Welcome to the Longfield Pegularities for 2007. 

We are very happy you will be joining us for these Summer days of fun. 

Try your best on the Pegularities and in between unwind with food, drink and socialising.

The key things you need to know now are the Directions to Longfield, to arrive around 11:15 and what to bring with you (see below). 

You'll need to know how to compete on a Pegularity. For the keen ones you can do some homework by studying the following notes. If you feel daunted by the detail then wait and ask questions on the day.

Bring with you:

• MOST IMPORTANT - sturdy and comfortable footwear. You'll only be walking about 3.5 miles in total, but some of the ground will be soft or uneven.
• Comfortable casual clothing. Tracksuit, T-shirt, jeans ... whatever. We have ordered a dry, sunny day, so a HAT is essential. Come prepared with pac-a-mac if it looks like raining. Wearing shorts should be okay. Some of the paths and tracks will have nettles and thistles alongside them but the routes will have been cleared the day before and you won't need to go wading through undergrowth or climb trees.
• Transport to and from Longfield! If you can share transport with another invited couple, even better since it will reduce parking problems.
• Special food or drink if a regular finger buffet won't suit your diet. Veggy options will be available.
• Spare cash for our Multiple Sclerosis Society collection.
• Smiling faces.

Schedule for the days

11:15 to 12:00

• Arrival and parking. 
• Light refreshments available in the carport. (Help yourself throughout the day)
• Toilets are in the bungalow - through the back door, straight on.
• Collect your Documentation. You'll also be given your Pegularity Sheets for the two morning Pegularities which will contain route instructions and your start times.
• Check the Notice Board outside the carport for additional information.
• Everyone does the Pegularities individually, but register a team entry too. Teams comprise two competitors, one male, one female - NOT your normal partner to make teams interesting.
• Time to ask questions if you are unsure about anything (to do with Pegularities!) 
• You will have the opportunity to judge your average walking speed on a short calibration course in Longish Field. 

11:45 to 12:15
Pegularity 1 - Everywhere, There and Here
The first Pegularity will take you on a half mile stroll through Longish Field, Chick Wood, Crow Wood, Torchard and the Memage. (Map of the paths at Longfield)
Set at a low target average speed of approximately 1 mph, this will be a chance to familiarise yourself with the geography and terrain of Longfield for later Pegularities. There will be a fixed route to follow (defined by a simple map) along which you will need to record Route Checks - codewords from small boards. 
You'll have exactly 30 minutes to complete the Pegularity. To be free of time-penalties at the finish you'll need to arrive at exactly the right time (we'll tell you what time that should be). You'll lose a mark for each second early or late, and also ten marks for any codeword that you've missed.

12:30 to 13:00
Pegularity 2 - Crow Wood 
A return mainly to the tracks through Crow Wood. A map and instructions will define your route, but this time you will set your own average speed. You won't know the exact distance this time (although between 0.50 and 1.0 miles), so you must try to maintain your speed all the way to the finish. Early or late and you'll pick up time penalties. Make sure you follow the correct route too, there will be five codewords to collect.
When you finish Pegularity 2, you will be given your Pegularity Sheets for the three afternoon Pegularities.

13:00 to 14:30
Lunch, plus ales and tales, wines and whining. Interim results will be on the Notice Board.

14:00 to 14:30
Pegularity 3 - A Bridge Not Far 
So you're feeling stuffed after lunch? Set off to explore the countryside. A walk on the public road (take care if you've had alcohol!) and then down an interesting footpath. Keep going until you reach the first bridge (about 0.75 miles) or the second bridge (about 1 mile) and then retrace your steps.  A couple of Route Checks on the way. Don't get back late (or early!).

15:00 to 15:30
Pegularity 4 - Chick Wood (mostly)
Quite like Pegularity 2 but majoring on Chick Wood.

15:30 to 15:45
Tea time.

15:45 to 16:45
Pegularity 5 - To and Fro
Now you have to perform in front of everyone. When you are ready, head for a Pegularity in the Memage - a 20 metre square sandpit. You'll need to follow a course around cones; walk to the end (backwards!) and then back to the start (forwards). You should judge your pace such that the time taken backwards is the same as forwards (you can't use a stopwatch). The difference between the two times will be your penalty. Be careful, if you make a mistake around the cones you will be penalised an extra 60 marks. Only about 0.15 mile in total.

16:45 to 17:00
Results and Awards presentation.

17:00 onwards
There will be food, drink and stories to finish, so no rush to go home, although you might be volunteered into the clean up operation. 
Before you go please contribute to our charity for the day - the Multiple Sclerosis Society. £5 per person would be nice; more, if you've had a really fun day.

