Adventure Sports Event Conference + New Purple Guide Chapter

Here at Ourea Events we are aware that we hold a position of leadership in regard to event planning good practice thanks to our high-profile events. This means it is incumbent upon us to live and breathe the highest standards in terms of safety management systems and processes. This will be evident to anyone who has worked, volunteered or participated at any of our events.

We are therefore delighted to announce two important developments concerning our contribution to safety management at adventure sport events; the new Purple Guide Chapter and the Adventure Sport Events Conference.

While the COVID-19 pandemic, associated restrictions and lockdowns have had a devastating impact on the event community, it has allowed an expert group of event organisers a little more time to work on these projects and make a valuable new contribution to the adventure sports events industry. 

The medical team and the mountain safety team preparing for the 2019 Montane Dragon's Back Race® ©No Limits Photography

Purple Guide: Adventure Sports Activities

Over lockdown Ourea Events Managing Director Shane Ohly, took on the task of drafting a new chapter to the Purple Guide. Event professionals will know The Purple Guide intimately, as the industry benchmark for health and safety guidance for event organisers. It is usually referenced by landowners, Safety Advisory Groups and authorities. The new chapter is called ‘Adventure Sports Activities’ and condenses a huge range of good practice guidance into a new section specifically for adventure sport event organisers. This new chapter to The Purple Guide is likely to become default best practice guidance for event organisers.

Shane Ohly said, “I often see industry and health and safety guidance that was originally intended for large festivals and music events. There has been huge growth in the number of adventure sport events in recent years, and I wanted to collate good practice that I have developed at Ourea Events and witnessed whilst attending and participating at other events, which is specific to the challenges and scale of adventure sport events”.

The new chapter has been through many revisions, first within the industry with leading event organisers such as Jim Mee and Rob Atkin from Rat Race, Lesley Beck from Rare Management, Paul McGreal from Durty Events, James Thurlow from Open Adventure - Plus, Gary Tompsett and of course, the wider team from Ourea Events, all making important contributions. 

The final sign off came from the Events Industry Forum advisory panel that includes representation from the Health and Safety Executive. The Events Industry Forum have now published the new Adventure Sports Activities chapter. We would encourage any event organiser not already subscribed, to take a look at the updated The Purple Guide.

Find out more about good practice guidance relevant to adventure sport events like Skyline Scotland® - thanks to the new Purple Guide chapter ©No Limits Photography

Adventure Sport Events Conference

Whilst not directly connected with the new Purple Guide chapter, James Thurlow (owner of Open Adventure and Open Tracking) and Shane Ohly have also launched a brand new conference specifically aimed at the Adventure Sport Event industry. 

In association with the Kendal Mountain Festival - Shane and James are inviting event organisers to the first industry conference aimed specifically at those who organise adventure sports events on Friday 19th November 2021. The event will be held at the Castle Green Hotel in conjunction with the Kendal Mountain Festival. The Adventure Sports Event Conference (ASEC) will provide an opportunity to hear some well-regarded speakers as well as network with other event organisers who, like so many others, have faced difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Adventure Sports Event Conference will be a chance to be informed and challenged by a great selection of speakers on a range of topics relevant to those who put on adventure sports events. For us the definition of adventure sports events is more about where the event is held and the challenges it presents, rather than the type of event taking place (e.g., an off-road triathlon Vs a city-based triathlon).

The first ASEC pulls together a range of speakers with real insight and expertise and our conference goal is to share good practice examples and stories amongst the community of adventure sport event organisers whether they be small community focused events, or some the UK’s largest commercial events. 

James Thurlow preparing GPS Trackers for the 2019 Montane Dragon’s Back Race® and Shane Ohly congratulating the podium finishers of the 2019 Salomon Ben Nevis Ultra™ ©No Limits Photography