Race Rules
The rules at hand apply to The Hout Bay Trail Challenge which will be referred to as HBTC. By virtue of registering, paying and participating in the HBTC, competitors in the HBTC acknowledge that they have read, understood and accepted the rules and regulations of participation.
The HBTC is a trail challenge event specifically for individual competitors or a relay team of three (3) competitors. Teams will run the race as a relay; that is each team member will run only one leg of the race.
The organiser and the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) have limited the number of entries. This is for safety and environmental reasons and to keep with the ethos of trail running - being out there without the crowds, enjoying the awesome mountains we have in the Cape.
Note this race can take up to 10 hours to complete. We can experience hot or raining and cold conditions. All competitors will need to be prepared adequately - please ensure you are equipped appropriately.
- To participate as an individual or in a team of 3 (40km Challenge)
- Individual participants has to be 18 years of age on race day.
- Team participants has to be 16 years of age on race day.
- Each competitor is responsible for ensuring adequate physical fitness. This is paramount for competing in the event. If necessary, seek medical consultation to ascertain adequate preparedness. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DO THIS RACE IF YOU HAVE BEEN SICK!
- You may need a medical certificate to take part.
The race organiser reserves the right to reject the registration of a competitor. Please refer to the section on the Entry Process.
You will be entered into one of the following categories in accordance with your age on the day of the event.
| Men & Women | ||
| Category | Age | Prizes |
| Open | - | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
| Veterans | 40 to 49 | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
| Masters | 50 to 59 | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
| Grand Masters | 60+ | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
| Teams | |
| Category | Prizes |
| Men's Team | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
| Ladies Team | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
| Mixed Team | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
Only 1st place prize will be given for categories with less than 6 runners or teams.
Timing is recorded individually for each participant and relies on a personalized race number that must be displayed at all times. Recommend using a race number belt. Each competitor will have a Race Number. It is imperative that the it is recorded at the following points in order for your time to be recorded:
Hout Bay Trail Challenge
Failure to have your Race Number recorded will result in no Race Result. In addition a search and rescue party will be launched with the appropriate emergency authorities - at the cost of the negligent competitor/s.
If for some reason an individual decides not to run the second and/or third leg of the race he/she MUST inform the time keeper and hand in their Race Number to the time keeper. Failure to hand in the race number will result in a search and rescue party being launched with the appropriate emergency authorities - at the cost of the negligent competitor/s.
Teams will need to be passed on the number to the next team member at each Check Point/ transition point. The last team member will need handed it in at the finish. The team member doing leg one will record their Race Number at the start and when they finish Leg One (Suikerbossie Restaurant) then record team member 2 race number when starting the second leg. Team member 2 will run Leg Two with the team Race Number and have it recorded at end of Leg Two, Constantia Nek, and then record team member 3 race number when starting third leg.. Team member 3 will run Leg Three with the team Race Number and hand it in at the finish (Hout Bay Harbour).
Team members are not allowed to run the next leg with their team mate. This is due to the number of runners we are allowed on the mountain at one time as agreed with TMNP. If a team member does run another leg, either with their team mate/ not. The team will be disqualified.
Remember NO RACE NUMBER = NO RACE = NO RESULT!
The Race Number contains a personalised number and emergency contact numbers.
To be classified as an official 'finisher' of the race, your race number needs to be record at each Check Point and the correct route followed.
No swopping of race numbers is permitted as the race number is linked to your name, medical details, emergency contact details and finishing time. Any swopping will result in your disqualification.
You may park in the Hout Bay Harbour parking area, but please DO NOT park on the yellow or red lines. The red and yellow areas are reserved for buses and vendors.
Parking is at your own risk. Please DO NOT leave any valuables in your car.
There might have to pay a entrance fee to park in the harbour.
There will be Marshals along the route. Please respect and adhere to the marshals' warnings and directions. Please be vigilant when crossing the roads.
If you or any other competitor has any problems please report to one of the marshals.
The NO MOBILE SECONDING rule will be strictly enforced. No seconds may cycle or run alongside any competitor on the route. The STAND AND HAND rule will apply, whereby a competitor's second may stand at the check point and hand refreshments to their competitor while they remain stationary.
This area will be pointed out by the marshal at the check point.
No seconds may travel on the route. The race officials will deal with any transgression of this rule and the penalty may include disqualification of the competitor.
This applies to all teams as well. Each team member is only allowed to run one leg of the race. No team member may continue running the next leg of the race with or without their team member.
Seconds are to please keep away from the time keeper's table and park in the designated parking areas.
Seconds will be required to pay any required entry fees into the Table Mountain National Park.
There will be a paramedic at each of the check points (Suikerbossie and Constantia Nek) and at the finish line (Hout Bay Harbour). If you require medical assistance please report to the paramedic on duty at these points.
If you require medical assistance on the mountain, firstly phone the emergency number provided on your Race Number or use the MySOS APP. If you are unable to contact the race control then either send another competitor to the closest medic or report to the closest marshal who will be able to radio for medical assistance.
Any cost for medical or rescue services incurred during the race or after the race will be paid for by the competitor.
