Saturday 10th August 2024
The date for 2024 is SATURDAY 10th AUGUST.
THE CROSSING – 33.5 miles – Belstone, North Dartmoor to Ivybridge.
The Crossing was the first OuterEdge ultramarathon. Originally 34 miles. We have had to amend the route since 2022 due to Dartmoor National Park directives. But the route is still 33.5 miles with the 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 £18 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 10th. 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 three drinks and 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, Bellever, and Ivybridge (finish) and includes just 1,119 metres of ascent and 1,516m of descent.
Start time 09:00. Time limit 10 hours. Bespoke medals. Bespoke OuterEdge 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 £15 and can be purchased through the SiEntries system.
A minimum age requirement for The Crossing is 20 years of age on Raceday.
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Dartmoor Crossing 2022 Map – Dartmoor Crossing 2022 v2
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 £15 and can be purchased through the SiEntries system.
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THE BIG DAY OUT IS SUPPORTED BY THE DARTMOOR BREWERY & THE RAMBLERS REST DARTMOOR GUEST HOUSE
Raceday Information Email from 2023:
Many thanks for entering our event. The Dartmoor BIGDAYOUT is 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, Filham, 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 is 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 be booked for Friday/Saturday night via your entry account.
For those already booked, arrival is from 4.30pm 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
06:15 to 06:55 for The Crossing – For runners booked on the coach to the start.
08:30 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
The Crossing 08:00 to 08:45 – Belstone Village Hall EX20 1RB (opposite Car park)
The Great Escape 10:45 to 11:15 – Princetown PL20 6RR Ramblers Rest Guest House (Railway B and B).
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 :
07:05 to arrive 08:15 – The Crossing
09:40 to arrive 10:45 – The 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 Crossing, 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 own safety should the worst happen on moorland where it can be miles from the nearest road. 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. We have had fog, rain and a cold wind, but also extreme heat.
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 hours)
Trail Running shoes
Waterproof jacket
Backpack or waist pack
Capacity to carry 1.5 litres of water** (MINIMUM)
long sleeve baselayer
Survival blanket
Whistle
Hat/Headcover (buff/cap)
Emergency food
Mobile phone with our Emergency numbers stored:
Mark – Race Director – 07525 723554
Chris – Lead Medic – 07484 891955
The Great Escape (maximum time 4.5 hours)
Trail Running shoes
Waterproof Jacket
Backpack or waistpack
Capacity to carry 1 Litre of water** MINIMUM
Whistle
Hat/Headcover (buff/cap)
Emergency Food
Mobile phone with our Emergency numbers stored
We reserve the right to check runners’ kit during the race or at the finish and disqualify the runner, if appropriate. We have disqualified runners in previous years.
It is 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.
Qualified paramedics will be along the route at Aid stations should you need any assistance.
Aid Stations / Checkpoints / Supporting locations
An example of a fully stocked Aid Station – choice of drinks such as water, squash, coke, fruit, biscuits. You should consider our Aid Stations to be in addition to the food and water you start the race with and not rely solely on the Aid Stations to fuel you to the finish.
From Eylesbarrow to Leftlake there is no food or water provision (9 miles) due to the remote route of the course. Also, on the Crossing route from Belstone to Postbridge there is no Aid Station (first 11 miles).
The Crossing
Postbridge (mile 11) Fully stocked with food and water ^^
Hexworthy (mile 16) water top-up ^
Whiteworks (mile 19,5) Fully stocked with food and water ^^
Eylesbarrow (mile 21.5) water top-up **
Left lake (mile 29.5) Water *** (take food from Princetown aid station)
Ivybridge (mile 34) Cold drinks, food to purchase ^
The Great Escape
Eylesbarrow (mile 3) water top-up **
Left Lake (mile 12) Water ***
Ivybridge (mile 15.5) Cold drinks, food to purchase ^^
All distances are approximate.
CUTOFFS – you must have left the aid station by the following times
The Crossing (start 09:00)
Postbridge 11 miles – 12:15
Princetown – Whiteworks 19.5 miles – 15:00
Eylesbarrow 21 miles – 15:45
Leftlake 29 miles – 18:00
Ivybridge, the Finish 34 miles – 19:30
The Great Escape (start 11:30)
Eylesbarrow 3 miles – 12:30
Leftlake 11.5 miles – 15:00
Ivybridge, the Finish 15.5 miles – 16:00
All distances are approximate
Should anyone miss a cutoff, their Race Number will be removed and will no longer feature in the race. You will be transported to the finish line in due course. Anyone withdrawing from the race MUST report to a marshal who will assist you.
THE FINISH
All finishers will receive a medal at the finish line.
OuterEdge event T-shirts purchased in advance will be given at the Finish. Some t-shirts may be available to purchase on the day depending on pre-sales but they are still available to purchase online and will have the logo BIG DAY OUT logo on the front. These are available as an add-on and can be purchased through the SiEntries entry system by signing into your account. Other OuterEdge Merchandise is available to purchase during the entry process, including technical t-shirts and hoodies.
The first three male and female runners in each race will receive a bespoke trophy.
PLEASE NOTE that at the finish, NO SHOES used for the race should be worn inside the hall or left in a pile outside the entrance door for people to trip over! Thank you.
We look forward to chatting with as many runners and supporters as possible at the start, during the race and at the finish.
Have a great race and we will see you all on Saturday.
Mark Brooks
Race Director
OuterEdge Events.
The race is run under England Athletics rules and Permit is issued by the Trail Running Association.