Offa's Orror

Sunday 27th April 2008

Links to Pictures:
Start (Gerry)
First Steep Descent (Gerry)
Lemmings Leap (from Steve Caldwell)
Finish (Gerry)
Presentations (Gerry)
Photos from Ivan Teed
Photos from one of the competitors

Quotes from the Competitors:

2008

Thanks for an excellent race on Sunday. Organisation spot on and a fantastic course - beautiful scenery and I had so much fun being a lemming. Much enjoyed by me and all our large London contingent. Brilliant! - Alan Hall - Serpentine

"Having entered the Tintern Trot last year I had been looking forward to yesterdays 'Orror for ages and wasn't disappointed. Fantastic scenery, rock strewn ascents, descents favouring the brave (or foolhardy) and exemplary organisation, everything anyone could wish for on a tough trail event. Thanks to all concerned for their efforts, it is very much on next years agenda to train harder to do it even more justice." - Lawrence Scowen - Ross-on-Wye

2007

"Would just to like to thank all the marshals and everyone involved in the organisation of the Offa's 'Orror. I enjoyed every moment of it and will be booking up for next year as soon as you advertise it!" - Sioned

In short: this is what a trail race is all about!!
In full: A fantastic day! Fabulous course, beautiful weather and superb organisation. I thoroughly enjoyed this and suffice to say its already pencilled in for next year. Course was spot on - good, tough hills, ankle breaking downhills and rock solid bumpy flats. This is what trail races should be like. well done Chepstow Harriers (From Runners World)

In short: Excellent race in beautiful countryside
In full: Well done Chepstow Running Club on yet another brilliantly organised race - many thanks to all the marshalls etc who helped to put on this event. Might be interesting underfoot if it should be raining one year - however Chepstow RC no doubt order the weather as part of their organisation.
Many thanks once again. (From Runners World)

Event Description

Offa's 'Orror is a 20k multi-terrain race, mainly on footpaths and forest trails. There is less than half a mile of road so fell shoes are probably OK. There is 1,600ft of climb so it is a bit tough! The route will be well marked, marshalled and will have 3 drink stations.

Route Description

The first 2 miles are relatively easy, along the old railway track south tewards Chepstow.
Then there are some steady climbs up forest tracks and footpaths up to Offa's Dyke itself. The route then follows the Offa's Dyke footpath for some miles. The first drink station will be at about 4 miles after a short descent. The path then climbs to the old oak woods of the Hudnalls Common where there will be another drinks station.This includes a short road section.
There then follows an exhilarating descent all the way down to the River Wye at Bigsweir. From there the route is virtually flat, following the river all the way back to Tintern via a drink station at Brockweir then past the Donkey Sanctuary and the old railway bridge back to the Anchor

Race Director Martin Pengilly (above) with entries to Bill Bewg

Ruth Pickvance - Ladies winner 2007

Lemmings Leap - 2005. Deep Hole

Profile

History

Chepstow Harriers organised and ran a successful half marathon for many years - arguably the hardest in Britain. The race route did have a number of difficult road crossings - OK in the early years - but a growth in traffic to the Sunday Market at Chepstow Racecourse made these more difficult. The hard decision was made to abondon the old favourite and move to a new event without the traffic problems. The Offa's 'Orror was born.

Chepstow lies at the bottom of the Wye Valley. A few miles north lies the village of Tintern, famous for its Abbey. The event HQ is at the Anchor Inn, next to the Abbey itself.

Sunday 27th April 2007

Link to Results

Sunday 2nd October 2005