BDWF Information Bookletnijmegen 2015

BDWF Information BookletNijmegen 2015

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99th Nijmegen Vierdaagse

21st - 24th July 2015

About this booklet

This booklet has been put together by the elected committee of the British-Dutch Walking Fellowship(BDWF). Our aim is to provide everyone, walkers and support staff, with a reference guide for the run-up to Nijmegen as well as the week of the Vierdaagse itself.

It will hopefully provide you with all the information you need to knowin one easy to use booklet!

Do not lose it as it will prove invaluable in Nijmegen, it may save you the need to ask a question or two (a bonus if you are reclining in the bar after a hard days walk!).

…… and finally, from all of us to all of you: all the very best in your training and success at the Vierdaagse.

See you soon

The BDWF Nijmegen organising team 2015

Contact Details

The BDWF Organising committee members can be contactedin the following ways:

Katie Elliman

Herman Boston+44 7936

John Nicholson+44 7905 346

Darren Gray+44 7806 092

Katie Elliman+44 7763 Caroline Kok

Roy Hayward+44 1902

CONTENTS

1INTRODUCTION4

1.1Background of the Event 5

1.2The BDWF Group5

1.3Objectives *6

1.4Organising Team*7

1.5 Insurance*9

2BEFORE NIJMEGEN11

2.1The Time betweenNow and Then!*11

2.2Things to Take12

2.3What to Expect14

2.4Evacuation Procedure16

2.5Sportshall Plan17

3THE WEEK 18

3.1Saturday / Sunday16

3.2Monday19

3.3Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday26

3.4Friday28

3.5Saturday29

3.6Lifts29

4THE AFTERMATH30

4.1Feedback Forms30

4.2Future Events*30

4.3Further Information30

5ISSUE CHANGE CONTROL*31

* Indicates significant changes to Nijmegen 2014Handbook.

An outline of the changes can be found at ‘Issue Change Control’Section 5.

INTRODUCTION

Welcome

This booklet has been made available to you because you have been registered for the Nijmegen Vierdaagse 2015.

For “First Timers” we formally welcome you to the BDWF group. We are sure that this will prove to

be an unforgettable experience for you, although you may wish to forget some bits at various times during the week.

For “Previous Offenders” we welcome you back to the Nijmegen Vierdaagse - you have obviously managed to forget the bad bits!

If you have web access you can get more information and the latest news - check on the official Nijmegen Vierdaagse website at and at our own website at Additionally, you might like to visit for some marching songs.

Your details are held on our database and this information will not be used for any purpose other than to communicate with you in connection with the BDWF activities. We will not disclose your details

to anyone other than the organising committee and - during the week itself – the Support Team who have a reasonable need to have access to them.

Please do not approach the organisers asking for other BDWF member’s addresses or telephone numbers.

1.1 Background of the Event

The event was first held in 1909 with approximately 120 participants and in 1928 became International. This year is the 99th Vierdaagse – the Dutch meaning “Four days”- there were several years when no walk was held e.g. World Wars. This year there will once again be a maximum of 46,000 participants from over 69 different countries taking partand includes a large military contingent.

The event is run by the KNBLO (Kroninklijke Nederlandsche Bond voor Lichamelijke Opvoeding -- which roughly translates into the Royal Dutch Organisation for Physical Culture) and takes place in Nijmegen, an old Roman town which lies in the South of the Dutch province of Gelderland, approximately 7km from the German border. It has a Catholic university and together with nearby Arnhem, is one of the two gateways to the Netherlands on the lower Rhine.

The event is about taking part and is not a race. Running and race walking are against the rules. It is about meeting a personal challenge.

The walk’s motto “Willen is Kunnen” translates into English along the lines of “If you want to, you can”.

1.2 The BDWF GROUP

Trevor Day was almost certainly the “founder member” of the group. First walking in Nijmegen in 1984 he has continued, only missing out on walking due to injuryor illness, to do so ever since.

Since these early years the group has grown in size considerably.

In 1988 the, then, BT Walking Group formed a partnership with KPN (Dutch Telecom). Since the mid-1990’s the BT Nijmegen Group supported itself through sponsorship, initially through Telfort (then a company owned in the Netherlands by BT and NS – Dutch railways) - and then BT Ignite NL and BT Global Services.

The support from BT has long gone BUT the group has continued as the newly formed BDWF from 2004 with all costs being met by the members participating.

School students were first invited to join the group in 1992 from the Bournemouth area as part of the ‘BT in the community’ initiative and have done so very successfully ever since. Students from the Swindon area now tend to make up the largest contingent of students.

1.3Objectives

If you still don’t realise what your objective is for the week it’s a bit of a worry, but here we are one more time…!

Participants are required to walk a distance of 50, 40, or 30 km a dayon each of four consecutive days overpredefined routes on roads and paths inorder to earn the KNBLO Vierdaagse medal. The distancewalked is dependent on age and sex; although you can upgrade and walk a longer distance than your designated distance up to a maximum of 50 km a day (this is dependent on how mad you are and how much pain you want to endure!).

