CANARY TRAIL EVENTS
The Copthorne Heavy
Friday 14th August @18:00
A 48 hour Backyard Style event.
Race entries are now available via Klarna, allowing you to pay in three equal installments, or to defer the payment date. The Klarna option will appear during the check out process.
Introducing The Copthorne Heavy - a 48hr Backyard style Ultramarathon
The Copthorne Heavy is our take on the classic backyard ultra format, simple in theory, increasingly brutal in practice.
Starting at 6:00pm on Friday, runners set off to complete one full Copthorne loop every three hours. Finish the loop inside the time limit and you earn the right to start the next one. Any spare time is yours to eat, rest and sort your kit before the bell goes again.
Then, exactly three hours later, you do it all over again.
The Format
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One Copthorne loop every 3 hours
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Complete the loop within the time limit to continue
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Any time remaining in the 3-hour window is your recovery time
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Miss the cutoff and your race is over
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The event runs for up to 48 hours
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Maximum of 16 loops
Rules
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Runners must be in the starting corral at the bell (No late starts permitted)
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Each loop starts precisely 3hrs after the last
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You will get a 3 and 1 minute warning prior to the start of each loop
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No outside support is allowed on the course
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You must cross the timing mat into the hall at the end of each loop for that loop to count.
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Unlike other backyard events, poles are allowed
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Except for the use of the toilet, runners may not leave the course until each loop is completed
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The winner is the last person to complete a loop, if two or more runners make the 48hrs then its the least accumulated time that wins.
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In the event that no runner can complete one more loop than anyone else or no-one makes the 48hr mark then there is no winner
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You are permitted no more than two crew members in the hall at any one time.
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Each 10.3-mile loop starts at Mickleham Village Hall with a climb onto Mickleham Downs and along the “runway” before descending the steep Kamikaze Hill. After crossing the road, you climb towards High Ashurst, then drop onto Headley Heath, weaving around the paths and skirting the car park before rising towards Box Hill. A right turn takes you to Box Hill Village Hall and the halfway checkpoint.
Retracing briefly, you join the North Downs Way for a steep descent and short sharp climb, followed by a runnable stretch down to Box Hill Road. The trail contours below the viewpoint, then turns left to descend the Box Hill steps. Crossing the River Mole by footbridge and stepping stones, a relentless climb up the Box Hill steps brings you back to the viewpoint.
A descent to Juniper Bottom leads to the brutal Satan’s Staircase, returning you to the top of Mickleham Downs before the final drop back to the village and the start.
The Course
Aid Stations
This is the stat/finish aid station. It is the main aid station which you will return to every loop. This is an indoor aid station and you will have access to your drop bag as well as your food and hot drinks.
Mickleham Village Hall
Course Records
Year
Time
Female Record Holder
Year
Time
Male Record Holder
Distance
2023
05:01:11
Suzy Whatmough
2025
04:46:59
Rik Vercoe
50km
2023
09:47:23
Rachel Fawcett
2022
8:22:34
Ed Knudsen
50 miles
2023
13:16:22
Helen Martinsen
2022
10:28:59
Lyndon Cooper
100km
2022
25:47:00
Michelle White
2023
22:49:19
Richard Shlovogt
100 miles
Mandatory Kit
​• Primary and secondary head torches or other light sources with sufficient spare battery packs/batteries.
• Silver foil/survival blanket or survival bag
• Waterproof jacket. Goretex or similar & must have taped seams
• Hydration bladder or bottles capable of carrying at least 1lt of fluids
• Most importantly of all, a Canary. No Canary, no run. (A fine is payable towards our charity if you wish to race without one)
It was the idea of our Co_Founder, Mark Thornberry. It’s a bit of fun that makes our races a little different. Your canary can be as simple as a printed picture of Tweety-Pie pinned to your race pack, or a giant inflatable. They all count. If you choose not to and incur a fine - it all goes to the Kings College Hospital Liver Cancer Charity in Mark’s memory.
Why Carry a Canary?
Registration & Kit Check
Deferrals & Refunds
Registration for the runners will be available at Mickleham Village Hall from 3pm until 5pm on the 14th August. Race Briefing at 5:45pm.
Please bring all mandatory kit when registering.
Please note, MANDATORY KIT is carried at your discretion.
Refunds of 50% of the race fee available up to 14th of July 2026, No refund will be available after that date.
All race entries are non transferable & no deferrals are offered unless covered by our female athletes policy here
https://canarytrailevents.com/championing-womens-running/
To register for this you must confirm that you agree to the Race Waiver.
Catering & Facilities
Hot and cold drinks will be available to runners throughout the event. Crews and supporters will also be able to purchase tea and coffee at any time during the 48-hour period.
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Participants are strongly advised to bring their own food and nutrition supplies. A limited selection of snacks and crisps will be available for the runners, but these should be considered supplementary and not relied upon as a primary food source.
