that we will be taking the alternative fall-back route).

Original:  Cross stile by pylon, drop to RD, cross to track,  past steel gates if they are open for 30 m, R down small path to R of wooden gateposts, cross rough land/stile to RD.  If you see new house at end of track, you have gone too far. If gates are closed, go right for 20 metres and take grass path across field to lower road.
Fall-back:  Continue on path past pylon until it turns right (about 10 metres), drop down steep bank to road, cross and take grass path across field to lower road.  Turn left and follow road. 

In each case, follow road to hidden path on right, opposite first road in from the left and near bus shelters.

$#  Stage 2: Catcliffe to Treeton - A second change relates to a bridge that has been closed but a better bridge should be reopened.  RMBC hope that this will be available for  2009.  You will be advised which route to take on the day

If landscaping is finished, we will return to the old route parallel to river: R at main RD, (short cut in front of houses), then L on FP over earthbank at RD junction. Follow cycle path along right bank of the river, cross the large grey-green bridge, initially right and then go straight up to cross FB over RWY.   This is likely to become available just before the event, and so can't be reconnoitred fully.
If bridge has not been opened (and for recce runs, after looking at the above): L at main RD, R at mini roundabout, follow RD to L bend, past track (to Wilf Jay’s), R at FP sign, through gate up bank, follow path to fence, turn L. Follow fence, R at corner, then L to cross FB over RWY Note: the path closure notice at road corner in Treeton refers to the old route, not this alternative.  See the route in pictures 2

# $  Description amended:
Treeton checkpoint/feedstation: moving to cricket pavilion, 100 m straight up Washfield Lane from footbridge over railway.  Checkpoint at gate to cricket grounds, feedstation at pavilion. 

$# Stage 3: From checkpoint, go out of gate, turn R, take  field path along top boundary of cricket ground (footpath and TPT signs).  Keep straight on until path starts to go downhill, then go Right through stone squeeze (obstruction to stop motor cycles) / under a telephone wire to footpath (half right) leading to bend in track, opposite concrete bridge leading to lakeside path.

#$ Stage 4: change of Right of Way after level crossing at Turnerwood
Cross RWY, turn R, follow path on L bank of ditch towards farm complex. (NEW:) Go round back of farm (to L) and at track turn L uphill along track towards woods

$ Stage 8: From Swinton. Follow canal towpath under bridge, then Right up field to road.  Cross to stile, follow path half right across field to a line of  bushes.  Go to the right of the bushes, then  sharp left behind them to a gap leading to a path and stile; join cycle track.  Follow this to DVC.  (replaces route along Hatherley Rd)

The Emergency Phone Number is 0777 9980562 
 

Link to older Route Changes and General Navigation

Receipt for confusion
The Rotherham Ring Route has recently been established, developed and waymarked.  The publicity, by the local Ramblers Group, says is based on a route devised by ROTHERHAM HARRIERS & ATHLETICS CLUB, i.e. our Round Rotherham. The two routes coincide over much of the distance, but there are significant differences, notably near the half-way point (we need to get to the Woodsetts check-point to give you refreshments) and near the finish. The Rotherham Ring Route is waymarked; it is planned to produce a list of differences, or particularly where to ignore the Rotherham Ring Route waymarks. This list will be posted on the website in due course.  Meanwhile, the Wainwright map indicates where these marks may lead you astray by showing an open arrow with the legend 'Rotherham Ring'.

 

Although we don't host a forum, we do have FAQs.  You may find relevant  information in the forums where this event is discussed (please let me know if you are aware of others):

See the FRA website forums, the RRR being listed under Long Distance Challenges, freely available. 

There is also a forum on the Runners World website, which also has training tips, although some pages are only available to those who subscribe (with real money). For the forum, find the RRR event (Dec 2008, Ultra distance, North region). Apparently there is more information on the forum for the High Peak 40 (a past event, Sept 2008), but not easy to find relevant entries. Or just search for Rotherham in the forum search bar.  

Have you seen the event reports from Portobello, Dumfries, Colm McCoy, Sarah's Blogg?

You will find others if you search for Round Rotherham on the web (Google, etc)

Read the plaudits from previous satisfied customers published on Page 3 of the November 2004 RHAC newsletter. In theatrical tradition for critics' comments on advertising posters, the next sentence starting "However, " has been removed from some of them (but the comment may have been acted on). 

Low-down on the route, stage by stage (corresponding to the relay - individuals enjoy the full experience):

Underfoot conditions vary from stage to stage

Stage 1 (17.0 km) has hard-surfaced paths, road and canal towpath, unfortunately made good so that there is little risk of sliding into the canal, to a yard and then somewhat muddy (briefly) through a wood. Track, road (minor) path through a village, then we have found a muddy ridge. Then firm.

Stage 2 (10.5 km) is mostly firm (the main excitement is when leaving Grange Park). Tracks and road.

Much of Stage 3 (12.3 km)is made-up of cycleable paths and tracks. Towards the end there are a couple of field crossings - muddy or firm, depending on what ploughing the farmer's done.

The first 60% of Stage 4 (9.5 km) is a series of field crossings, then easy (hard surfaced tracks and road) apart from the hill (climb of 25 m, but runnable by some). 

Stage 5 (9.2 km) is muddy to start, but from Langold Park gets firmer. Even the fields are reasonably firm except at Wallingwells.

For Stage 6 (7.6 km), the initial route follows field side tracks - can be sloppy. Firm past Roche Abbey, the valley path that follows may be sloppy on the surface but firm beneath.

Stage 7 (9.9 km) starts with a field-side track that can be wet. Short firm section of road, through village, then 3 km of reasonably well-defined field paths to a track through a hamlet.  The field path after and the path through the wood can be wet, the latter being downhill so let yourself go - or take it with care, especially after dark. After the road crossing its gently uphill on a road that deteriorates to a muddy track, but down a firm field to the checkpoint. (This was a major change for 2007 - with plenty of lovely mud).  

Stage 8 (5.0 km) used to be tricky, but has been subjected to council interference replacing muddy paths with cycleable routes. A lit cycle track replaces a path slipping into the mire. Mud is at worst only a few millimetres deep. Path, towpath, track and road.

 

Unfortunately, neither of the other Northern Triangle Series events have taken place since 2003, and therefore the series is effectively void, with just one remaining event.  Beyond our control at Rotherham, I'm afraid.