The letters E and R correspond to the Extended or Regulation Distances, as defined in article 1.

*For military servicemen the regulation distance is 40km, providing they carry at least ten kilograms of marching kit

R = Regulation distance
The minimum distance participants must walk successfully every day.

E = Extended distance
The regulation distance, plus (optionally) ten or twenty kilometres a day for four days.

1.4. Organising Team

The committee you elected at Nijmegen have been busy in the background getting ready for this year’s event. It seems only fair to introduce you to your Nijmegen 2015 organisation committee.

Acting Chairman –Katie Elliman

See Media and Membership below

Group Treasurer John Nicholson

Volunteer with the Air Cadets since I was 16, heard of and rejected Nijmegen as madness in my late 20s but found himself aged 40 in a cadet military team. Met BT and brought the first cadets to sportshall De Dennen. Have walked all four of the 4-day events, keen to support the UK youth participation. Enjoys the atmosphere and camaraderie. Aiming for the 100th Vierdaagse in 2016. A proud father and grandfather. Retired after an accountancy career. Still with the Air Cadets. An occasional Geocacher. Keen to help BDWF move forward.

Group Secretary–Herman Boston

Hisfirst Nijmegen was in 1991 and, after successfully completing eight Nijmegen Vierdaagse,

He sustained a back injury and decided to call it a day in 1999. In 2000 he was asked to coordinate the youth training in Swindon. This has proved to be very successful and rewarding at the same time. .

After 8 years as Group Treasurer, Herman decided it was time to hand over the reigns to a professional and opt for the role as Group Secretary. It is just as demanding but much more enjoyable he says.

Herman is also the Youth Secretary and Joint Child Protection Officer (CPO) with Darren Gray and have been providing training for the youth since 1992 as well as walking. The appeal for himis that we give youngstersan opportunity and our adult members an unforgettable experience. Students become responsible, mature young adults and realise they can do whatever they put their minds to. The transformation is astounding. He now enjoy the organising side for the BDWF and always happy to see old and new faces. Hermanbecame a Duke of Edinburgh Expedition Leaderin 2013 and is hoping we get a few members wanting to enhance their skills.He also hope to encourage more youngsters to take up the challenge.

First Aid and Support Co-ordinator –Darren Gray

Hello my name is Darren but most of my friends call me Badger!

I have been a member of the Fellowship for just over 4 years, and in these years I have made many new friends and have had a belly load of laughs. I am so amazed that I have avoided the 'Silk shorts' award. I first joined the group after a friend said come over to Nijmegen its just a walk in the park and after trying it twice and spending most of my time in the medical tent I decided that Orange was not my colour and that I looked better in Green and this is where you will find me now during Nijmegen week. If you cannot wait until July each year then I can be found most weekends helping Herman with the training walks in Swindon.

I find it hard to talk about myself but I can say this the BDWF, Nijmegen (and let's not forget the Porky burgers) are all very infectious and I am pleased to say there is no antidote and god willing you will see me for many years to come.

Marketing, Media & Membership–Katie Elliman

I have been a member of the group since 1997 when I completed my first Nijmegen as a student. Now, 17 years on, you find me entering my second term on the committee. After the struggle I had in my first year of walking I am not sure anyone expected to see me return, including myself! Since then I have returned completing the walk 7 times. In 2007 I took on my first role within the support team, acting as Office Manager for the week - this earned me my red T-shirt. In 2008 I took on another role on the support team, this time as student liaison. Now you will find me wearing green! I am now one of Darren’s first aiders; this role I have to say I enjoy more than walking. Although one day I hope to return to walking for now I choose to give all the support I can to the group. For me it is the little things that make a difference.

Marketing & Media - Caroline Kok

I first heard about BDWF when two walkers brought me to their First Aid team during day 3 of the Nijmegen marches in 2000. Unfortunately I didn't complete that year. I returned again in 2001, this time joining the BDWF. I had so much fun and made so many friends! Together with BDWF I made walks in Switzerland and Cosford that year.

In 2002 I was pregnant and couldn't walk, so Herman asked me if I would help as a translator. I said "Of course", I wanted to do that. The following years I wasn't able to come to Nijmegen but always stayed in contact with some friends I know from BDWF.

In 2010 I was invited to come again and I realized how much I missed it. The atmosphere at De Dennen is great! I am once more helping with translations. In 2012 I was asked to be a member of the Committee which I accepted. I am busy trying to get more Dutch people to join the BDWF, trying to organize more things for the Dutch walkers besides Nijmegen and still do some translation work. If it's your first time or if you have walked Nijmegen before I hope that you will enjoy it very much as much as I do!

Walker Liaison - Roy Hayward

Roy first took part at Nijmegen in 1989 and has completed the event 23 times, 13 times at 50Km, 3times at40Km and 7 times at 30km – and also failed twice so he knows the highs and lows of the event. He had previously been involved with the Fellowship as transport organiser/driver for the Midlands contingent and more visibly as the ‘T-Shirt Man’ for many years. Roy is ex-BT and will not now be convinced to get another job. He will be walking once again be in 2015.

