The Brussel Buster- Not your average run, nor your average orienteering event! And yet still, you’ve entered! Those who ran it last year will confirm it wasn’t easy, but it was a lot of (frustrating) fun. If you’re new to the Brussel Buster then read on.
Please bring with you all the necessary required kit you need to carry, plus lots of warm clothing to get changed into afterwards. The kit you need to carry with you at all times during the run is…
Mandatory
Full waterproof coat and leggings.
A working compass.
Gloves.
A hat.
Spare insulated top.
An emergency foil bag (not just a blanket).
A good working head-torch with spare batteries.
A separate torch.
A fully charger mobile phone in a waterproof bag.
Recommended
A waterproof highlighter/pen.
A clear plastic bag (to store any pages you collect).
A good sense of humour.
A good sense of direction.
A swear box!
We will be checking your kit.
Event Location
So the start and finish is at Tafarn Sinc, Rosebush. Those who haven’t been before, it’s an old historic zinc covered pub with sawdust on the floor. So, it’s fine for us muddy runners. There is limited parking outside the pub, but there’s a bigger community car park to the rear. To access this, drive past the pub to the right, and after you pass a short row of cottages/50yds, you turn sharply left down a narrow lane to access the car park. There is then a small gate between the pub and the car park, and it’s quicker to access the pub on foot via this gate.
There is very limited parking anyway, so if you can, please car share.
Start Times
The randomised start times are as below, please arrive at least 10 minutes before these start times as you will need to register.
Runners | Start Time |
Kitty Robinson, Ollie Minton | 18:30 |
Ollie George | 18:31 |
Jon Adams, Kevin Jones, Elin Jones | 18:32 |
Glyn Drake, Phillipa Lee | 18:33 |
Louise Boorman, Gillian Jones, Deb Parr | 18:34 |
Alistair Bowen, Stephen Williams, Benedict O’Leary | 18:35 |
Polly Groom, Shelley Grandfield, Victoria Nicholls | 18:36 |
Katie Harrower, Sophie Prichard | 18:37 |
Alex Cooper, Aaron Morgans, Simon Godwin | 18:38 |
Andy Creber | 18:39 |
Alec Williams, Ben Dare | 18:40 |
Kevin Davies, Liam Phillips | 18:41 |
Kayleigh Bagshaw, Vince Bailey, Matthew Williams | 18:42 |
Philip England | 18:43 |
– | 18:44 |
Wayne Evans, Ian Cooper | 18:45 |
Billy goodrick, Dave Roch | 18:46 |
Henry Castle, Joe Howells | 18:47 |
Jane Harries | 18:48 |
Guto Harries, Geraint Harries | 18:49 |
Clare Harris, Sarah Bruce | 18:50 |
Chris harris, James Harris | 18:51 |
Russ Clarke, Ainsley Corp | 18:52 |
Wayne haycocks, Amanda haycocks | 18:53 |
Dan Sheen, Karl Davies, Simon Philips | 18:54 |
Paul Lettington, Amanda Lettington, Hugh Lettington | 18:55 |
Alex Lewis, Chris Lewis | 18:56 |
Ade lewis, Anthony Evans | 18:57 |
Mark Hayward, Amy Lewis | 18:58 |
Sonia Valla, Joe Howell | 18:58 |
William Martin | 18:59 |
Warwick Williams | 19:00 |
Rachel Matthews, Margaret Kertesz | 19:01 |
Rob Hillier, Mel Miles | 19:02 |
Mel Miles, Rob Hillier | 19:03 |
Michael Monroe | 19:04 |
Mair Morgan, Lon Morgan | 19:05 |
Tim Wroblewski, Tara Wroblewska | 19:06 |
Sion Wright | 19:07 |
Tomos O’Connor, Sean O’Connor | 19:08 |
Becky Oldfield, Olivia Draper | 19:09 |
– | 19:10 |
Kelly Peat, Sonny O’Dell | 19:11 |
Eleanor Power | 19:12 |
Joel Rendell, Rhys Evans | 19:13 |
Matthew Williams, Julian Lewis | 19:14 |
Luke Smith, David Sangster | 19:15 |
Derek Spear, Naomi Sutton | 19:16 |
Anne Taylor, Jasmine Carter-Morley | 19:17 |
Kevin Upstill | 19:18 |
Bob Weston, Debbie Cranmer | 19:19 |
Hanna Nuuttila, Sayaka Fukuda | 19:20 |
The Nitty Gritty
When you arrive, you’ll need to register and pick up your wristband. The actual start will be just outside the pub. A minute or so before you actually start, you’ll be given ‘The Map’! Make use of this ‘free’ time to try and work out your intended route, mark your route on the map, and start pulling your hair out! When it’s time to go, you’ll need to dib your wristband against Tim’s timing box.
Map & Scoring
All the book locations are all pre-marked on the waterproof map, together with a description of where the books are located, e.g. dead end track, stream crossing, etc. The map will be OS type, scale 1:25,000. You will receive your map approx 1 minute before your start time. No more, no less! When you start, you will scan your wristband, and your time starts from then. We highly recommend starting your stopwatch or make a note of the time, as you have 2 hrs to collect as many pages in that time. If you are over 2hrs, you will be penalised 1 point/page for every 5 mins over time. e.g. 11 mins over, you will be deducted 3 points/pages! Last year, one runner had -11. No names mentioned!
Here are some example scores/times.
Runner | Time | Books Found | Time Fine | Score |
Sally Gunnell | 1:58:00 | 32 | 0 | 32 |
Mo Farah | 2:01:23 | 33 | 1 | 32 |
Debbie McGee | 1:45:23 | 30 | 0 | 30 |
James Bond | 2:11:55 | 12 | 3 | 9 |
Note: If two overall scores are the same, quickest time will win.
Below is last years map, and this years map will look fairly similar…….but different book locations, obvs!
Book Locations
None of the books will be in the middle of a track! Some are pretty hard to find, and off the beaten track! Only a small handful will be able to be seen from the track! However, you shouldn’t need to go wading through deep brambles to get to any of them, as we have to get them into position in the first place!
When you find a book
If and when you find a book, you tear out the page that your race number corresponds too. Eg- If you’re race number 31, tear out and collect pages 31. Simple. The books will each be inside a clear zip lock bag. When you pull out the book, please place the book back inside the bag and fold the top underneath to help prevent water getting in!
Use of GPS
Please do not use any GPS device to assist in finding the location of the books. You may record your route on Strava, Garmin etc, but not for navigation!
The ‘Golden books’, and ‘Non Published’ books!
Three of the books are worth 3, 4, and 5 points respectively. You won’t know where these books are situated until you reach them! These pages are marked specially, so you/we will know which ones these are. Same goes for the ‘Not Published’ book. One (or even two!), of the books out there will be worth zero points! You won’t know which one it is until you open the book Cruel we know!
Finishing
We’ll scan your wristband when you finish. Please have it ready to take off as you head back to the pub. Every second counts!
Results
These will be online as you finish. However, the scoring and points will be done as we receive your pages for re-calculation. The final result will be available on a screen inside the pub. Bring your wallet for a beer, or two!