Supporting friends and family during the Dragon’s Back Race®
We know how important it is for friends and family to support participants during a race, and Dragon’s Back Race® is no exception. Many people like to follow the race in person to cheer runners on the course, and we understand how much participants value being able to see friends and family during the event.
Whilst supporters can intercept participants along the route to cheer them on, it is important for supporters to be aware of the Event Rules which state that participants should not receive any external support; contravening these rules will result in the participant being disqualified. External support could include giving a participant food or drink, running alongside for any distance, carrying their bag, giving them additional clothing, or taking anything off them such as wet kit or rubbish.
Please take time to work out where you will see your friends and family on each day making sure you only go to the Support Points and Water Points that are marked as publicly accessible below. If you want to meet runners out on the course, please make sure you prepare and plan according to the weather and mountain conditions; do not become a Mountain Rescue call out!
Some things to note:
The ongoing success of this race is down to respectful relationships with landowners and other stakeholders, and so, in order to not jeopardise the future of the event, please help us by closely following these rules around supporting your friends and family who are participating in Dragon’s Back Race.
There is strictly no access to any of the Overnight Camps, including the roads or tracks leading to/from the sites; these are all on private land.
Any supporters entering an Overnight Camp will result in their runner being disqualified from the race.
There is strictly no access inside any of the Support Point or Water Point areas.
There is no parking directly at any of the Support Points or Water Points, so please ensure you know where to park in advance.
Any supporters cheering runners at prohibited Support or Water Points will result in their runner being disqualified from the race.
Any supporters accessing the closed areas inside the Support or Water Points will result in their runner being disqualified from the race.
We know that these rules are harsh and may seem overly restrictive, but they are the only way we can guarantee the safety of the runners and members of the Event Team, are able to apply the Event Rules evenly and fairly, and ensure the event conforms to the requirements of the landowners, in turn helping to secure the future of Dragon’s Back Race.
Conwy
Registration
Registration and the Participant Briefing take place at Ysgol Porth Y Felin School in Conwy. Friends and family are welcome onto the school grounds but not inside the registration or briefing marquees.
The welcome meal on the evening before the start is for Participants and Event Team only.
The Start – Conwy Castle
Friends and family are welcome to support at the start in Conwy Castle. There will be access for supporters to watch the start from the top of the castle walls from around 05:30 on Monday, Day 1. Dragon’s Back Race starts at 06:00.
Pay and display parking is available at Vicarage Gardens, adjacent to the Castle entrance. Please note that there are no toilets inside the Castle, and dogs are not allowed.
Supporters can watch the magical start from the Castle Walls ©No Limits Photography
The Finish – Cardiff Castle
Friends and family are very welcome! The finish at Cardiff Castle includes a big LED screen showing live footage of the finish line, live race commentary and DJ. There are food options and a bar.
We would like to welcome supporters from around 12.00 on Saturday, Day 6. On arrival, they should head to our Info Point inside the Castle walls to collect a wristband – this will allow supporters to stay inside the Castle after it closes to the general public at 18:00.
The Castle doors will close from 18:00, but security will allow access for supporters with the correct wristband. For anyone planning to arrive after 18:00, your wristband can be collected from Security at the main entry gate; please ensure you know your runner’s race number.
First finishers are expected at around 13:00. Films showing the highlights from each day of the event are being screened from 17:30, and the prizegiving will begin around 19:30.
The Castle will close at 22:00.
Due to the iconic status of Cardiff Castle, and the current high national security threat level, additional security measures may be in place for supporters and visiting members of public. We therefore kindly ask you help us by reading the Cardiff Castle security information below.
Friends and family are more than welcome at Cardiff Castle ©No Limits Photography
On the Course
Supporters are allowed at some, but not all of the Support Points and Water Points. This is due either to landowner restrictions or for safety reasons.
Many of the Support Points and Water Points are on private land that we get special permission to use, and these landowners often request that we do not allow members of the public on to the site; similarly, the access to some of these sites requires crossing private land that, again, we have been given permission to do, but not for supporters/members of the public. One or two of the Support Points or Water Points are next to busy roads that mean it is simply not safe for supporters to see participants at these locations.
Day 1
Day 1 Support Point: Llyn Ogwen
Supporters welcome but there is no parking at the Support Point.
You are also welcome to cheer runners from the car parks on the A5 to the east of the Support Point. Please note, the A5 is a busy main road, so care must be taken to ensure pavements do not get blocked, which could force people onto the road.
Day 1 Water Point: Pen-y-Pass
No supporters
Day 2
Day 2 Water Point: Maentwrog
No supporters
Day 2 Support Point: Cwm Bachan
No supporters at the Support Point and no supporters on the road leading to Cwm Bachan
Day 3
Day 3 Water Point: Abergynolwyn
Supporters welcome but parking is very limited, so find space within the village
Day 3 Support Point: Machynlleth
Supporters welcome, but parking is only available in the public pay and display in Machynlleth. There is no vehicle access up the private road, so you must walk in.
Running into Machynlleth ©No Limits Photography
Day 4
Day 4 Support Point: Elan Village
Supporters welcome, but parking is only available at the Visitor Centre and not on the roadside
Day 4 Water Point: Abergwesyn
No supporters
Day 5
Day 5 Support Point: Cray Reservoir
No supporters including at the lay-bys immediately to the south of the Support Point
Day 5 Water Point: Pont ar Daf
Supporters welcome, with parking in the public pay and display car park
Day 6
Day 6 Support Point: Trelewis
Supporters welcome
Day 6 Water Point: Groes-wen
No supporters
If you want to support along the route away from the suggested locations, make sure to familiarise yourself with the information on the Guidance on exploring the race route pre-event page.
Overnight Camps
Please remember! It is strictly forbidden for supporters to enter the Overnight Camps on any day of the event.
The Overnight Camp sites are all on private land which we have express permission to use, and this includes access to the sites, as this is normally down farm tracks and roads.
Any supporters entering an Overnight Camp will result in the runner they are supporting being disqualified.
Cardiff Castle Security Information
Due to the iconic status of Cardiff Castle, and the current high national security threat level, additional security measures may be in place for supporters and visiting members of public. We therefore kindly ask you help us by doing the following:
Be patient with any security checks and help the staff to help you. We know it is inconvenient, but they are there to keep you safe.
Please be cooperative with Security personnel if you are required to have your bag searched upon entry to Cardiff Castle. This request is to help ensure the safety of the event.
Minimise what you carry, as fewer bag searches will speed up your entry to the Castle.
Be vigilant at all times and if you see anything suspicious, tell a member of Security right away.
If you see anything that could pose an immediate threat to safety, tell a member of Security immediately.
Don’t leave bags unattended or anywhere they could cause a security scare and never agree to look after anyone else’s bags.
In an emergency, listen to the Public Address instructions and follow them.
If told to evacuate, do so immediately, do not wait around to film events on your mobile.
Move right away from the Castle grounds as quickly as possible for your safety and to allow clear access for any emergency vehicles.
Once you are safe, follow South Wales Police on Twitter (@swpolice) for updates.