DARTMOOR BIG DAY OUT - 13th AUGUST 2022

The Crossing was the first Puretrail Running ultramarathon. Originally 34 miles. We have increased the distance to 36.5 miles since the 2019 event, with a new finish line and Event Centre at the Ivybridge Rugby Club.

Camping facilities will be available on the Friday and Saturday night at the rugby club, for a nominal fee of £10 per pitch per night (to be booked only).

Shower and changing facilities will be available on-site. The bar will be open Friday evening and from Midday until midnight on Saturday 13th. Food will also be available to purchase post-Race.

THE RACES

The Crossing is an aspirational baby ultramarathon. It’s a tip-toe into ultra-distance trail running. But it’s far from easy..

A fully marked course, two Aid Stations with food and refreshments, plus two drinks and refuelling stops along the way.

Experience the wilderness of the High Moor, the beauty of the periphery. Visiting the 4 moorland villages of Belstone (start), Postbridge, Princetown, and Ivybridge (finish) and includes just 1,119 metres of ascent and 1,516m of descent.

Start time 09:00. Time limit 10.5 hours. Bespoke medals. Bespoke Puretrail Running event t-shirt can be purchased during the application process.

Registration is at Ivybridge Rugby Club (the finish). As this is a linear, off-road route, a bus service is provided at an additional cost of £10 and can be purchased through the SiEntries system.

A minimum age requirement for The Crossing is 20 years of age on Raceday.

THE GREAT ESCAPE

Starting from Princetown in the heart of the Moor, the route takes in the last 15.5 miles of THE CROSSING, with big wide open spaces, and traverses a remote moorland wilderness along the Abbot’s Way.

Can you ‘escape’ from the Moor in the time allowed (4.5 hours)?

It’s a downhill route with a few surprisingly technical uphills. The route crosses the head of the Erme Valley and traverses the Erme canyons, with some interesting moorland vistas along the Abbots Way before the long descent into Ivybridge.

A real taste of Dartmoor trail running.

A fully marked and marshalled course with 2 drinks and refuelling stops.

Bespoke medal to all finishers. Bespoke t-shirts can be purchased in the application process.

Registration is at Ivybridge rugby club (the finish). As this is a linear route, a bus service is provided at an additional cost of £8 and can be purchased through the SiEntries system.

No dogs are allowed to run with their owner in the races due to UK Athletics rules and their Public Liability Insurance, which differs to Park Runs.

Raceday Information Email (2019). 2022 emailing to entrants Tuesday 9th August

Many thanks for entering our races. It’s two races, a Long half-marathon (GREAT ESCAPE) from Princetown and an ultra-marathon (THE CROSSING) from Belstone, near Okehampton.

EVENT BASE and FINISH LOCATION – REGISTRATION and COACH TIMES

IVYBRIDGE RUGBY CLUB, Cross-in-Hand, Fulham, Ivybridge, Devon – PL21 0LR

If coming from Plymouth direction, take the turning off A38 for Ivybridge, getting in the right hand lane on the slip road to approach the roundabout. Drive through the town of Ivybridge (look for signs for Railway Station). The Rugby Club is on the right just yards before the Park and Ride/Railway Station. Parking guaranteed at the Park and Ride but not at the Rugby Club.

If coming from Exeter direction on the A38, take the turn after passing South Brent, signed Bittaford/Ivybridge. Drive through Bittaford and the Park and Ride/Station is about 1 mile on your right and Rugby Club a few yards further on the left.

Signs will be on the roadside to assist you with parking in the correct area.

Please be aware that parking is limited at the Rugby Club but extra parking is available at the Park and Ride/train station carpark which is free and only a few minutes walk away.

CAMPING can still be booked for Friday/Saturday night on the link below…

For those already booked, arrival is from 4pm Friday and pitching of tents must be in the allocated area.

No vehicles allowed in the field.

Dogs allowed on site but MUST be on leads and are not allowed in the Clubhouse.

Limited showering and changing facilities on Friday however they will be available from 6am Saturday morning.

Toilet facilities available 24 hours.

Food will be served in the Clubhouse from 1pm Saturday.

