29 Oct 2018

Oxfam Trailwalker 2018 – eNewsletter – Issue 3

Contents of eNewsletter

  1. Oxfam Trailwalker 2018 Official Route
  2. Registration and Start Time at Start Point
  3. Control Point and Penalty Point (near M099)
  4. Timing System and Online Tracking Website
  5. Procedures of Certificate Presentation at Finish Point (NEW!)
  6. Be Kind to the Environment
    A. Remember to bring your own bottle / container if you would like to enjoy the drinks we will provide during the event
    B. Support our recycling initiatives. Reduce landfill waste
    C. Take you litter home (Announcement of teams found to have discarded litter at trail)
    D. Green4 Trailwalker

 

Official Route of Oxfam Trailwalker

We are glad to announce that the Oxfam Trailwalker 2018 route remains unchanged. We are grateful to everyone who helped clear up the trails after the Typhoon Mangkhut, including all AFCD staff, volunteer groups, the Sai Kung District Office, Sai Wan Village residents, and Gilwell Campsite and Po Leung Kuk staff!

As in previous years, the 100 km route will start in Pak Tam Chung at Sai Kung, and will cover sections 1 to 9 of the MacLehose Trail, which is about 88 km (M001 – M174). After passing distance post M174 and leaving CP9, the route will leave the MacLehose Trail and travel five kilometres along a country trail to the north coast of Tai Lam Chung Reservoir. The trail will then turn right along a paved road towards Wong Nai Tun / Tai Tong and head towards the Finish Point at the Po Leung Kuk Jockey Club Tai Tong Holiday Camp in Yuen Long (OTW175 – OTW198).
The Oxfam Trailwalker trail is not identical to the MacLehose Trail. Please note the following differences:

MacLehose Trail Oxfam Trailwalker route
Section 2

M031-M033

From M031 pass through Sai Wan beach to M033
Section 8

M153-M156

From M153 along Tai Mo Shan Road (takes the old MacLehose Trail) to Route Twisk
Section 10

M175-M200

From OTW175 to OTW198 and the countdown signage inside the Finish Point campsite

(turn left towards Kat Hing Bridge after registering at CP9, then walk along a country trail next to Tai Lam Chung Reservoir)


 

 

Registration and Start Time at Start Point

A total of 1,300 teams have joined the event this year. In order to ensure that the event runs smoothly, there will be five start times as per the table below.

Venue:  Po Leung Kuk Pak Tam Chung Holiday Camp, Sai Kung

Date:    Friday, 16 November, 2018

Team Number Registration Time Start Time
8001-8180 (Elite Team)* 07:00 – 07:45 08:00
0001-0300 07:30 – 09:00 09:30
0301-0580 09:00 – 10:30 11:00
0581-0850 11:00 – 12:00 12:30
0851-1120 12:30 – 13:30 14:00

All teams MUST start at the designated times listed above according to their respective team numbers and register at the Start Point at least 30 minutes before starting. No team is allowed to change its registration and start time without the prior approval of the Organiser.

*Elite Teams MUST collect their number bibs between 12 and 13 November at our office. More information will be sent to teams later.


 

 

Control Point and Penalty Point (near M099)

Additional Control Point (CP9A)
Control Point with a timing mat will be set up (near M183; OTW186-187) to ensure all participants are following the designated route. Only teams that having their time recorded at all nine checkpoints and Control Point will be deemed to have completed the event on the designated course.

Control Point
Nearest Checkpoint (CP) CP9 and Finish Point
Location Tai Lam Chung Reservoir
Distance Post M183 (OTW186-OTW187)

Penalty Point (near M099)
Penalty Point with a timing mat will be set up this year again near Distance Post M099. If any members of a team have a timing record at the Penalty Point, the members will be deemed to have taken a shortcut, and 120 minutes will be added to the team’s finishing time.

Penalty Point
Nearest Checkpoint (CP) CP4 and CP5
Location Tiu Tso Ngam near Kwun Ping Road
Distance Post M099

Participants should stay on the marked course. Shortcuts are strictly prohibited. The Organiser will not record the result and ranking of teams whose members are found to have taken shortcuts.


 

 

Timing System and Online Tracking Website

The Timing System will be a bit different from last year, please read through the details below to ensure your team can check-in successfully at all checkpoints.

The timing system uses RFID chips; a pair of chips will be affixed to the back of each bib to keep track of participants’ progress on the trail as well as to ensure their safety. From CP1 to CP9, all four team members must report TOGETHER while reaching the Check-in and Information Tents. Staff at each checkpoint will check participants’ bibs and bracelets, and will use a mini-sensor to record their time which will be uploaded to Oxfam’s web tracking webpage. (No timing mat will be placed at the checkpoints. Teams can rest or move on once they have checked in at a checkpoint.)

Timing mats will be located at the Start Point (start area), Control Point and Finish Point (finish arch). Teams should ensure all team members cross the mat to record their times.

To ensure the timing chips can be detected by the device accurately and efficiently, participants are required to display their bib visibly on the front at all times during event. Any team with missing time records at any of the checkpoints or Control Point will be considered to have not completed the event on the designated course.

