Kent Backyard Ultra Club Cup 2025/26

Question 1

Am I allowed a support crew?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and for most runners, it helps a lot.

You can have a small crew with you at the event base to assist between loops (food, kit, encouragement, tough love, etc.). Just keep it low-key — space is limited, and this isn’t Glastonbury.

Runners are responsible for the behaviour of their crew.
If your crew causes problems, you could be removed from the event.

Crew aren’t allowed to pace you or provide outside assistance on the course — only at base between yards.

Question 2

Am I allowed to run with my dog?

Accepted Answer

Q: Am I allowed to run with my dog?
No — running with a dog is not permitted in a Backyard Ultra.

The format follows strict rules: no outside assistance or animals on the course. It’s just you, the loop, and the clock.

Question 3

Can I bring my family and friends to watch?

Accepted Answer

Can I bring my family and friends to watch?
Yes — we welcome family and friends, but please be aware that space at Race HQ is limited. If they’re not part of your official support crew, we recommend they cheer you on from safe, accessible points along the course.

Important:
• No aid or support is allowed outside of Race HQ.
• You are fully responsible for the behaviour and actions of your crew or support team.

Anyone who causes disruption or breaks the rules may result in the runner being removed from the event.

Question 4

How long do I have to complete each lap?

Accepted Answer

You have exactly one hour to complete each yard.
Finish within the 60-minute window, and you move on to the next. Miss the bell, and you're out.

Question 5

Are there any rules in a Backyard Ultra?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Backyard Ultras follow a strict set of rules to keep the format fair and consistent across the world. Here’s a summary of the key ones:

1. The Course
• Must be a loop or out-and-back route
• Exactly 4.167 miles (6.7056 km)
• Same loop is used throughout the event

2. Starting Corral
• All runners must be in the corral when the bell rings
• The size of the corral stays the same for the entire race

3. Start Timing
• Each yard starts exactly one hour after the last
• Warnings are given at 3, 2, and 1 minute before the start
• You must start at the bell — no late starts allowed

4. On the Course
• You may only leave the course to use the toilet
• No pacers, no outside support, and no eliminated runners on course
• No artificial aids (including trekking poles, bikes, scooters, etc.)
• Slower runners must allow others to pass

5. Timing
• Timing is optional — it’s all about surviving the hour

6. Winner / Results
• The winner is the last person to complete a yard
• All others are DNFs
• If no one completes a loop beyond the others, there is no winner

7. No Cap
• There’s no time or loop limit — the race continues until only one remains

Question 6

Can I leave my gear somewhere during the event?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a drop bag area will be provided for participants to store their essential items, such as extra nutrition, warm clothing, and any replacement gear.

Question 7

Why is it so expensive? £480 seems like a lot of money for a race.

Accepted Answer

We get it, £480 might sound steep at first glance. But that fee covers all four events in the Kent Backyard Ultra Series. When you break it down, it works out to just £60 per runner, per race, saving you £55 per event compared to a standard Last Person Standing entry.

Plus, we’ve stripped away the extras:

No booking fees – the price you see is the price you pay.
No admin charges – we’ve removed the usual £10 fee for name or entry changes, so your Club Captain can swap runners in and out each round without paying a penny more.

It’s built to be flexible, fair, and affordable for teams committing to the full season.

You can also split the entry fee into four equal, interest-free payments – no hidden costs, no surprises.

And if your team car shares, each participant in the vehicle will receive a £10 Hellfire Events voucher code. Most event companies charge for parking. We reward it.

Question 8

Can my team pay individually?

Accepted Answer

Can my team pay individually?
Unfortunately, our booking system doesn’t support individual payments just yet but it’s something we’re hoping to roll out in the future.

For now, the Club Captain will need to handle the full payment and manage the team’s details. So pick your most organised mate and sort out repayments between yourselves.

The good news? The total entry fee can be split into four equal, interest-free payments, so your captain doesn’t need to cover the full amount in one go.

And if you need a hand with any of the admin, just drop us a message at hello@hellfireevents.com - we’re always happy to help.

Question 9

Can the £480 entry fee be split into instalments?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can split the £480 entry fee into four equal, interest-free payments, so you don’t have to pay it all upfront.

And it’s not just about flexibility. Your Club Cup entry also includes:

Access to all four Kent Backyard Ultra Series events
A huge saving - £55 off per runner, per event compared to standard entry
No booking fees - the price you see is the price you pay
No admin charges - name and team changes are free
Car share rewards - £10 Hellfire Events voucher for each participant in the vehicle

We’ve built this to be as affordable and community-focused as possible, while still delivering a top-quality experience.

If you can’t find the answer to your question, just drop us a message at hello@hellfireevents.com

We’re happy to help.

Question 10

What is Refund Protection, and is it included in my entry?

Accepted Answer

Refund Protection is an optional add-on provided by Protect Group. It’s not included in your entry by default, you’ll need to actively select it during booking if you want it.

If you’ve added it and can’t attend due to unforeseen circumstances outside your control, you may be entitled to a full refund through Protect Group. The cost is 15% of your entry fee, and full instructions for applying will be in your booking confirmation email.

Examples of what’s covered include:

Injury or illness (including COVID-19)
Travel disruption (e.g. public transport strikes or road closures)
Bereavement
Jury service
Emergency at home (e.g. fire, flood, burglary)

Please note:

Hellfire Events does not handle refund requests directly, you’ll need to apply via the Protect Group portal (link in your confirmation email).
If the event is cancelled or changed by us, please contact hello@hellfireevents.com directly and we’ll help you out.
Approved refund claims are paid directly back to you by Protect Group.

