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Captain Cooks Fell Races 2026 (41st edition)

This is the sixth counter in the Dave Parry Lets Run Winter Fell Race Series 2025/26. It is organised by volunteers from Esk Valley Fell Club and Scarborough AC, with marshals from the wider running community. It is 41st edition of the event and its 43rd anniversary.

Fell Runners Association licence number 2026-9724

The FRA's Runners Rules

Fell Race Catergory BS

Distance:

8 km / 5 miles - U18 & U20, Seniors and Veterans

4 km / 2.5 miles - U14 & U16

2.22 km / 1.40 mile - U12

1.42 km / 0.85 mile - U10 (minimum age 6 years on day of race)

Junior age categories based on age as at 31 December 2026.

Climb:

318 m / 1043 ft - U18 & U20, Seniors and Veterans

85 m / 276 ft - U14 & U16

52 m / 169 ft - U12

23 m / 75 ft - U10 (minimum age 6 years on day of race)

Course:

The event is a fell race, the senior/veteran route is a single lap course, starting on High Street Great Ayton outside the Royal Oak Public House and Hotel. The first kilometre is on public highway (CARE) tarmac, the route heads out to Little Ayton initially along Station Road (south east), then Little Ayton Lane continuing south east, the route turns north east direction Fletchers Farm, where it goes offroad upwards on a sometimes steep, rooty, muddy path to the fell race high point at Captain Cooks Monument.

Participants must round the monument (Marshalled checkpoint), they then descend the main path (direction north) through Gribdale Gate forest. Runners bear left (direction north west) after approximately 500 metres on the trod across Cockshaw hill, then taking the sometimes steep and muddy descent off the hill (southwards) to Gribdale Cottages. 

Runners return to public highway (CARE) as they emerge from the rear alleyway to Gribdale Cottages. At the Dikes Lane/Aireyholme Lane crossroads (marshalled), runners head north initially downhill then a sting in the tail uphill. Its then eastwards (marshalled) on footpath sometimes muddy through Cliff Ridge Wood.

At Rye Hill, the route heads downhill south eastwards on footpath (will be wet with ponding in parts and likely muddy) for approximately 1.20km to finish just east of Newton Road.

Venue:

Registration will be split between:

Advance SiEntries - Attend the Lets Run Shop, 2A Park Square, GREAT AYTON, North Yorkshire TS9 6BP from 9.15am. This applies only if you have paid for a pre-entry to the fell race via SIEntries, so either are picking up a number (new entrants in the Dave Parry/Lets Run Winter Fell Race Series 2025/26) or registering participation in the fell race as you already have a race number (bring it with you) as you have run in the 2025/26 winter fell race series, so participated at Viking Chase, Gormire Gamble, Lockton Limping, Saltergate Gallows or Guisborough Woods 2025.

Enter on the Day - Attend the Royal Oak Public House and Hotel, 123 High Street, Great Ayton, North Yorkshire, TS9 6BW from 9.15am to pay and register. This applies if you have not paid for an entry in advance via SIEntries, and either you already have a race number for the Dave Parry Lets Run Winter Fell Race Series 2025/26 (bring it with you) or if you are a new entrant to the Dave Parry/Lets Run Winter Fell Race Series 2025/26, just fill in an entry form, pay and pick up a number.

Start:

11:00hrs prompt U14/U16/U18/U20/Seniors/Veterans - High Street outside Royal Oak Hotel

11:05hrs approximately U10/U12 - Race finish line east of Newton Road behing lodge cottage

Entries:

Advance entry via SiEntries (U18/U20/Seniors/Veterans) available to pre-registered and unregistered Winter Fell Race series participants.

Fell Runners Association (FRA) members - £8.00

Non FRA members - £10.00

Entry on Day (Cash only) available on the day to series registered or unregistered runners, FRA members £10.00 and Non FRA members - £12.00

On the day entry only for Juniors U10/U12/U14/U16 - various fees

Race kit:

Bring your race kit to the event, race requirements will be advised on the day at registration.

FRA race kit is: Weatherproof jacket including hood with taped seams, Weatherproof trousers (taped seams), hat (not a buff), gloves, map, compass, whistle, emergency food.

Entry Fee Proceeds:

Virtually all the proceeds from the race are donated to local charities and good causes.

Parking:

Please car share where possible and park with consideration to residents and businesses.

Prizes:

Limited prizes as this is our charitable and good causes race.

Refreshments available in the Royal Oak Public House and Hotel before and after the event.

Prizes - Seniors - 1st Senior, 1st Veteran (V40+) and U18/U20 if possible, Male/Female - Awarded in the Royal Oak Public House and Hotel Bar after the race.

Juniors - Sweets to all finishers at the finish line.

Records:

Male Record: Harry Holmes - 00:29:28 - 2019 Finish rear of the Lodge

Female record: Bronwyn Owen - 00:33:53 - 2015

The race routes can be found on our website

Event six in the Dave Parry/Lets Run Winter Fell Race Series 2025/26.

Junior races: 

Please note that new Fell Runners Association junior age categories apply from 1st January 2026, the age categories are now even (not odd) and race distances have been changed.

Entry on the day only (U18/U20 advance entry available)

U10 (minimum age 6 years on day of race), U12, U14, U16 boys and girls, distances appropriate to age. Minimum age 6 on race day. Category based on age as at 31 December 2026.

View the Event Disclaimer / Terms and Conditions.

View the Event Cancellation / Refund Policy.

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