SCAR stands for Skibbereen Charity Adventure Race.

Well, it’s finally here! SCAR CHALLENGE Skibbereen Charity Adventure Race is only days away.

Firstly, thank you all for bearing with us over the last few stormy weeks and it is great you all stayed and are taking part.

With over 350 participants and over €20,000 raised for charity, we are delighted to welcome you all to West Cork finally!

Hopefully you have kept your training going and are ready to take on the course you have selected. Have a great race!

Secondly, we would like to thank Kinetica Sports Ltd., for coming on board as our title sponsor for 2017. Without their generous support and that of all our sponsors, service providers and volunteers we would not be in the unique position of being the largest Adventure Race in Ireland where 100% of all your race entry fees are donated to charity.

This year’s main beneficiary is Ronald McDonald House. The Ronald McDonald House charity provides accommodation and a caring and supportive environment for families whose children are seriously ill and are hospitalised or undergoing medical treatment at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12. The positive effect this donation will make, along with the several other charities throughout Ireland who will receive donations from the monies you raised, is the reason we run SCAR each year.

We hope you enjoy the day and get the feel-good factor you deserve for being part of this unique experience.

Below is all the information you require to ensure a safe and happy event. Please take the time to read it fully. It’s in your interest.

Please note the new CHALLENGE course has lots of changes to the normal SCAR course so watch out and check the courses on facebook, website or below.

TASTER – 21 KM

TASTER Course starts with a 5Km out and back Hill Run, followed by a 16Km Coastal Cycle Loop around Toe Head and Tragumna, past Liss Ard Lake and back to the Start/Finish Line. With nearly 300mts of climbing in this short 21km course you will get a real taste for Adventure Racing.

SPORT – 49.5 KM

SPORT Course starts with the same 5Km out and back Hill Run, followed by an iconic 22Km cycle to Lough Hyne on the Coastal Route that takes in Toe Head, Tragumna, the “WALL” Coomb Hill, before dropping down to rack your bike and kayak a 1.5Km loop on the world renown Lough Hyne, Europe’s largest saltwater lake. After your kayak, you bike back 21Km to Castlehaven on the Coastal Loop that takes in our second most favorite hill, “CALGARY”, before passing the beautiful Baltimore Harbour, then rounding past Liss Ard gates to sprint the last 3km back to the start finish line.

NOTE: EXPERT and SPORT Course participants will earn points for the MSAI National Series in-place of SCAR’17

EXPERT – 57.5 KM

EXPERT Course will start with a new 13Km out and back Hill Run taking in the full loop within Rineen Woods bringing you back through transition to collect your bike and take on the same challenging route as the SPORT course. You also get to enjoy the Lough Hyne kayak leg this time round. We know that extra hour of running will make the bike an even tougher route for you guys so we will have an extra-large cheer to await you as you cross the finish line on the day.

NOTE: EXPERT and SPORT Course participants will earn points for the MSAI National Series in-place of SCAR’17

Race Pack Collection

Your race pack, which will include your race number, bike sticker, and timing chip, will be available for collection from the new venue, the Castlehaven GAA Grounds, Moneyvollahane Skibbereen, from 8:00am to 11:00am on Saturday 4^th Nov. Please note Castlehaven GAA have two pitches so make sure you look for the Moneyvollahane one, which is 4km out the R596 Castlethownshend Road from Lidl Roundabout, in Skibbereen.

This is the same road as Liss-Ard which you will pass on the way. There will be plenty of parking available in club grounds.

Anyone who has ordered a Race T-Shirt can collect these along with your Race Pack. A limited number of T Shirts will be available for purchase at registration for €15. First come basis applies.

Route Map: Please study your route map below. While the route will be marked and marshaled, you are responsible for following the correct route and registering at any checkpoints on your course.

TASTER RUN: https://www.strava.com/routes/10973862
TASTER BIKE: https://www.strava.com/routes/10973995
SPORT RUN: https://www.strava.com/routes/10973862
EXPERT RUN: https://www.strava.com/routes/10973880
SPORT & EXPERT BIKE: https://www.strava.com/routes/10966018

Race Number: Your race number must be worn on the front of your race jersey. If you do not wear your race number you will be deemed not to be an official participant.

