Event Guidelines and Participant Responsibilities

All participants in the Blazing Hills event must adhere to the following guidelines for safety and event compliance:

Waiver and Risk Acknowledgement:

• By entering this event, participants agree to a waiver. They enter and participate at their own risk and are responsible for their actions at all times.

• The event organisers, landowners, sponsors, and associated parties hold no liability.

Age Requirement:

• Participants under 16 years of age must have their entry completed by a parent or guardian.

Event Changes or Cancellation:

• The event organiser reserves the right to alter, postpone, or cancel the event without refund.

Course Rules:

• Always give way to traffic, stay within the marked course, and follow the course as explained during the race briefing.

• Failure to comply with course rules may result in disqualification.

Pets and Animals:

• No dogs or accompanying animals are allowed on the event site or the course.  This is a working farm.

Track Etiquette:

• Keep to the left-hand side of the track and in single file to allow faster participants to pass.

• When overtaking, signal your intention clearly to those in front of you.

Respect and Sportsmanship:

• Treat fellow participants with respect and care. Use this opportunity to make new friends and enjoy the experience.

Instructions from Officials:

• Follow all instructions given by Event Officials, Marshals, and First Aid personnel at all times.

Farm Trail Conditions:

• The course crosses working farms and is unsuitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs, and animals. Be mindful of the rugged terrain and potential hazards.

Music Devices:

• Earphones and earplugs are not allowed during the race for safety reasons.

Race Accompaniment:

• Only registered participants may be on the course. No unregistered individuals are allowed to accompany participants.

Pre-Race Briefing:

• All participants must attend the race briefing at the start line, 5 minutes before each race start.

Transponder Use:

• You must wear your event transponder throughout the race. Crossing the finish line with the transponder is required for safety checks and timing.

Personal Responsibility:

• Participants must carry any required personal medication or disability assistance devices. This is your responsibility.

Littering:

• No littering is allowed on the course.

Walking Event Rules:

• If you are entered in a walking event, you must walk only. Running is not permitted.

Medical Safety:

• The organisers, Marshals, and First Aid staff reserve the right to withdraw any participant they believe should not continue for medical reasons.

Trail Hazards:

• Blazing Hills events take place on steep and rugged farm trails with various hazards, including but not limited to uneven ground, tree roots, slippery surfaces, livestock, loose rocks, mud, water, weather conditions, and other event-related risks. These hazards have been mitigated where possible, but participants must remain vigilant.

 Please see additional guidelines for OCR Participants in the Q&A

Withdraw/Refund Policy

Should you need to withdraw from the event, the following refund policy will apply.

The Race Director/Organisers reserves the right to cancel the event in the advent of adverse weather, unsafe track conditions. Alerts will be on our website and Facebook page at the earliest opportunity.

If the event is cancelled entirely, the Organising Committee will make the maximum refund possible to competitors.

The safety of all people associated with the event is of paramount importance.  The event will be run with a strong focus on safety standards. With any outdoor sporting event there are risks involved.  Please be prepared and take care to avoid and minimised the risks that you will encounter on race day. 

Safety management systems used will include course markings, traffic management, emergency planning and participant briefing.

Risks to be aware of may include:

• Accident/injury

• Extreme weather conditions including flooding, rain and snow

• Getting lost

• Dehydration

• Heat stroke / Hyperthermia

• Fatigue

• Medical problems

• Poor fitness

• Vehicles/public roads/competitors/spectators hit by traffic

• The course is partially run on a public road and is open to vehicular traffic. At all times you must watch for traffic and obey traffic management instructions. Course marshals are in place for direction only. Where traffic is involved, participants must take responsibility for their own decisions and actions

• Entrants must be prepared for the possibility of cold or hot weather and dress accordingly

• Sunscreen is recommended

• Please bring spare clothing for after you finish

• First Aid is based at start/finish line complex and will be around the course

• In the event of collapse or a severe medical incident, do not move the patient. Encourage another participant run to the nearest aid station or marshal and they will arrange for first aid. Keep the participant warm while waiting for first aid

When you sign up through our entry portal: Barefoot Sports, you will be asked to "sign" the waiver with the following conditions of entry.

Conditions of Entry

1. I have read and understand the information regarding this event and understand that I participate in this event at my own risk.

2. All competitors compete at their own risk and agree to abide by rules and observe safety requirements.

3. I hereby attest and verify that I am physically fit and have trained sufficiently for this event.

4. I have provided correct and accurate information about myself and my emergency contact, including contact phone numbers and medical details.

5. I acknowledge that although the organisers have medical personnel and resources at various points along the course, the distances involved could make it difficult for medical assistance to reach me immediately and extractions may take a period of time.

6. I agree to allow event medical staff to treat me as they see fit.

7. I hereby allow the use of my name and image to be used in the media and for marketing purposes for this event only.

8. I will always stay on the marked course, unless instructed by event staff.

9. I will obey all course markings

10. I will wear or take the compulsory safety equipment required by the event.

11. I accept I may be pulled from the course at any time at the discretion of event staff, primarily for, but not limited to, safety reasons.

12. I will complete the entire course under my own power.

13. I will not litter

14. Any participant who is unable to finish the event must inform the nearest event staff of their decision to withdraw.

15. I hereby acknowledge this waiver, release and indemnity discharge all persons, corporations, associations, and bodies involved or otherwise engaged in promoting or staging the event and their servants, agents, representatives, offices, and employees.  This includes but is not limited to the various committees, members, and employees of all independent contracted suppliers to the event, local councils, landowners, cities and districts and their respective officers, directors, employees, independent contractors, representatives, agents, volunteers, event organisers and sponsors whether or not the loss, injury or damage is attributed to the act of neglect of any or more of them.

16. I also understand that my contact details will be added to the events database, and that I will receive emails directly from Blazing Hills Events. I understand that I can unsubscribe from this database at any time.  The event will not, under any circumstances, distribute at any time the contact details of those on the event database.

17. Violations of any rules may be grounds for disqualification from Blazing Hills Events for one or more years.

18. In accepting the entry conditions, you are bound to all matters relating to the event and accept that any decisions the Organising Committee makes will be final. 

19. The Organising Committee reserves the right, at their absolute discretion, to refuse entry to individuals whom they deem to not be capable of safely completing the event.

20. Entries to Blazing Hills Events are NOT transferable.

21. Strictly one entry per person, per event.

22. The competing athlete MUST be the person named on the entry and could be asked for formal identification.

23. In accepting the entry conditions, you are authorising your name, voice, photograph, video or any information provided on your entry form to be used, without payment, in any public broadcast, telecast, advertising, promotion, social media setting or in any other way relating to this event.

24. Under no circumstances will the Organising Committee, its sponsors, or any party associated with the event including their employees or agents, have any responsibility or be liable in contract, tort or otherwise, to compensate any competitor or any other party that is directly or indirectly associated with that competitor, for any loss, (including financial loss), injury, damage or death arising directly or indirectly from: (a) their intended or actual participation in the event and its related activities; (b) any act, omission, error or delay (whether negligent or otherwise) of the Organising Committee, sponsors or any party associated with the event or its employees or agents.

25. Any complaints regarding the events will be handled by the Blazing Hills Event committee.