Busy race start weekend for volunteer team

A 120-strong team of race staff and volunteers arrived in Conwy, north Wales, this weekend as final preparations were put into place for the 2019 Berghaus Dragon’s Back Race.

As the momentum towards tomorrow’s start-line grew, race director Shane Ohly said: "I am, of course, as anxious as the competitors at this stage. I want the race to go well and for everyone to enjoy the journey. Now I am putting my trust in the event team. They are a great crew and they are very experienced so it is now over to them."

Two days of race set-up

Saturday and Sunday included a mix of race briefings for multiple volunteer teams, ice breaker activities and get-to-know-each-other meals. Numerous set-up tasks were undertaken by dozens of volunteers working within specialist teams.

The volunteer teams meet again, or get to know each other, at sociable camp meals ©No Limits Photography

Team briefings for the medics ©No Limits Photography

Participant safety is a vital part of the volunteer team work ©No Limits Photography

Race control get organised at camp base ©No Limits Photography

The catering team has the important task of keeping staff, volunteers and runners fed ©No Limits Photography

Tents, including those for catering and dining, and branding items need to be erected every day as the race moves to new locations ©No Limits Photography

A starting gantry is built ©No Limits Photography

Medical team briefing ©No Limits Photography

A media team work on filming, press releases and blogs ©No Limits Photography

Checkpoint team work ©Steve Ashworth Media

Planning ahead ©Steve Ashworth Media

Why we volunteer

People come from all walks of life and from across the country to volunteer at Ourea Events races. The volunteers have a wide range of jobs including erecting the campsite each day, manning checkpoints, participant transportation, safety monitoring, course checking, medical assistance, catering and general administration.

The breadth of volunteer expertise is wide, with some joining for their first race and others with a great deal of prior experience. 

Big cheers for the event team ©Steve Ashworth Media

We hear from a few of the volunteers at the 2019 Berghaus Dragon's Back Race.

Anne Marie Lord, catering team. "I love supporting these kinds of races and meeting the competitors. I like sharing in their excitement... I am looking forward to the week ahead."

Louise Beetlestone, wrangling team. "I like being a volunteer with these races because I like to see new places and to help runners to do their races. I have run some similar races so I know what it is like to be on the other side."

Mike King, camp team. "It is my first time volunteering with this race and I wanted to do it to help competitors to get to the end of their race."

Matt Santo, camp team. "My wife Kate Fogelberg is taking part in the race and it made sense to be a volunteer. It is a way to see her racing but mainly I like to help people. It is a great way to experience the type of race without being a competitor."

Kaz Kemish, camp team.  "I have volunteered on other races, such as Skyline Scotland, and I always get so much out of it. It is such a buzz being part of the race team and seeing everyone aiming to complete their journey." 

Ed Chapman, camp team. "I have volunteered at other Ourea Events, such as Cape Wrath Ultra and Skyline Scotland, and I enjoy mixing with really nice people in a race environment but without having to compete myself. I am hoping to run in the CWU next year, too."

Katie Plant, catering team. "My mum told me about the race and I thought it would be good experience to be part of a volunteer team. I am looking forward to meeting new people and to give people smiles by feeding them."

Michael Schneider, camp team. "I did the Cape Wrath Ultra race and I thought it would be fun to see how this race, the Dragon's back, would be. I think it will be too tough for me to race and so I decided to volunteer instead so I could still enjoy the fun."

Matt Gemmell, race control. "I have done 100 days of marshalling across many events in the last three years and I really enjoy it. It’s fun being part of the team and coming back to races and meeting the same people. It is like being part of a family.

"The organisers also make you feel very valued, like they want you to be part of the team, which is great. "

Read our news articles here every day to find out more about 2019 Berghaus Dragon's Back race.