Spectators are more than welcome at the check points, but are to please keep away from the time keeper's table and park in the designated parking areas.
Spectators will be required to pay any required entry fees into the Table Mountain National Park.
Spectators are required to stay in the designated spectators areas
Spectators are NOT ALLOWED to trample, take short cuts, remove or litter on the route
Spectators points to watch there runners:
Hout Bay Trail Challenge
Competitors that fail to complete a leg within the given time will be asked to refrain from continuing the race. If the competitor chooses to continue the race after the cut off time, they do so at their own risk and without the support of the race organiser.
Competitors that do not complete the race will be marked as 'DNF' (Did Not Finish) on the results board.
If a team member fails to complete a leg of the race by the cut-off time, the race official will let the next team member start their leg. However, the team will then be classified as "DNF" on the results board.
All competitors need to be off the mountain by 17:00 and each team member needs to be off the mountain by each leg cut-off.
The start of the race will be in front of the Hout Bay Yacht Club in the Hout Bay Harbour. All competitors must report to the official timekeeper to CHECK IN. Competitors can start checking in from 06h00.
It is imperative that you check in if you are late for the start. If you are late please make sure you find the official Time Keeper after the start of the race and have your Race Number recorded before you start the race. The official Time Keeper will leave the start 20 minutes after the event has started.
Failure to have your Race Number recorded at the start will mean no results and more importantly we won't go looking for you if you get lost! We will have no record of you being on the mountain!
The race will start at sunrise on the day of the race, approximately 07:00. But this will be light dependant on the day. Final Start Times will be confirmed by email.
All competitors are to have their Race Number recorded by the Timer Keeper at each Check Point. Failure to do this will mean no results and a search and rescue party with the appropriate emergency authorities will be launched - at the cost of the negligent competitor.
Spectators and seconds are more than welcome at the check points, but are to please keep away from the time keeper's table and park in the designated parking areas.
Team members doing the next leg of the race are to wait away from the Time Keeper's table and to only start their leg of the race after their team member has had his/her Race Number scanned.
The competitor to cross the finish line first after completing the course in the correct way, with the correct equipment and with their Race Number recorded at each Check Point, will be classified as the winner of the HBTC.
All competitors to cross the finish line having completed the course in the correct way, with the correct equipment and with their Race Number recorded at each Check Point, will be considered official 'finishers' of the HBTC.
Competitors who - for whatever reason - cannot or do not want to continue the HBTC are obliged to promptly give notice of their decision to the race official at the nearest check point or finish line, or they are to call the Race Organiser (cell number provided on their Race Number) and inform them of their action.
If a competitor does not give notification of their withdrawal, the race organiser reserves the right to launch a search and rescue party with the appropriate emergency services - at the cost of the negligent competitor/s.
If one team competitor decides to withdraw, the race organiser will allow the other member(s) of the team to complete their chosen leg of the race, but the team will not be considered an official 'finisher' of the HBTC. Their time will be recorded - if they have their barcode scanned and will be displayed for that leg of the race. The team's official time will display as 'DNF'.
The HOUT BAY TRAIL CHALLENGE is run through the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) which is a world heritage site. Therefore all competitors of the race agree to minimize any negative effects to the environment (natural, cultural, historical and aesthetics).
All competitors must only use existing paths. You are NOT allowed to create your own path. Competitors observed taking a short cut, off an established path, will be disqualified and fined.
Trampling and removing indigenous vegetation is not permitted. Competitors observed doing so will be disqualified and fined.
No foreign material of any kind is to be left behind. All rubbish can be disposed of at the check points where black plastic bags will be available.
Toilet facilities are available at the start at Hout Bay Yacht Club, at Suikerbossie Restaurant, at Constantia Nek and at the finish (Silvermist). If competitors find it necessary to defecate along the route then this should take place well away from the path and waterways (50m is recommended) and must be buried.
No dogs or pets are allowed on the race due to safety reasons.
An emergency service will be on standby at the check points and at the finish. Mountain Rescue has been notified of the race and will be on standby.
Competitors are not permitted to smoke or light any fires on the route.
All competitors of the HOUT BAY TRAIL CHALLENGE are expected to give way to all public hikers on the route. The race is run through public walking areas and therefore competitors must slow down when approaching hikers on the route. If a competitor should come across an injured competitor (or hiker) they are expected to assist and notify the nearest race marshal before continuing on the race.
We are very lucky to have permission to access private property along certain sections of the route.
Please note we only have access to these sections on RACE DAY. No training is permit on these section before or after Race Day.
Anyone trespassing will be fined.
Please respect the property owners land. So we can continue to enjoy this access to this sections of the route once year.
It is the responsibility of the race official and race organiser to pass decisions on the race event and any course of action.
The Race Official's decision is final.
All protests must be in writing and given to the race organiser within 30 minutes of your finishing time.
A competitor will automatically be disqualified for the following breaches of regulations:
A competitor will receive a time penalty (between 20 and 30 minutes or more) for the following breaches of regulations:
To be confirmed
Should the event be cancelled due to Weather, fire or any other factor that affects the safety of participants there will be no refunding of entry fees.