If you can’t find the answer to your question, just drop us a message at hello@hellfireevents.com

We’re happy to help.

Question 11

If our team can’t field two runners, can we get a refund?

Accepted Answer

No, Club Cup entries are team bookings, and we’re unable to offer refunds if you're missing a runner.

If someone drops out, you’ve got a couple of options:

Find a replacement from your club or running group
Ask the Hellfire Community for a sub – it’s a great place to connect: https://www.facebook.com/groups/799944091697209

To keep things fair, each team must field one male and one female runner per event. If you can only provide one runner, they can still run but your team won’t score in the Club Cup tally for that round.

You’re also welcome to ask us on the day, but most importantly, keep us in the loop. If we know in advance, we might be able to help.

If you can’t find the answer to your question, just drop us a message at hello@hellfireevents.com — we’re happy to help.

Question 12

Which charity does the Kent Backyard Ultra Club Cup support?

Accepted Answer

We don’t have a single chosen charity for the Club Cup. Instead, we’ll award £400 to the winning team’s chosen charity or charities.

The prize can be split across up to 8 charities
The Club Captain must provide the names and contact details for each charity
Hellfire Events will make the donations directly, the winning team won’t receive the funds themselves

We think this is a better way to give back, letting the winners support causes they genuinely care about.

If you can’t find the answer to your question, just drop us a message at hello@hellfireevents.com

We’re happy to help.

Question 13

Can I cancel my Kent Backyard Ultra Club Cup booking?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can cancel your booking, but the amount we can refund will depend on how close to the first event (Vigo – 14th November 2025) you cancel.

We know that sounds a little vague, but our aim is to keep things as fair as possible for you, while also protecting the event itself. We can't always offer full refunds without covering costs already committed, especially as the race gets closer.

Please note:

We’re unable to offer any refunds after 10th November 2025, as we won’t be able to replace your team with another.
We do not offer deferrals for the Club Cup, as it would make the following year’s ballot unfair. However, if your team withdraws and chooses to re-enter the following season, we’ll give your club a 3× boost in the next ballot.
Since this is a club booking, we encourage you to simply find a substitute runner for any round your original participants can’t make, that way your team stays in the game.

What about Refund Protection?

Refund Protection is an optional add-on provided by Protect Group. It costs 15% of your entry fee and allows you to apply for a full refund if you can’t attend due to unforeseen circumstances outside your control.

Examples of what’s covered:

Injury or illness (including COVID-19)
Bereavement
Travel disruption
Jury service
Emergencies at home (like fire or flood)

If you add Refund Protection:

You’ll receive instructions in your confirmation email on how to apply for a refund
Approved claims are paid directly back to you by Protect Group
Hellfire Events does not handle or approve refund requests under this policy

If you can’t find the answer to your question, just drop us a message at hello@hellfireevents.com

We’re happy to help.

Question 14

Why don’t you charge booking fees like other events?

Accepted Answer

Because we don’t believe in sneaky extras. What you see is what you pay, no hidden charges, no admin fees, no nonsense.

We’ve built the Kent Backyard Ultra Club Cup to be fair, flexible, and runner-friendly from start to finish. Here’s what you get:

No booking fees – ever.
No admin charges – name swaps and team changes are totally free.
Optional Refund Protection – for peace of mind if life throws you a curveball.
Car share rewards – £10 Hellfire Events voucher for every participant in a shared vehicle. Vouchers are valid for six months from the event date.
Massive savings – £55 off per runner, per event compared to standard entry.
Split payments – the £480 team entry can be paid in four interest-free instalments.
Flexible team line-ups – substitute runners if someone can’t make it.
Charity prize – £400 goes to the winning team’s chosen charity or charities (up to 8).
Ballot boost – If your team is unsuccessful in the ballot and chooses to reapply the following year, you’ll receive a 3× boost to your chances. That boost grows by 3× each year until you're successful.

We’re not trying to squeeze the most money out of every booking, we just want to run brilliant events built on trust, community, and proper challenge.

If you can’t find the answer to your question, just drop us a message at hello@hellfireevents.com

We’re happy to help.

Question 15

How does the ballot work for the Kent Backyard Ultra Club Cup?

Accepted Answer

We’ve chosen to use a ballot system because it’s the fairest way to handle demand and give everyone an equal shot at getting in.

Here’s how it works:

The ballot closes on 12th September 2025
Ballot results will be announced on 13th September 2025
Successful teams will have until 1st October 2025 to complete their booking
If a team doesn’t take up their place by the deadline, their spot will be offered to the next team on the list

Teams who are successful in the ballot but choose not to take up their place will not receive a ballot boost in future years.

However, unsuccessful teams that choose to reapply the following year will receive a 3× boost in the next ballot, which increases by 3× each year until they're successful.

If a team withdraws after accepting their place but before event day, the ballot list will form the official waiting list, and teams will be contacted in the order they were removed from the ballot.

We’re doing everything we can to keep it transparent, consistent, and fair, while giving as many clubs as possible the chance to be part of something special.

If you can’t find the answer to your question, just drop us a message at hello@hellfireevents.com

We’re happy to help.

Kent Backyard Ultra Club Cup 2025/26

Hellfire Events Ltd

Kent Backyard Ultra Club Cup 2025/26

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