Ring O’ Fire Race Rules – 2026

1. Race Directors may apply time penalties or disqualification for actions that compromise fairness, safety, or event integrity.
2. Rules may be amended at any time to protect runner safety or event integrity.
3. Participants must be 18 years or older on race day.
4. Race numbers must be clearly visible on the front of the body at all times for checkpoint logging.
5. Runners must follow the official Ring O’ Fire/Firelighter trail as marked in the Map Packs. Deviating from the course may result in disqualification or time penalties. If you go off course, return immediately to the marked trail and notify the nearest marshal.
6. Runners must check in and out of every checkpoint. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Checkpoints are mandatory for safety and tracking.
7. Honesty books must be used as instructed:
   a. Collect a page from each honesty book and deliver it to the next checkpoint.
   b. Missing or losing a page incurs a five-hour penalty.
   c. If this penalty causes the runner to exceed the overall time limit, disqualification will apply.
   d. Intentional misses will result in disqualification.
8. Cut-off times are strictly enforced. Failure to reach or leave a checkpoint within the designated time will result in disqualification.
9. Retiring runners must inform the nearest marshal and hand in their race tracker.
10. All runners must carry the mandatory kit at all times, as listed on the Kit Page. Spot checks may be conducted.
11. Pacers are not permitted during daytime sections.
12. Night section pacers may be allowed for safety reasons, subject to prior approval by Race Directors.
    a. Details on eligible sections and pacer guidance will be published closer to the event.
13. Resting or sleeping in vehicles (including camper vans) is not permitted.
14. Temporary shelter in a stationary vehicle is allowed only in medical emergencies or extreme weather, and must be:
    a. Reported immediately to a Race Director, marshal, or medic
    b. Limited to essential safety or medical stabilisation only
    c. Followed by resuming the race from the exact point of exit
15. Outdoor rest is permitted at any time, provided it is safe to do so and runners meet all checkpoint cut-off times.
16. Sleeping or extended rest is only allowed at designated rest/sleep checkpoints.
17. Use of private residences or non-designated indoor spaces for sleeping or extended rest is prohibited.
18. Public buildings, shops, and cafés may be entered for purchases or toilet use, but not for rest or sleep.
19. Runners must not contact Race Directors for navigation support, except in emergency or safety-critical situations.
    a. Marshals at checkpoints may, if asked, provide information about the route ahead, honesty book locations, distances covered, distances to the next checkpoint, and cut-off times.
    b. Runners are expected to navigate independently using the official Map Packs and GPS tracking.
20. Relay runners are subject to all standard race rules unless otherwise stated.
    a. Teams of 2–4 runners complete the full Ring O’ Fire course as a relay.
    b. Each team carries a GPS tracker (the baton), handed over only at official checkpoints.
    c. Leg assignments may be decided dynamically during the race.
    d. No runner substitutions allowed once the race begins. Only the original team members who registered can participate throughout the event.
    e. Each runner must carry mandatory kit during their leg.
    f. Relay runners have full access to all Ring O’ Fire checkpoints, including rest and food stations.
    g. Support crews are optional but recommended.
    h. Team time is continuous from start to finish, verified by GPS tracker and marshal logs.