Saturday 9th March 2024
Entries for the Haworth Hobble 2024 are available on SI Entries via this link from 01/10/23. Please note that the 2023 event sold out in a few weeks and there is no waiting list as we oversubscribe. We aim for maximum of 500 competitors on race day.
Entry fees and optional extra costs for 2024 are:
a) Entry fee is £22 until 14th October 2023 and then £27 from 15th October 2023 onwards.
b) A £4 discount will be applied to entry fee above for Fell Runner Association (FRA) members.
c) A £10 discount will be applied to any competitor aged under 25 on race day.
d) Active members of UK Mountain/Fell Rescue teams may apply to organiser via email for free place as we offer 10 free places each year as a ‘thank you’ for what your teams do.
e) T-shirts are optional and you have to opt in at entry stage. We have a reputation for good quality T-shirts and we try to keep price around cost price to us. From 2024 onwards there will be two options:
- Short sleeved race t-shirt – £8
- Long sleeved, 1/4 zip T-shirt suitable for smart casual – £13 (Example below from 2023 race that was not on public sale)
General Information
Start Time: 8am for mass start. Early starts available from 6.30am to 7.15am (Checkpoint 1 has opening time to prevent anything other than slowest runners/walkers using this option).
Category: BL
GPS: not allowed for navigation
Distance: 51km / 31.7m
Climb: 1340m / 4396ft
Venue: Haworth Primary School, Rawdon Road, Haworth, BD22 8DW.
Grid ref: SE 03143 37265
Skills & experience: ER, LK, NS
Minimum age: 18
32 miles traversing gritstone moors around Haworth, Todmorden and Hebden Bridge with 4,400 ft of ascent/descent. Maximum time allowed approx 11 hours (see cut offs at each checkpoint for full schedule). This race is on edge of winter and there is expectation that you have all the skills required for navigating and looking after yourself on remote moors in potentially very wintry conditions.
This is a tough race and it is expected to go ahead in almost all conditions as if you have signed up, you have acknowledged that you have suitable skills and that you are carrying all the right gear. However, for the first time in 2023, we had to make a last minute decision and shorten the course due to heavy snow as otherwise very few people would have finished and we could not have safely looked after people who tried but failed as that would have been majority. In exceptional circumstances only, we reserve the right to reduce the race to the 21 mile bad weather course.
Reccy/Training Runs
There will be 4 reccy runs that we will arrange guides for on the following dates. These have been very popular in last 2 years and they are always very social. We take no responsibility for anybody attending as we are simply showing you the route and our expectation is that everybody turns up with full safety kit as it is winter and you have the skills to get round. Once we establish paces, groups tend to form naturally and nobody is left behind.
- Weds 27th December 2023 and Sun 11th February 2024 – 8.30am – Haworth to Todmorden – 18.5miles
- Sat 30th December 2023 and Sun 18th February 2024 – 9.30am – Todmorden to Haworth – 13 miles
- There will be at least 3 separate pace groups on each (may be as many as 5).
- A reminder email with details will be sent about a week before to all competitors and the race Facebook site is always useful place for arranging lifts/car positioning.
Kit Requirements
Full FRA mandatory kit is required and in addition you must also carry foil blanket or bivvy bag, minimum 0.5 litre of water carrying capacity and an additional long sleeved thermal base layer not to be worn at race start.
Course Information including race map, feedstation locations and cut off times
Race Videos
Race Day Food
Whilst full details will not be confirmed until the race brief issued approximately 7 days before race, based on last few years you can expect following:
– Pre Race will have tea, coffee and squash available at no charge. Bacon sandwiches from 6am at small charge.
– During race there are 6 well stocked feed stations with all the basics of chocolate bars, bananas, melon, orange, jelly babies as well as water, squash and Cola. However feed stations 3, 4 and 5 have additional options including tea, coffee, soup, OXO and on food side hot dogs with onions, fresh filled donuts, chip butties and other surprises. We are well known for having great feedstations with exceptional volunteers.
– After the race there is tea, coffee, soft drinks along with freshly cooked hot pizza and cake.
Refunds, Deferrals and Substitutions
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I Use Poles? – Yes, although please be careful.
- Can my dog run with me? – No, this is against FRA rules and can trip other competitors.
- How do I learn the route? – We organise reccy runs in December, January and February. Emails are sent to all entrants.
- How tough is the route? – Whilst much of route is runnable, other than a few short road sections, it is mostly trails and fells. There are some very exposed remote fells which can be very challenging in bad weather which is why we expect you to have sufficient skills for the race and to carry all mandatory gear as an absolute minimum. At the front end we have some of the UK’s top off road runners however we also have people who walk the whole route and have a brilliant time in doing so.
- Can I run as a pair? – Yes, this started off as a pairs race and we always have a large entry of mixed, male and female pairs. We also have a non-binary category for individuals/pairs.
Race Organiser and Contact Details
Gary Chapman
scubagary@aol.com
KCAC actively supports sheRACES
Haworth Hobble fully supports SheRACES and we actively ensure that all guidelines are met to ensure our races are seen as amongst the most female friendly around. We already have a female participation rate over 30% which is well above average but we always want to do more. We will always ensure equal status in results and prizegiving, separate ladies toilets and availability of sanitary products at start/finish/all feed stations, generous cut off times to encourage inclusivity for all, free guided reccy runs in groups to promote safety/confidence on route, free deferral for 2 years when pregnant up to race day and ensuring all imagery/race information actively encourages participation of women.