The following items must be visible at all times during event
2018bracelet 2018numberbib
Un-removable bracelet for identification use Bib with timing chips

Check-in/out and time record
As Oxfam Trailwalker is a team event, all members of a team MUST report TOGETHER at the “Check-in & Information Tent” along the trail:

When entering a Checkpoint

All members report to the Check-in & Information Tent TOGETHER

 Checkintent  

2018numberbib

Singlebracelet

Check-in & Information Tent Bib with timing chip and bracelet
Officials will verify the bib and bracelet and will use a mini-sensor to record the timing and the web tracking’s Official Time will be updated with a “Check in” time

 

Start Point (start area), Control Point and Finish Point (finish arch)
 Timingmat

Timing Mat

The timing device will detect the chips automatically and the web tracking’s Official Time will be updated with a “Check out” time

Online Tracking Website

The Online Tracking Website (http://otwtracking.oxfamtrailwalker.org.hk/) will be activated on 7am on 17 November.
The Timing system will update “Official Time” and status while participants check-in / check-out times.

2018Onlinetrackingeng

Please pay special attention to the following:

  1. All members must report to the “Check-in & Information Tent” TOGETHER, and ensure that their bibs are visible at all times during event.
  2. When participants pass the timing mat, it will make a sound which indicates that the chip has successfully been detected.
  3. Please DO NOT fold the bib to avoid causing damage to the chips.
  4. Participants should let Oxfam staff know if the chips have been damaged and replace a new set at the next checkpoint.
  5. Detection might be affected if participants wear thick or reflective clothing. Participants should wear their bibs over their clothing when passing through checkpoints.

 

 

Procedures of Certificate Presentation at Finish Point (NEW!)

The ‘Finish Certificate’ is awarded to all participants who complete the 100 km. To speed up the process, the Organiser made changes to the Certificate Presentation procedures so teams can return home and rest or celebrate with their support teams sooner.

New procedures:

  1. Please register at the “Check-in” tent next to the Finish Arch once you have passed the timing mat.
  2. Thirty minutes after registration, please go to the “Certificate Counter” inside the Finish Hall to collect your certificate.
    A. If your team doesn’t need to receive the certificate on stage: Either leave the Finish Point immediately or you can queue up to take photo at the Backdrop.
    B. If your team want to receive the certificate on stage: Register with our staff/volunteer at the counter to receive your certificate on stage.
    i. Go on stage for the presentation of your certificate.
    ii. Leave the Finish Point immediately or queue up at the Photo Backdrop for photo taking.

OTW18certpresentation


 

 

Be Kind to the Environment

We believe you, being lovers of the great outdoors, will support our call to protect the environment together with your support team, family and friends. Here are a few ways to go green when you train and during the event:

A. Remember to bring your own bottle / container

  • Disposable cups will not be provided at the Start Point, Finish Point or any of the CPs. Participants are highly encouraged to bring their own bottles / cups / containers to enjoy the drinks and food we will provide. Alternatively, participants can purchase the Oxfam Trailwalker stainless steel cup from our Merchandise Booth at the Start Point.
  • Clean your containers at the nearest washroom or other places using tap water, not that from water dispensers.
  • To reduce plastic waste, we will only provide bottled water for participants at CP1 (Sai Wan). Water dispensers will be available at the Start Point, Finish Point and other CPs. Please make sure you have a bottle / container that you can use along the trail.

B. Support our recycling initiatives, reduce landfill waste.
A recycling station will be set up at each CP to collect empty plastic bottles and aluminium cans except CP1 and CP5 (only pear cores will be collected at CP5). Green ambassadors will be stationed at designated CPs to respond to recycling questions. Please empty your containers before recycling them and do not put other waste into these recycling bins. Furthermore, we have also set up an additional recycling station at No. 6 BBQ site, Shing Mun Reservoir this year.

C. Take your litter home. (Announcement of discarded litter after the event)
Energy food and bars will be distributed. Our working personnel will mark each team’s number on all food packaging and water bottles we provide. If cleaning workers or volunteers find these items discarded on the trail, the team’s number and its member’s names will be posted on the Oxfam Trailwalker website. Please take care of your belongings (including your litter)!

50_0923  Monkeyrubbish  Foodwaste  Greenvolunteer

 

D. Green4 Trailwalker

Take any four of nine green actions during the event to help the environment and get a special chop on your finish certificate – we will also make special mention your team on the Oxfam Trailwalker website. Why wait? Click here to submit your details (team number and URL of Facebook / Instagram) and become a green trailwalker!

Google form: https://goo.gl/forms/q1gJlTx4SsM5SRCo1

Nine green actions:
(Choose any four of the following actions to become a Green4 Trailwalker:)

  1. Bring your own cup / container for hot drinks and soup
  2. Bring your own cutlery
  3. Take your empty bottles / cans to our recycling bins
  4. Take litter on the trail back to checkpoints
  5. Be a green support team – do not use single-use plastic
  6. Bring bottles from CP1 (Sai Wan) to CP2 (Pak Tam Au) for recycling
  7. Do not waste food – plan what you will eat in advance and take surplus food home
  8. Take public transport instead of driving to reduce your carbon footprint
  9. Eat more vegetables than meat during the OTW