These questions and answers have been put together with the help of previous competitors, searchers and headquarters staff. It is designed to give a few tips and guidelines to those wishing to take part for the first time and a reference for competitors who have enjoyed Dragnet before.

Q) What is the history of Dragnet?
A) The event started somewhere in the dim and distant past in the early 1970s as a local event for South Cumbria and North Lancashire Senior Scouts, centred around the Venture Forth Base Camp that is now Great Tower camp site. Originally for teams of three, and later increased to four per team, it presently attracts around 250 Explorer and Network Scouts together with up to 50 leaders and back up staff over the weekend.

Q) What is Dragnet?
A) The aim of the competition is run, walk or crawl back to the Dragnet Base Camp, evading capture, within specified boundaries over a distance of around 35 miles depending on terrain. Coaches generally depart from the venue at around 22:00 on the Friday, and travel out to the drop off point. Teams are dropped off at around midnight and have one hour to disperse before the searchers are allowed to seek, capture and extract their life card to record a successful catch. The winning team is the team that arrives at the Dragnet Base Camp finish nearest to 11:00 with the least number of lives lost, teams have a one hour window between 10:30 and 11:30 to run in to the finish – outside these times and you will not count in the results . This makes the competition not just one of stamina, but one of stealth, cunning, teamwork and planning. In case of any emergency, injury or after a minimum distance, transport is available back to base.

Q) Are there any rules?
A) A full set of rules will be included with your email confirming entry to Dragnet. Make sure all members of each team study them carefully before the event. Please ask any questions about the rules etc at the briefing session on the Friday night. For questions and enquiries prior to the event please use the contact us page.

Q) What will I need in my First Aid Kit?
A) Blisters! ! - you will get them ! So please include a supply of padded plasters, antiseptic wipes or better still, blister kits. Some of the older and more experienced participants may not admit it, but there is nothing quite as soothing as Body Shop Peppermint foot lotion.
Sterilization tablets: After periods of warm weather, water is not only more difficult to come by, but can also be contaminated with algae and bacteria (You never know what has died or entered the water upstream!) Sun cream and sun hat: Some years we have problems with sunstroke and sunburn, which can be very serious when you are a few miles from the nearest road or civilization.

Q) What will I need to carry in my Backpack?
A) A copy of the Kit List will be sent out with your confirmation email. Dragnet is a lightweight event you are not expected to carry tents, three course meals and full wash kits! However, there are minimum requirements, including specific items of equipment which we have indicated as being compulsory. This is for your own safety and to comply with scouting insurance rules. There will be a full equipment check made by Dragnet Officials during check in, and random spot checks during the event. We recommend packing your kit inside dry bags to add extra protection in case of wet weather.

Q) Can I use light weight Trail Shoes or Fell running Shoes?
A) Strong walking boots are compulsory for this event, fell running shoes are fine for travelling fast over a relatively short time period, but are NOT suitable for Dragnet which is a 36 hour endurance hike, whilst carrying a heavy rucksack. Wool walking socks are strongly recommended, football socks, sport socks or anything with nylon = Blisters!! Your feet will stay in better condition the more often you change your socks, you may wish to rinse out any dirty pairs in water to re-expand the fibres just in case you need to wear them again later on.

Q) What food should I take on Dragnet?
A) Lightweight and high energy foods e.g. chocolate, nuts & mint cake. Eat “little & often.” Do make sure you have food for proper meals – best to take things that you just need to add boiling water to as it keeps things easy and simple, these are also things that will store well in your rucksack - avoid anything that should normally be kept in a fridge such as bacon, burgers and sausages. After a short time in a warm rucksack, these can fester and cause food poisoning (there is nothing as miserable as an upset stomach high up on a Lakeland fell with more than 20 miles still to go).

Q) How should I prepare my route?
A) What can we say? Study the maps relevant to this year’s event (details are given with your entry confirmation). It doesn't take a genius to guess a likely route. Make the best use of the short time you have at the Dragnet Base Camp to look at the surroundings and make yourself familiar with the terrain towards the finish. Map and compass work is an essential part of both this competition and scouting as a whole. If in doubt, or you are having problems try the Scout troop or even the cubs! It is also worth noting that catchers can be a little lazy! Only the keenest and fittest catchers get far away from the roads and onto the fells, and usually that is where the winning teams go. On the other hand, if you walk along the roads (especially in the daylight), you are almost certain to get caught (and probably several times).

Q) Can I take any route to Dragnet Base Camp finish?
A) When you are dropped off on Friday night you will receive a boundary map of the route, this will have the competition boundaries marked on it. These boundaries are negotiated in conjunction with the Police, The National Trust, HM Forces and various Mountain Safety Advisors. Please do not stray outside the boundaries - you may be endangering yourself, and if you are caught you may be disqualified. There are often small areas within the boundary that are also out of bounds e.g. anywhere that is 500M above sea level.

Q) Why should I carry a phone on route?
A) In case you need to call Dragnet Base camp in an emergency, it is also a good idea to leave your phone switched off as the battery will drain quicker when searching for a weak signal, please be aware that you will not always have a signal up in the fells. Do NOT make contact or seek advice from your Leaders, Parents or other Teams (if found out you will be disqualified). Dragnet Base Camp HQ should always be the first point of contact.

Q) I have GPS Satnav, do I need to carry maps and a compass?
A) A map and compass should always be carried, as other technology, e.g. Sat Nav, GPS etc, run on batteries and are complex electronic devices that can fail without warning. Although these may assist you, they are not a viable alternative to a map & compass! Ensure you download the OS LOCATE app on your mobile phone. This gives you a 6-figure grid reference of your location in case of emergencies

Q) What is the finish process?
A) The Dragnet Base Camp finish area will be well defined and include the Dragnet finish banner where Dragnet finish Officials will be waiting. The finish time is recorded when the last team member crosses the finish line. All life cards must be handed in to the finish Officials.
The winning team will be the team that finishes nearest to 11:00 with the least lives taken. i.e. a team with 3 lives finishing at 11:24 will be higher up the leader board than a team finishing at 11:01 but with only 2 lives left.

Q) Do I need to leave a tent at Dragnet Base?
A) Yes, every team needs to bring tents that are fully labelled, to be left at Dragnet HQ on the Friday night in case you withdraw from the event during the weekend, and need to put up tents to sleep in.