I hereby declare that I am physically fit enough to undertake a BigFeat Events race, and accept the terms and conditions of BigFeat Events race entry.

Terms and Conditions

Event rules & guidelines

The following event rules and guidelines are intended to help ensure the safety of all participants, to meet the requirements of local government permits and to be compliant with applicable UK Athletic regulations for participant performance records and event liability.

All entry fees are non-refundable and BigFeat Events retain the right to refuse entry to anyone declaring false information on their entry form, not making the required payment, or otherwise failing to meet the stated entry requirements.

Participation 

• An email address is required for all entries. All correspondence will be via email.  

• To register for a BigFEat Events event you must be of appropriate age or older on event day depending on distance. 

• Each participant must agree to the disclaimer and terms & conditions before participating in the event.

• All participants take part at their own risk, and a disclaimer waiving all claims against BigFeat Events and any party acting on its behalf must be completed by all entrants.

• Registrants must be capable of completing the full distance, start line to finish line, within the event time requirement.  *Note most BigFeat Events races are hilly, challenging courses. The responsibility falls to you to be prepared for the event you are undertaking.

 • By taking part, all participants confirm that they are happy for their names and any footage or photographs taken during their participation to be used to publicise any future BigFeat Events race.

• Participant race number bibs are specific personal identifiers and may not be exchanged with or transferred/ sold to any other person.

• Transfers between runners can only be done through BigFeat Events within the deadline of transfer displayed on the website, approx. 1 week before event day. 

• All participants must provide their full name and details of any health problems or medication upon entry and on the back of their race number.

 • All entry fees are non-refundable

• Entries may be deferred toward a future event within a 12 month period or transferred to another runner but not within 7 days of an event as all our costs will be spent by then.

• While many women are able to, and wish to, run during pregnancy, we recognise that it’s individual choice and not every women is able to or wants to continue to run. Therefore as part of our commitment to female runners, should a participant become pregnant and wish to withdraw their entry, a refund of their entry fee will be available on request.

 • Registration closure is determined and announced when event participation reaches the established capacity

Canicross 

BigFeat Events races do not allow canicross entries

Event day

• Participants must follow instructions as given from all event officials including race staff, volunteers, medical personnel, security officers and city officials throughout the duration of the event.

 • All participants are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner during their participation in the event. This means, for example, that urinating or defecating anywhere on or near the course shall be strictly prohibited except in toilet facilities. Anyone violating this rule of conduct shall be disqualified from the event and will be asked to leave the course permanently; no refund will be given.

 • Every participant shall be provided with an event bib number, which shall be conspicuously worn on the participant’s front during the event. The event bib number is to be worn as issued. No participant shall be permitted to participate in the event without the appropriate bib number.

 • Baby joggers, baby strollers, skateboards, rollerblades, unauthorised bicycles or any other wheeled device will not be permitted on the course. Please note BigFeat Events races are unsuitable for wheelchairs.

• All races within the BigFeat Events event must be completed within the course time limit set for each event. BigFeat Events holds the right to disqualify anyone not making the advertised race cut-off.

• All participants must acknowledge and agree that personal information (including medical information given upon entering or collected by event medical staff during or after the event) can be stored, used and disclosed by BigFeat Events in connection with the organisation, promotion and administration of the event and for the compilation of statistical information.

Course monitoring

• Any participant who refuses to obey the directions of the event official, city official or course marshal, or who conducts himself/herself in an unsportsmanlike manner, or who is offensive by action or language to officials, volunteers, participants or spectators may be disqualified from the event and banned from future participation in any BigFeat Events events at the discretion of race officials.

• Any participant who has been found by a course marshal, event official or surveillance equipment to have gained an unfair advantage by intentionally shortening the route of the race ("cutting the course") shall be immediately disqualified from the event and banned from future participation in any BigFeat Events event at the discretion of race officials.

• Any person who participates in the event without a current official event bib number or timing device or a bib or chip not officially assigned to him/her is subject to removal and disqualification from future events. 

• No persons are authorized to be on the course unless they are registered participants. Therefore, no person shall be allowed to accompany a participant if he/she is not registered in the event, nor shall any participant be allowed, without the permission of the event management, to receive assistance or refreshment from anyone during the progress of the event. Any person not properly displaying an authorised and issued bib number shall be directed to leave the course.

 • A hands-on medical examination during the progress of an event by officially designated medical personnel shall not be considered assistance and will not result in disqualification if participant is deemed medically fit.  If a participant becomes ill during or after the event and/or receive medical attention or treatment either from event medical staff, first aid team or any doctor or hospital, they must authorise such persons to provide details (including details of medical treatment) to the medical director of the BigFeat Events event or others authorised by him/herself.

Participant safety

• The use of wheeled devices by participants or any other person authorised to be on the course shall be strictly limited to authorised course marshals on bicycles. Baby joggers, baby strollers, skateboards, rollerblades, unauthorised bicycles or any other wheeled device will not be permitted.

