The Joe Beswick Sandstone Trail Challenge 2024

The Joe Beswick Sandstone Trail Challenge Terms & Conditions:

Conditions of entry

1. The event is open to anyone aged 14 or over who is fit and has sufficient experience.

2. Dogs may be allowed onto the coaches transporting participants to the start (email us for clarification), but they will not be allowed into the Community Centre. As far as we are aware there should be no problem taking dogs on the route, but responsibility for this lies with the owner. Dog owners must follow the Country Code and any local signing relating to dogs.

3. The entry fee is £35. For any cancellations made online up to 1 month before the date of the event the entry fee will be returned subject to any deductions as stated on the Nifty website. No entry fees can be returned after this date, but if you still cancel on the Nifty system that may give someone else the opportunity to take part.

4. Entries can be transferred to someone else at no charge, by amending your online entry. This can only be done before the closing date for entries.

5. The event must be completed within 10 hours, and all participants must have finished by 6:30pm (start time will be 8:30am or thereabouts).

6. Participants must be in good health and have no medical condition that may cause undue concern or inconvenience to others.

7. Participants must have sufficient knowledge, experience, equipment and navigational skills to take part in a long distance event in all conditions. Participants under 18 who will be accompanied by an adult are not required to fulfil this condition, but must have the appropriate equipment.

8. An adult participant may supervise no more than two participants under the age of 18.

9. Every participant under 18 must complete and submit to the organisers a parental consent form, which must be received by the closing date for entries.

10. Participants must have completed a walk or run of at least 20 miles within the past six months.

11. A list of checkpoint closing times will be provided at registration, and each participant must register with the marshals at each checkpoint. Any participant arriving at a checkpoint after its closing time, or deemed by the marshals not likely to make the closing time of the next checkpoint must retire immediately.

12. Additional route information and instructions may be provided at registration, related to missing signs, temporary diversions etc, and these must be followed by all participants.

13. All participants must carry:

a. A mobile phone. The phone number must be included in your entry details.

b. OS 1:25000 or 1:50000 maps covering the entire route. These could be (i) OS Explorer Maps 257 and 267, (ii) OS Landranger map 117, or (iii) Tony Bowerman’s book ‘Walking Cheshire’s Sandstone Trail’, which incorporates photo-reduced extracts of the OS Explorer maps.

c. An up-to-date definition of the route of the Sandstone Trail. This could be (i) up-to-date OS Explorer Maps 257 and 267, which have the route marked on them, (ii) the Cheshire West and Chester walkers’ guide, or (iii) Tony Bowerman’s guidebook (see above). You must ensure you have an up-to-date version of the route definition that includes the start in Whitchurch and the new finish in the centre of Frodsham.

d. A compass

e. Emergency food

f. A water resistant jacket

g. Suitable clothing for the weather conditions expected (and a bit extra in case the forecast is wrong).

14. All participants are also advised to carry:

a. A fully waterproof jacket

b. Basic first aid kit, particularly for treating blisters

c. Sunscreen if sunny weather is expected

15. All participants must respect farm property and honour the Country Code. The way-marked Sandstone Trail route must be followed at all times as far as the B5152 (Red Lane) in Frodsham just before the finish, and shortcuts are forbidden, including cutting field corners. This latter point is particularly important in the fields between Wood Lane (GR535649) and checkpoint 4 by Rock Farm, Willington (GR537662).

16. Cross all roads with care, respecting other road users. Take particular care when crossing the A534 at Gallantry Bank (GR5145380), the A51 at Rode Street (GR542633), the A54 at Gresty’s Waste (GR540687) and the B5152 in Frodsham (GR521776). The A54 in particular is a very fast and very busy road.

17. Participants who have to retire must only do so at official checkpoints. Transport to the finish will be provided. All entrants who retire MUST report to event officials at the finish desk.

18. At the organisers’ discretion trophies may be awarded. You won’t be eligible for a trophy in an age-related category if you didn’t provide your correct date of birth on the entry form. Nobody will be awarded more than one trophy.

19. All the above entry conditions apply to both runners and walkers, and all runners must be over 18. In addition, runners are asked to respect the non-competitive approach of the event. In particular:

a. Please be nice to the marshals at the checkpoints. Give them a smile if you can manage one and deposit all used cups and other litter in the bin-bags provided.

b. Wait for gaps in traffic before crossing roads.

c. Cheer everyone who finishes after you as they come in.

20. Anyone found to be in breach of the entry conditions may be asked to retire from the event immediately, and may not be permitted to enter again in future years.

21. Participants’ details will be kept temporarily on computer for the purpose of the event. Email addresses may be used to communicate information about the event, and about the following year’s event (but not for any other purpose). Participants’ names, home towns and finishing times may be published on the event website. By entering the event you are agreeing to this.

22. The organisers reserve the right to incorporate additional rules as they think necessary, and in all cases their decisions will be final.

23. The organisers can accept no responsibility for injury, damage or loss, however sustained.

Now you’ve read all that, you can go ahead and enter.  

All participants under 18 on the day of the event must complete a parental consent form: print it out and return it by post to the address on the form.