All camping related equipment to be removed from the field by midday Sunday.

REGISTRATION at event location is within the Clubhouse

06:00 to 07:15 for Crossing – For runners booked on the coach to the start

07:30 to 09:30 for Great Escape – For runners who have booked the coach to the start

BRING YOUR KIT TO REGISTRATION FOR CHECKING (Kit-list below).

ALTERNATIVELY – any uncollected race numbers will be taken on the coach to the start for those using their own transport. A kit-check will be completed at Registration in Ivybridge or Registration at the start. If something we request is missing, you will be refused a start.

REGISTRATION TIMES at the START LOCATIONS

Crossing 08:00 to 08:45 – Belstone Village Hall EX20 1RB (opposite Car park)

Great Escape 10:30 to 11:25 – Princetown PL20 6RR (Plume of Feathers pub)

Please note the Race numbers will be arriving on the bus to the start so kit check may happen before the numbers arrive.

TRANSPORT TO THE START

Coaches leaving Ivybridge to the start of each race :

07:20 to arrive 08:30 – The Crossing

09:45 to arrive 11:00 – Great Escape

Timings may alter slightly as they depend on coaches returning from their initial drop off. Toilet facilities are available at both start locations. It is recommended your water bottles are full before registering and boarding the coach.

Anyone wishing to add a coach transfer from Ivybridge to the start can do this via SiEntries

For The Crossing a small numbered box or bag can be left with the coach and will be returned to the finish. Please number your bag according to your race number and on the production of the race number at the finish, your bag will be returned to you. Bags will be left at the owner’s risk.

NO baggage transfer facility is available for The Great Escape because the coach will not be returning to Ivybridge.

PARKING AT START LOCATIONS

Please avoid parking in the Plume of Feathers pub car park in Princetown as there is some free roadside parking nearer to Dartmoor Prison and there is a fee-paying car park behind the Dartmoor National Park Information centre across the road, towards the prison.

For those parking in Belstone, the start of the two Crossing races, please leave space for a large coach to turn around, an area will be coned off. There is a short walk from the hall to the start at the village green.

KIT LIST

The kit list is for your protection should the worst happen on Moorland where it can be miles from the nearest road. At our last event, an entrant unfortunately broke her leg and was grateful she had her kit to hand until medics arrived. Add that there are gaps of up to 11 miles without an Aid Station. The kit-List is for every runner and not to be shared with a running partner.

Dartmoor’s varied weather conditions mean we do not know what we will get. Two years ago, on the same weekend, we had fog, rain and a cold wind. It was the day we marked the course for our Dartmoor Volcano race where we all wore waterproof jackets and trousers.

Please bring your kit to Registration

PLASTIC FREE – NO CUPS

Since 2019 we have been cupless. Anyone wanting single amounts of squash or coke should bring a separate cup which can be re-used at each checkpoint. We will provide top-ups of bottles, soft flasks and backpack bladders.

The Crossing (maximum 10.5 hours)

Trail Running shoes

Backpack or waist pack

Capacity to carry 1 litre of water

Survival blanket

Whistle

Spare baselayer – long sleeved

Waterproof jacket

Hat/Headcover (buff/cap)

Emergency food

Mobile phone with our Emergency numbers stored

The Great Escape (maximum time 4 hours)

Trail Running shoes

Backpack or waistpack

Capacity to carry 1 Litre of water

Survival blanket

Whistle

Waterproof jacket

Hat/Headcover (buff/cap)

Emergency Food

Mobile phone with our Emergency numbers stored

Emergency numbers

Medic – 07594382711

Mark Brooks – 07525723554

Steve Skedgell – 07799111231

We reserve the right to check runners’ kit during the race or at the finish and disqualify the runner, if appropriate. We disqualified some runners last year.

Vitally important to shut all gates behind you. Dartmoor is a living landscape. Cattle and sheep are abundant. DO NOT leave gates open for the next runner.

Supporters should keep their dogs under close control at all times. No dogs are allowed to run with their owner in the races due to UK Athletics rules and their Public Liability Insurance, which differs to Park Runs.