Pegularity Procedures

When you arrive at Longfield you will be given Pegularity Sheets for Pegularities 1 and 2. At lunch you will be given Pegularity Sheets for Pegularities 3,4 and 5.

The Pegularity Sheet will show your start time, a box to record your Nominated Average Speed (NAS) for Pegularities 2 and 4, the Route Instructions, boxes to record any Route Checks and a box for your finish time.

Pegularities 1 to 4 will start and finish at the same point in Longfield. A large digital clock will be on display and set to BBC time. All timing for the Pegularities will be by reference to this clock.

As each of your start times approaches, you should go to the start, enter your NAS (a speed in miles per hour to one decimal place) if appropraite, on your Pegularity Sheet and wait for your time to appear on the clock before departing. In calculating the time taken to complete a Pegularity it will be assumed that you started on your scheduled time (You won't be prompted if you are late!).

Follow the Route Instructions. This may be a map or a description of the route to follow. The instructions may require you to record Route Checks on your Pegularity Sheet as confirmation that you have followed the correct route.

Route Checks will be small green boards (about 2" by 1") containing three-letter words or blue boards containing four-letter words. They will be visible from the correct route without climbing trees or diving into undergrowth. (Be discreet when you find them. Yells of “GOTCHA” will advertise the location of the Route Check to nearby competitors!) There will twenty-four of these on Pegularity 1; five on Pegularities 2 and 4; a couple on Pegularity 3 and none on Pegularity 5. If you miss or incorrectly record an Route Check you will receive a 10 mark penalty.

As you near the Pegularity finish, if you think you've kept to your NAS, check in straightaway. If you think you're running (walking?) late, dash to the finish to reduce your lateness penalties. Early? Then hold back until you think your arrival time is just right.
Your arrival time will be the time you touch the control board at the finishing point. Present your Pegularity Sheet to the finish marshal, who will record your time and keep the sheet for marking.

Note: Pegularity 1 is pre-set at a NAS of approximately 1 mph. On Pegularity 3 you will choose between two pre-set speeds.

Nominated Average Speeds (NAS)

If you haven't been able to practice before the event, make use of the short calibration course in Longish Field to get some idea of your normal walking/jogging speed on uneven ground.
Your speed on this short course will be about right for Pegularities 2 and 4; perhaps a bit lower since there are many twists, turns and narrow paths on these Pegularities.
For Pegularity 3 a slightly higher speed may be appropriate since the route uses the public road and a smooth track.
On Pegularity 1 your average speed is pre-set at a low 1 mph.
Your NAS for each Pegularity must be quoted in miles per hour to one decimal place and cannot be less than 1.5 mph.

Measurements

The distance to be travelled on each Pegularity will have been accurately measured using a trundle wheel. Measurement will have been at 12 inches from the left hand edge of public roads/walkways in the direction of travel, or in the middle of the route when using narrow paths and tracks.
If you have a fancy personal GPS or pedometer to measure speed or distance, don't bother to bring it - they won't really be accurate enough on the kind of terrain being used.
A watch or stop-watch is allowed and would be useful. 

Summary of  Penalties 

• Early or late arrival at Pegularity Finish Control - 1 mark per second
• Incorrect answer to a Route Check - 10 marks
• Incorrect route taken on Pegularity 5 - 60 marks
• Not completing a Pegularity - 600 marks
• Unsporting behaviour - Exclusion

Classification will be in order of fewest penalties.

Awards

• 1st Overall - An engraved medal.
• 2nd Overall - An engraved medal.
• 3rd Overall - An engraved medal.
• Least penalties on each Pegularity - An engraved medal. (Non-podium competitors only. Competitors may only win one such award. In these cases the award will be presented to the competitor with the next fewest penalties)
• Best Team of two - An engraved medal each.
• Best Social Performance - Spirit of the Event medal

Safety and Comfort

• Wear appropriate footwear and bodywear.
• Always make way for faster competitors that wish to overtake. 
• Walk vigilantly – some of the paths are bumpy in places. STOP if you need to check the map or record a Route Check.
• Exposed tree stumps and overhanging branches on the Pegularity routes will be sprayed with orange fluorescent paint.
• To aid definition, in some places the tracks have been delineated with branches or barrier tape.
• Beware that there are many thistles and nettles either side of the route.
• Keep away from a couple of "Danger" areas in the woods - hidden rabbit holes!

Looking forward to seeing you

Christine & Ray