RULES FOR THE BT THREE PEAKS

FELL WALKING COMPETITION

on Saturday

8th JUNE 2024

New Rules :

rule continuation-2024  START
Assemble from 06:00 queue towards the pavilion (Gazeebo Registration Team)

Event start time BROUGHT FORWARD by 30 mins to 06:30 - 07:30
N.B AS USUAL 2 MAPS PER TEAM ARE REQUIRED (GPS can only be supplementary)  SEE OL2 Maps

In order to allow for a more Open and inclusive event competitors can now finish after 1 peak.
Ribblehead checkpoint 4 will be used to record 1 peak teams. Await 4WD or MINIBUS transportation back to Horton base camp IN ALL RETIREMENTS. Retiring or CUT OFF (12:30) at Ribblehead Viaduct check point means  teams will have done 1 Peak and around 11 miles of walking.

Teams have always been able to retire after 2 peaks at Hill Inn checkpoint. However unlike previous years Teams have to get to Hill Inn by 15:30 to continue in the challenge. This is now 15 mins earlier as some teams have taken nearly 5 hours to get back to base camp after the 2 peaker checkpoint !

Re Grouping will be allowed this Year from Ribblehead and Hill Inn low level CP's Only. This is to allow those that are inside CUT OFF time but don't have 3 Team Members left in the Team to Finish the Event.

As per usual 4WD or MINIBUS transport back to Horton is available for any retirees from the event, at Birkwith (1 peakers) , Ribblehead (1+viaduct near halfway) and Hill Inn (2 peakers).

rule Amendment-2019 - CUT OFFS

07:30 - 08:00 (runners) START

12:30 Ribblehead  Whernside Peak 2
15:30 Hill Inn  Ingleborough Peak 3


To allow the new event features all teams will now have to reach Ribblehead checkpoint by 12:30 hrs to enable continuance in the challenge. This is 30 minutes erlier than previous years

Teams arriving after the checkpoint CUT OFF  times can be transported back or continue outside the responsibilty of the event having KEPT the team tallies to comply with event safety rules. THESE MUST RETURN TO HQ TO AVOID UNNECESSARY ALARM AND RESPONSE TO MISSING PARTICIPANTS.

The organisers in recent years have been left at the Horton finish field until well after 20:00 hrs and prize giving had been slipping to later and later times when many teams had gone home or left the field.
In 2014 the organisers missed the 20:30 food CUT OFF at the Crown Pub so rules had to be tightened !

IN 2018 WE HAD DISAPPOINTED TEAMS JUST MISSING HILL INN CUT OFF SO THERE IS NOW 3 HRS TO GET TO HILL INN AFTER LEAVING RIBBLEHEAD AND COMPLETING THE SECOND PEAK. THIS IS LESS TIGHT SO THAT TEAMS TRAVELLING SLOWER FROM FATIGUE HAVE MORE CHANCE TO AVOID BEING 'RETIRED' AT HILL INN IF THEY DO NOT CHECK IN BY 15:30.

CHECK IN / KIT CHECK Bottle necks will also be eased by opening 2 DESKS at 06:00 am.

IF teams leave by 06:30 they have exactly 6 hours to get to Ribblehead and the Second Peak cut off.
If your team is unable to do that on the day then it unlikely that it would be safe to continue as this is not yet the halfway point and teams normally only get slower as they progress !
REMEMBER THE RULES ARE FOR YOUR SAFETY AS WE CAN ALL ONLY ENJOY THE DAY IF ALL HELPERS AND PARTICIPANTS ARE SAFE AND LOCATION TRACKED / ABIDING BY THE RULES THAT HAVE EVOLVED OVER DECADES.
It will still be a great achievment to do one Peak and well over 11 miles of hill walking.


All competitors will get the new online 3 Peaks PDF Certificate of Participation (these now have own photo upload).

1 A team will consist of 4 people, of which a minimum of 1 will be BT, associated company
members or BT- retired members. The minimum number to qualify as a finishing team is 3.
No team being allowed to start with 3 will be eligible for a trophy. The time taken to complete
the course will be calculated from the time when the last person in the team crosses the finishing
line. Team members must be 18 or more years old. Under 18s cannot enter but people under
that age can be associates of the team, but at all times are the sole responsibility of the team
captain and not the event or its organisers.

2 a) The Overall winning team will be the fastest 4-person team to complete the route.
However, teams maintaining 4 walkers until Ribblehead checkpoint but finishing
with 3 will be eligible for the overall trophy 2nd and 3rd places. Veterans, Mixed and
Ladies trophies will be awarded to 1st place only in these classes.
b) This year the Overall winning team cannot win any other trophy. This does not
apply to 2nd and 3rd placings or winners of 1
st Mixed, 1st Veterans & 1st Ladies. The BT Line of Business trophy will be awarded to the 2nd place overall.

3 A veteran team shall be average age 50 years or over (200 aggregate years at the start).
No Team handicapping will be assessed on the average age of team members completing
the course, so the fastest veteran team in real time wins (but see rule 2b).

4 A mixed team is a team of any number of both sexes and must complete the course,
mixed to qualify.

5 a) Walkers must assemble at the Registration Gazebo tent, Horton Playing Field,
between 0600 and 0730 for team registration and equipment checks (0745 latest for
runners). Teams intending to complete the course in less than 6 hours (runners and
joggers) should assemble and start after 0730 to assist checkpoint placements, but
0800 is the latest possible start time for all. This is earlier than in previous years to allow
more time before the cut offs at the Ribblehead and Hill Inn checkpoints. Teams are given
coloured numbered tallies to wear for the event duration as they receive their start
times, which are from 0630 to 0800.
b) Non-checked entrants will not be the responsibility of the organisers.
c) Late starters can only be accepted at the discretion of the organisers.


