1.This event is open to any member of the Scout section or Girlguiding aged between 10 and 14½ years old.
2. Teams entering the Senior event must comprise of three, four or five participants with or without one or two accompanying adults. It is not permitted for an adult or adults accompanying a team to be substituted with another adult or adults at any point along the route.
3. Teams entering the Junior event must comprise of three, four or five participants with one or two accompanying adults. It is not permitted for an adult or adults accompanying a team to be substituted with another adult or adults at any point along the route.
4. Wrist bands and Tracker bands will be issued at registration and MUST be worn at ALL times and shown when asked.
5. The kit list comprises a part of these rules.
6. Participants wishing to retire should do so only at a checkpoint where the checkpoint manager will make the necessary arrangements.
7. If a participant retires, the remaining participants may continue as long as at least three participants are still walking. If not, those wishing to continue must join up with other participants. Any incomplete team will not qualify for a trophy; the complete team that started must finish together to qualify for a trophy. Only finishing teams that consist of the same participants that started will receive a finishing time and place. Incomplete teams will receive a finishing time but not a placing.
8. Checkpoints must be reached in the order given. It is the individual participant’s responsibility to make sure they scan their wristband at the start, at each checkpoint and at the finish. All participants must keep together throughout the walk. The time of the last participant is the one that will be recorded.
9. Time spent at each checkpoint will be included in the official finishing time.
10. Teams using any support or assistance (external or internal) by whatever means may be disqualified.
11. All adults accompanying a team must be current members of The Scout Association or Girlguiding and have a valid DBS certificate. They must supply their membership number when teams are registered. Any adult walking with a team is honour bound not to take the lead. This role is purely to ensure the safety of the young people.
12. All adults supporting the event must declare seven days before the event evidence of Scout Association or Girlguiding membership and DBS clearance.
13. When walking across country, obey the Countryside Code and have respect for people’s property. Teams will be subject to disqualification if they are found to have dropped litter. See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code.
14. All participants are required to have a head torch. This must be worn, and switched on when darkness falls when walking on, or beside a road.
15. When walking on roads during the hours of daylight, teams should be on a footpath or pavement if there is one, or walk in single file on the right facing the oncoming traffic. See The Highway Code – Rules for pedestrians (1 to 35) – Guidance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
16. All participants including all accompanying adults are required to wear hi-vis and reflective jackets (with or without sleeves) as the outer most layer of clothing and be visible from the rear at all times. During the hours of darkness the hi-vis and reflective jacket should be visible from the front, especially when walking on or beside a road.
17. Teams will not be allowed to carry on walking when darkness falls. Teams will need to arrive at a certain checkpoint by a pre-determined deadline time.
18. DO NOT cross or walk along any “A” and “B” class roads except in an emergency, or where instructed to do so.
19. Teams MUST phone the emergency number if they do not reach the next checkpoint after two hours walking from the previous checkpoint.
20. The organisers and officials have the right to stop the event and/or participants from continuing at their discretion. A participant will be withdrawn from the event and not be allowed to continue if in the opinion of an event official they are deemed unfit to continue or making unsatisfactory progress.
21. No team or participant can be withdrawn during the event without permission from Central Control or event official.
22. The decision of the organising committee is final and they will adjust the rules and route if they consider necessary. They cannot be held personally responsible for any mishap or injury, however caused, during the event.
23. All participants need to bring a change of footwear, socks and trousers, to be kept in a separate clearly marked bag and left in an allocated area at the start.