Fish River Challenge Race Rules

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Introduction

The Fish River Challenge is a 100km self-sufficient foot race where competitors will only have access to water along the course. The following rules and regulations have been set to ensure maximum competitor safety, respect and conservation of the environment and fair play amongst all competitors.

Competitors

The minimum age for entry will be 18 years and will be taken as at the day of the race itself.

Each competitor will be required to be totally self-sufficient for the duration of the event and will be expected to have sufficient nutrients as well as the stipulated mandatory gear (click here for list).  Water will be provided at controlled points along the route.

The controlled points will also serve as check points to determine progress as well as monitor the competitor’s condition. All checkpoints will have access to medical backup should the situation warrant it. Medics will be available for various emergencies and a race doctor will be on call if needed. The race doctor and medics on the course will have the final say as to whether a competitor may continue along the course or not due to medical issues. In the case of an emergency that requires the evacuation of a competitor to a medical facility, there will be an emergency backup service that will deal with this situation and all competitors will be insured accordingly in their entry fees. This will allow for and include all emergency evacuation procedures up to the point of the closest appropriate medical facility. Once that person has been delivered to such a facility and is officially in their care, the medical liability will be that of the competitors and you are therefore encouraged to ensure that you are covered accordingly by your medical aid and / or have sufficient medical insurance.

A sweeper group will be following the race from behind at all times. The group will have fulltime access to the race organizers via satellite phones should there be any issues or emergencies that need to be dealt with.

All competitors will be expected to complete the entire course, passing through all checkpoints along the way to be declared as official finishers. No competitor may leave the course without informing a race official as soon as possible of intending to, or having done so. Where a competitor leaves the course without informing an official due to circumstances, it is their responsibility to do so as soon as possible. Should a search and rescue operation be put into being due to a competitor having left the course without informing an official, any expenses incurred in such S&R will be entirely for the account of the competitor in question. Competitors will be expected to sign for liability as such in their entry documentation.

Competitors will be required to be of a suitable physical and mental fitness so as to be able to complete the event. Each competitor will be required to undergo a compulsory medical inspection and return the results thereof together with the medical questionnaire to the race organizers on or before the date stipulated on such form. These forms will be made available to all competitors upon entry.

Environmental

The race will be passing through the pristine Gondwana Nature Park as well as the Ai-Ais National Park and no littering of any kind will be tolerated. All waste carried in will need to be carried out to the end of the race. The only exception will be that of human waste, which needs to be buried properly.

Competitors need to be aware that they will be passing through Parks where there will be areas that people are not generally allowed access to. They will have the privilege of running along animal paths that have never had people on before and as such are expected to respect their surroundings. Competitors will not be allowed to stray off these paths for any reason whatsoever and will be subject to immediate disqualification should they do so. The only exceptions are:

• In the case of an emergency
• For the purposes of relieving themselves

In these instances, common sense should prevail and they will be expected to use good judgment in their actions.

Course, Timing & Cut-offs

The course will be clearly marked with markers where ever the organizers deem it necessary in order to avoid competitors getting lost. These markers and points will be clearly communicated to all competitors prior to the race by way of newsletters, the website and the race briefing. Competitors need to be aware at all times that they are passing through harsh terrain and need to be vigilant at all times.

A record of each competitor’s time will be kept from the start up until when they cross the official finish line at Ai-Ais. Intermediate splits will also be recorded at certain pre-determined points. These points will be made known to the competitors prior to the race and will be used by the organizers to assist in monitoring each competitor’s progress. Any competitor that does not pass through such a timing point will be regarded as having pulled out of the race and will be listed as a non finisher. Should the organizers not have confirmation of such a competitor having withdrawn officially by notifying an official, a search & rescue operation will be launched as detailed above.

The organizers will also impose certain cut-off points where competitors will be expected to have passed through at pre-determined cut-off times. Any competitor failing to reach such point on or before the cut-off time will be automatically pulled from the course. This measure is solely for the safety of all competitors concerned in order to ensure that no one is left lagging behind the field.

The official race cut-off will be 24 hours.

Mandatory Equipment

The following list of equipment is mandatory and competitors will undergo an equipment inspection at registration. Competitors will under no circumstances be allowed to start the race if they are not signed out at registration as having the equipment listed below:

1. Backpack (sufficient capacity to carry equipment below AND 3L water)
2. Drinking system with 3L water capacity
3. Knife
4. Matches / firelighters
5. Survival Blanket
6. Compass
7. Whistle
8. First Aid Kit (incorporating)
9. Blister kit
10. Pain medication
11. Sunscreen
12. Torch / headlamp
13. Backup torch / headlamp
14. Spare batteries for torch
15. Red flashing light to be worn on rear of back pack after dark
16. Lightweight windbreaker
17. Map of route (to be handed out at registration)
18. Nutrition / supplements – minimum 1500 calories
19. Electrolytes