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Qualified first aiders will be on site for the duration of the event. However, all runners are asked to bring a small personal first aid kit to manage minor issues such as cuts, blisters, and other routine ailments, either independently or with assistance from their crew.
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Race Rules
RULE VIOLATION PROCEDURE
Any protests to a ruling or of a runner to runner violation must be submitted by a registered entrant and must be lodged using the following procedure:
1. Report the alleged violation to the runner, his/her crew or pacer as the incident occurs. Enlist a fellow witness to the alleged violation if possible.
2. Report the alleged violation with the runner’s name and number to the next available aid station staff.
3. Report the alleged violation in writing at the finish line to the race director. All protests must be submitted within seven days following the race. Written protests must include the name of the person who lodged the complaint.
4. Decision on all violations and rules is at the final discretion of the Race Management ONLY. There will be no challenges after that decision.
Our race routes are used by, but not limited to, horse riders, walkers and mountain bikers. Please be aware of other people whilst you are running and be as polite and courteous as possible to them, making way when necessary, particularly to horses. We do not have priority over any other users out on the course, most will be unaware of the event taking place. All gates must be properly closed after you have gone through.
DQ.
Refusal to comply with an order from the race directors, race staff, doctors or rescue personnel.
Runners must at all times comply with any instruction given by race management, staff and volunteers.
DQ.
Being crewed on a no-crew race.
Runners must not be crewed in any way at races listed as no crew permitted. Crewing is deemed as any physical assistance of any kind.
DQ.
Accompanied by dog/dogs
Runners are not to be accompanied by dogs at any time whilst on course.
DQ.
Refusal to have mandatory equipment checked
There will be mandatory kit checks at the start, random checks during the race and at the finish. Failure to comply with the kit checks will result in disqualification.
Minimum of 1 hour penalty per missing item
Missing Item of Mandatory Kit
Mandatory kit must be carried by the runner at all times.
DQ.
Pacers accompanying the runner
Pacers are not permitted on the Copthorne Heavy.
DQ.
Crew/Pacers who are found to be complicit in breaking rules and/or assisting runner in breaking rules.
Runners are responsible for the actions of their crew. If your crew are deemed to have broken any of the runner race rules the runner will be held accountable. Your crew act on YOUR behalf and based on YOUR instructions.
DQ and ban at race directors discretion
Not informing organisers of withdrawal from event
Any runner who is unable to finish the race must personally inform the aid station captain of the nearest checkpoint of their decision to withdraw. They must hand in their race number at that time to the CP Captain. This serves as official notice of a runner’s withdrawal from the race. Runners who leave the course without turning in their number or informing a Checkpoint or HQ will be classified as “lost,” which may initiate Search and Rescue, for which the runner will be charged.
DQ and Lifetime Ban.
Littering by competitor or crew
Littering of any kind will result in immediate disqualification. Runners caught littering will be banned from all future events. Please respect the beauty of our trails and leave nothing behind but footprints.
DQ and Lifetime Ban.
Injection of PEDs or Fluids/ IVs by non-official race medical personnel.
Injection of PEDs or Fluids/ IVs by non-official race medical personnel.
DQ.
Continuing/ leaving aid station after cut off.
Cut-off times will be strictly enforced. There are cut offs at EVERY aid station. Runners leaving any aid station after the cut off will not be listed as official finishers and will not be eligible for awards.
At the RD's Discretion.
Check In at All Aid Stations.
Each runner must attend or pass through all aid stations. You will be disqualified if your time is not registered at every aid station.
DQ and Lifetime Ban.
Receiving powered assistance from a vehicle, bike, horse, or short rope from pacer.
Runners must complete the entire course under their own power.
At the RD's Discretion.
Knowingly taking a short cut.
Runners must follow the marked trail/ course at all times.
One Hour Penalty.
Bib number not visible on front.
Bib numbers must be worn on the front of the body and be easily visible at all times.
Lifetime Ban at RD discretion.
Unofficial Runners/ Running without a registration or Running under another name.
No unofficial runners.
The Copthorne Heavy is licenced by the Trail Running Association & held under England Athletics rules.
All rules are at the final discretion of the race director and race management team.
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No challenges will be permitted.
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Kit:
Runners can carry the following kit equipment at their own discretion apart from the Canary which must be carried at all times.
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Fully Charged Mobile Phone including the numbers for the Race Medic and Race Director (on the number you have given at registration)
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Water Bottles/Bladder capable of carrying a minimum of 1 litre.
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Survival Blanket: 1.4m x 2m minimum.
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Waterproof Jacket: Gore-tex or similar & must have taped seams.
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Whistle
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Headtorch or Primary Light Source Minimum 75 lumens
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Back Up Light source - Minimum 25 Lumens
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Long sleeved base layer or fleece top - This must be carried separately from the start and kept dry, for use only in an emergency. Starting in 2 layers is not a substitute.
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Canary.
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Penalty
Runner Action
Rules