SAFETY RULES

6 In all matters of safety, the instructions of the organisers must be adhered to.
a) Team members must stay together. No single member of any team shall be left
alone on the fells. Competitors wishing to retire from the event or intending to
climb one or two peaks only must retire at a roadside checkpoint, i.e. Ribblehead
for 1 Peak or Hill Inn for 2. Failure to comply will disqualify the team.
(NOTE - vehicles can no longer pass through Birkwith farm so any retirees at this
location will have to walk from the checkpoint beyond the farm to the public road,
where a pick-up can be arranged. For the same reason, refreshments will not be
available at the Birkwith checkpoint.)
Retirees must then use the official transport back to Horton Playing field to be
accounted for by handing back their tallies at the Horton Field HQ.

b) If more than one member of a team retires, then that team will be compulsorily
withdrawn. If the remaining members insist on continuing walking as a twosome,
then they will no longer be part of the event and no longer the responsibility of the
organisers. In this case TALLIES CAN STILL BE KEPT, but must be handed in at
Horton Playing Field HQ on return. HOWEVER, new from 2019 - we will allow the
re-forming of new teams at the Hill Inn checkpoint AS LONG AS THEY ARE WITHIN
THE CUT-OFF TIME OF 15.30 WHEN THEY RESUME THE WALK.
A request to regroup can be made at the Hill Inn checkpoint only. The Marshals and Radio Team
will do the re-grouping. Additional group tallies may be given out.

7 All checkpoints and the finish must be passed through in the correct order and as a team.
Checkers will disqualify a team not doing so. A checker must only be approached by a
complete team. We do not signpost or mark the route, as use of the maps carried is part
of the challenge. It is the walkers’ responsibility to search out the checkers - they will be
wearing high-visibility jackets and the points will be flagged with the event logo.

The checkpoints (with grid references) are as follows:-
Horton Playing Field (Start) SD806728
Penyghent SD838734
Birkwith SD803771
Ribblehead SD766792
Force Gill SD761817
Whernside SD738814
Hill Inn SD744776
Ingleborough SD741746
Horton Playing Field (Finish) SD806728

NOTES:-
The National Park Authority has opened a new path to avoid the boggy and difficult
section through Black Dub Moss. This new path is drier, avoids stiles and is easier to
follow. To use it, the Pennine Way is followed off Penyghent to the Shooting Box at
Horton Scar Lane end, where the new path heads west over Whitber Hill, to rejoin the
Pennine Way heading north.
The Birkwith checkpoint is easily missed. Do not blindly follow the party in front - they
may not be part of the event, and the checkpoint here is very small-scale.
8 The team leader is responsible for ensuring that all checkpoint entries are correct and all
his/her team accounted for. You must halt at all checkpoints and wait to be checked
through or your team will be disqualified.
9 In the interests of safety it is required that the following is worn/carried by all
competitors.

PER PERSON
a) Boots with cleated soles or cross-country shoes with stud or heavy waffle soles.
NO road shoes with smooth soles, cheap trainers or any boot or shoe which is
obviously worn out.
b) Trousers or breeches. Skirts/Shorts may be worn, but you must then carry your
trousers/breeches. Jeans are not acceptable.
c) Waterproof clothing, not merely shower-proof, top and trousers.
d) Pullover or fibre pile jacket or equivalent with adequate length and sleeves.
e) Rucksack or equivalent.
f) Headgear (hat or hood).
g) Mug - for drinks provided. A minimum of ½ pint of liquid must be carried. This can
be replenished at roadside checkpoints. As no food is provided, walkers are
advised to carry sufficient for their own needs, bearing in mind that the walk could
take 12 hours.
h) Emergency rations 200g or ½lb (e.g. dates, chocolate, boiled sweets). These must
be carried throughout the walk and only be eaten in an emergency.
i) Whistle.

TO BE CARRIED PER TEAM
j) Small first aid kit - which must include a 2" bandage and various adhesive
dressings.
k) 2 O/S maps sheet number 98 (scale 1:50,000) or 2 outdoor leisure maps (1:25,000).
OL2 Yorkshire Dales West. Note that GPS technology can be used as an aid, but
maps and compasses are still required (maps do not need batteries!).
l) 2 compasses.
m) One survival bag (large plastic bag to accommodate a person). The aluminium
spacefoil blanket is acceptable, but not a dustbin liner!
10 COMPETITORS WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FOR:
a) Receiving assistance of any kind from spectators.
b) Failing to wear or carry specified equipment - checks may be carried out at any
time, even at the finish.
c) Losing the tally identity disc (which should be plainly in view at checkpoints)
d) Failure to comply with the rules to the satisfaction of the organisers.
11 Cut off times will be 1230 at Ribblehead checkpoint and 1530 at the Chapel le Dale/Hill Inn
checkpoint. Competitors arriving after these times will be withdrawn from the event. In
the event of severe weather conditions, the organisers reserve the right to abandon the
competition.
12 Competitors are requested to assemble quietly. Please observe the country code and
maintain good relations with the local residents. Please do not arrive before mid-day on
the 10
th June if camping on the playing field and try to arrive before 10.00pm so as not to
disturb the village.
13 The organisers reserve the right to amend the rules as required, with the provision that
competitors are given due notice.
14 Please note that competitors take part in the event at their own risk.

Enjoy the day and stay safe   Do your best and remember by taking part you are already a winner for the Event  good causes.
BT Staff & Friends Yorks Three Peaks
The 1-2-3 Yorkshire 3 Peaks - Now Open to all walkers - from the serious endurance athlete to the relaxed rambler - 1-2-3 Peaks you decide !
2024 Event Now Open Sat 8th June
Please Take a copy of the rules HERE in PDF form
OS OL2  MAP (2 per team)
Please Read :Additional National Park Guidance