Bike Sticker: You must place the bike sticker on your bike close to the headstock/handlebars so it is easy to see. You cannot remove your bike from the bike paddock at the end of the race unless your bike sticker and race number match. If you lose either, you will be forced to wait until all bikes are retrieved before we will release your bike. This is for equipment security reasons.

Timing Chip: Each participant will receive a timing chip, which must be worn on your wrist, as you will need to “dib” the timing chip against a control box at each checkpoint. Please note that you must return your chip at the finish line, even if you do not start, or if you pull out of the race. You will be charged a penalty fee of €35for non-returned chips. If you collect packs on behalf of others you will be responsible for any penalty for non-returned chips.

We will automatically be charged by the timing company for non-returned chips and we have to pass this charge on.

Bike Drop Arrangements

All Courses

Participants will drop their bike to the Bike Transition within the Castlehaven GAA Grounds between 8:00am and 11:00am on Saturday morning only.

Bag-Drop Arrangements

All participants should keep their bags in their cars. There will be the full use of the club changing rooms including hot showers for participants.

Bags are left in the changing rooms at the participants own risk.

Waves

All Courses start and finish in Castlehaven GAA Grounds

The Expert will have a mass start at 10:30 am.

The Sport will have a mass start from 11:30 am (no waves this time).

The Taster will start at 11:45 am.

All Expert competitors must be at the start line by 10:15am for race briefing.

All Sport & Taster competitors must be at the start line by 11:15am for race briefing.

Mandatory Kit

Mandatory Kit List:

It is vital that all Sport and Expert Participants bring the following mandatory kit list with them to the start:

• Basic First Aid Kit
• Cycle helmet, spare tube, pump
• Race Number
• Hat, gloves and waterproof jacket (if weather dictates)
• Suitable footwear

All mandatory kit will be checked before the race

• Appropriate food and drink. There will be limited water re-fill points on the course.

You will not be allowed to mount your bike unless you are wearing a helmet

Parking

All parking to take place inside the grounds of Castlehaven GAA pitch and only in the designated area. DO NOT park on the road outside the grounds as you will impede the course.

Toilets

Club toilets will be available from 8:00am

Post Race Event

Participants are invited to stay around at the finish line once you have returned your timing chip when you finish. Refreshments, hot food, post-race massage, and hot showers, will be available free of charge.

After Party and Prize-giving

We will host an after-party and prize-giving, plus charity cheque presentation in the Eldon Hotel from 9pm onwards on Saturday, which will then be followed by live music. All are welcome.

The SCAR Team

is made up of members of the Skibbereen & District Lions Club. The Lions Club is a charitable organisation comprised of volunteers from the local community. We organise fundraising events for local, national and international causes, whilst dedicated to the idea that the people who live in a community are in the best position to know what help its community members need and why.

Following on from the success of the 2014, 2015 & 2016 SCAR as well as the Skibbereen Down & Dirty Mud Run and the Skibbereen Glow Run we are making plans for the 2017 Skibbereen Charity Adventure Race, which will take place on Saturday 21st October in Skibbereen.

In 2013 we donated over €12,000 to various charities in West Cork, all of which was raised by competitors in the above events. In 2014 SCAR raised over €18,000 and we increased this figure to over €31,000 in 2016. Our goal is to build on the last four years to make SCAR’17 an even bigger success.

SCAR ’17 will be an even bigger and better event with courses available to suit, beginners, intermediate and expert adventure racers. Each course will be fully timed with splits and will all finish in the grounds of the stunning Liss Ard Estate on the outskirts of Skibbereen town.

Whichever course you choose you will be guaranteed to spend a couple of hours running, biking, or kayaking in some of Irelands most scenic environs and this year will see Europe’s largest saltwater lake, and Ireland’s first marine reserve, Lough Hyne, being used for the kayaking section. This will be a truly unique opportunity for the competitors as they get to challenge themselves in this conservation paradise.

The courses will also take you out of Skibbereen and through surrounding villages, such as Union Hall, Castletownshend, and Baltimore as well as tens of kilometers along coastal roads with stunning sea views as far as the famous Fastnet Rock.

If you really want to challenge yourself in the glorious surrounds of West Cork and help charities by knowing that 100% of your race entry fee is being donated to worthy causes then sign up today to take part in SCAR ’17 and let West Cork leave its mark on you next October.

Yours in Racing,

The SCAR  Team