Nijmegen Event Manager (NEM) –Herman Boston

Herman has once again put himself forward to undertake this very demanding role of NEM. Herman knows that it is quite a challenge not just for himself but also all the office staff. Their main focus is to make our time at De Dennen a comfortable and enjoyable one where our only concern is the day to day walking. Herman wishes us all every success in this year’s Nijmegen Vierdaagse.

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The BDWF committee do not organise Nijmegen on a full time basis. We nearly all have full time jobs and the organising that we do is in our 'spare' time. We therefore hope you will understand that while we will do our best, we cannot always answer questions and queries immediately.

Thank you for your understanding.

1.5 Insurance

The Organising Team will NOT be liable for any personal arrangements you may have made e.g. your own travel arrangements or accommodation or any equipment you may have purchased as a result of your pending participation in the event.

You are strongly advised to ensure that you hold full personal insurance(s) appropriate to such eventualities and your personal circumstances, including but not limited to pre-existing medical conditions, while in Europe and for the entire duration of the BDWF Services.

BDWF does NOT provide personal travel, holiday, health and medical, accident and injury, repatriation nor any other insurances for or on behalf of Members, and BDWF will NOT accept responsibility for any costs Members may incur as a result of a Member(s) not being adequately insured.

It is important for you to consider suitable forms of insurance that might cover such eventualities and also cancellation insurance.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)is the very minimum that we insist upon.

The cover the EHIC provides:

The EHIC can be used to cover any necessary medical treatment due to either an accident or illness within the European Economic Area and Switzerland. The card entitles the holder to state-provided medical treatment within the country they are visiting. This may not cover all of the services you would expect within the UK and you may have to make a contribution towards the care you receive.

If the European Health Card is to be used it must be presented when treatment is requested. It is therefore necessary to carry it since free treatment would be refused until it is presented.

The EHIC can also be used to receive treatment for pre-existing illnesses and chronic diseases, but conditions do apply so please check with your healthcare provider before you travel.

The EHIC may not cover persons for all medical costs incurred, so you are strongly advised to also arrange travel insurance to ensure that you are covered for all possible eventualities.

The EHIC is valid within the European Economic Area, which includes the European Union countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Switzerland also has an agreement in place with the European Union to accept the EHIC.

A more comprehensive explanation of the cover provided from the EHIC and how to obtain this free card is available on the web site as identified on the following page.

You can obtain your EHIC Card for free:

1)Online, by visiting (application processed within 7 days of application). A more in-depth explanation of the card and background together with the link to the home page identified above can be accessed at:

2)By phoning the National Health Service (NHS) EHIC Applications Line on 0845 606 2030 (application processed within 10 days);

3) When you cannot apply online the only other way to apply for a UK-issued EHIC card is by post. You must provide evidence that you are ordinarily resident in the UK.

Complete the EHIC application form (PDF, 122Kb) and post it to:

NHS Business Services Authority
European Health Insurance Card
EHIC Applications
Sandyford House, Archbold Terrace
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 1BF

You are also able to apply for an EHIC for your spouse or partner and any children up to the age of 16(or 19 if they are in full-time education) whom you have or care for at the same time as applying for your own card. You must be over 16 to apply as a main applicant.

Regardless of how you apply, you will need to have the following information to hand for everyone you are applying for:

a) Name and date of birth

b) NHS or National Insurance (NI) number.

In Scotland the NHS number is known as the Community Health Index (CHI) number and in Northern Ireland it is known as the Health and Care number.

Providing you use the methods above the EHIC itself is issued free of charge.

If you have any questions/doubts in this respect, then please contact a member of the organising team.

PLEASE NOTE:

Early issues of the EHIC card may be reaching their expiry date - Please check and renew the card for yourself and family if appropriate.

2.BEFORE NIJMEGEN

2.1 The Time between Now and Then

This booklet has been made available to you to assist you in your preparations for Nijmegen2015.

Over the next few weeks there are a few things you need to do to prepare yourselves:

Now:

If you haven’t already done so, please send a £100 deposit and your passport photos, as appropriate, to John Nicholson. Photo’s can be sent either by post or electronically. If you have participated previously and submitted a photo, you will not be required to do so again as this is kept on computer.

A Passport is required, so ensure you have one and that it is valid for 3 months after Nijmegen.

April & May:

There are some organised training walks going on, it may be a good idea to get yourself along to them!

RAF WARMA 2 day March at RAF Cosford in April - visit the website

IVV walks have proved popular with the group details can be found at

RAF Lyneham 3 day walk in May at Lyneham in Wiltshire. Contact Herman for details.

After all that training you can rest, as you write your cheque for the final payment (due by end of May).

June:

Continue with your training. Details of walks around the country are available at and a few also identified in our monthly ‘Rambler’.