• This event is run under UK Athletics rules and therefore MP3 players or other devices plugged into the ear are not advised while running for reasons of health and safety, both yours and other competitors. We strongly advise against the wearing of said devices. When you wear such a device you are unable to hear other competitors, cars, bicycles or marshals’ instructions.

• Participants are responsible for their recognition and understanding of event signage, symbols and colour relating to participant maps, facilities and direction.

• Medical personnel authorised by the event to do so may examine any participant who appears in distress. If in the sole opinion of authorised medical personnel and it is in the best interest of the participant's health and welfare, medical personnel may remove the participant from the event.

• Participants must retire at once from the race if ordered to do so by a member of the event’s official staff, official medical staff, or any governmental authority, including fire and police officers.

• Participants are responsible and assume liability for any and all medical expenses incurred as a result of training for and/or participation in the event, including but not limited to ambulance transport, hospital stays, physician and pharmaceutical goods and services.

• Event officials reserve the right to delay, cancel, or suspend the race due to inclement weather in accordance with emergency protocol on severe emergencies and/or inclement weather. No refund will be issued in these circumstances.

Amendments / Reservations / Acknowledgements

• Event officials reserve the right, to modify, supplement or waive all or part of the event rules.

• Participants shall be bound by any modification or supplement of the event rules published prior to the event.

•Failure to follow these event rules, as may be amended, will result in immediate disqualification and removal from official results.

• BigFeat Events events follow, and participants are subject to, the rules specified by the UK Athletics and IAAF. Please visit ukathletics.org and iaaf.org for additional information concerning the rules mandated by the governing bodies for the sport.

Disclaimer

In order to run any BigFeat Events event, runners agree to the following disclaimer and to the terms and conditions: 

"I declare I will abide by the age limits set for the event, and I will abide by the laws and rules of UK Athletics.

I declare that I will not compete in the race unless I am medically fit on the day of the race and that, in any event, I will compete at my own risk.

I accept that the organisers, sponsors, partners and marshals will not be liable for any loss, damage, action, claim, costs or expenses, which may arise in consequence of my participation of the event.  

I also hereby give my permission to BigFeat Events to use my name, quotes, video and photographic likeness for marketing and promotional purposes. I also understand that entry fees are non-refundable.

I also agree to the terms and conditions before I run any BigFeat Events event.

Element Trail Series Championship – Official Rules & Scoring

Please review the official rules, points breakdown and tiebreaker regulations below.
1.    The Series Schedule
The series consists of 5 distinct trail races. Runners will accumulate points at each event to determine the final overall series standings.
•    Race 1 – BigMud 21/02/27 Meon Valley, Hampshire
•    Race 2 – BigBeyond 17/04/27 South Downs National Park, West Sussex
•    Race 3 – BigSea 06/06/27 Isle of Purbeck, Dorset
•    Race 4 – BigHeat 18/07/27 Lurgashall, West Sussex
•    Race 5 – BigSky 19/09/27 New Forest National Park

2.    The Points System
Points are awarded to the top 10 male & female finishers in each race. To reward those who attack the course and hunt for the win, a significant “podium bonus” is given to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
1st Place – 15 points 
2nd Place – 12 points
3rd Place – 10 points
4th Place – 7 points
5th Place – 6 points
6th Place – 5 points
7th Place – 4 points
8th Place – 3 points
9th Place – 2 points
10th Place – 1 points

•    11th place or lower: no points
•    Did Not Start (DNS) / Did Not Finish (DNF): No points
•    Note: You do not need to run all 5 races to score points, but maximising your attendance gives you the best shot at the leaderboard

3.    Tiebreaker Regulations
With a short 5-race series, ties on the final leaderboard are highly possible. If two or more runners finish the series with identical total points, the tie will be broken using the following strict protocol:
•    Most Wins: The runner with the highest number of 1st-place  finishes wins the tie.
•    Most Podiums: If still tied, the runner with the most total podium finishes (1st, 2nd or 3rd) wins the tie.
•    The Grand Final Rule: If a tie still remains, the runner who crosses the line ahead of the other in the final (5th) race wins the tiebreaker

4.    Trail Etiquette & safety

•    Leave No Trace: Littering on the trail will result in immediate disqualification from the race and a score of 0 points
•    Passing: Yield safely to faster runners. If you are overtaking, call out “On your Left” or “Track” with plenty of warning
•    Bib Visibility: Your race bib must be securely pinned to the front of your torso and fully visible at the finish line for accurate scoring
•    Course Markings: Runners must follow the designated trail markers. Intentionally cutting the course or leaving the race course will result in disqualification

5.    Disclaimer
The course will be marked with branded direction arrows the day before the race. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the course is correctly established come race day, please be aware that course markers can be removed or tampered with by the general public. All runners are therefore advised to familiarise themselves with the course and to download the GPX File provided by BigFeat Events prior to the event. 
BigFeat cannot accept any liability for runners leaving the designated course.