2.1 KENT BACKYARD ULTRA: VIGO
SERIES II | EVENT I
Friday 16 October 2026
Vigo Rugby Football Club, Harvel Road, Vigo Village, Kent, DA13 0UA
You decide your story. Earned, not given.
EVENT AT A GLANCE
- Event: Official Backyard Ultra
- Distance: 4.167 miles (6.7056 km) per yard
- Start: 21:00
- Base Camp opens: 18:00
- Registration: 18:00 to 20:30
- Race briefing: 20:30
- Night route: 21:00 to 09:00
- Day route: 09:00 to 21:00
- Minimum age: 18
- Course record: 28 yards, Andy Imms
SATURDAY
- 09:00: Day route begins
- 21:00: Night route resumes
The event continues every hour until the Backyard Ultra is decided.
7 HOUR CHALLENGE
- 7 Hour Challenge runners start with the main field at 21:00 and complete up to seven yards.
- Runners can upgrade to the full Backyard Ultra before Yard 8.
IMPORTANT
- Registration closes at 20:30.
- The race briefing is mandatory.
- Yard 1 starts at exactly 21:00.
- Late starts are not permitted.
- Mandatory night-running kit is required.
Full race rules, course information, facilities, kit requirements and runner support crew information are provided below.
TRAVEL, ARRIVAL & PARKING
Vigo Rugby Football Club
Harvel Road
Vigo Village
Kent
DA13 0UA
ARRIVAL
Base Camp opens at 18:00 on Friday 16 October.
Please allow extra travelling time. Friday afternoon and evening traffic around Vigo can be heavy.
IMPORTANT PARKING INFORMATION
Parking at Vigo is limited.
Another event is taking place from Vigo Rugby Club on Saturday morning, so we need to keep as many spaces as possible available at the club.
Please only use the main Rugby Club car park (Event Parking 2) if you genuinely need access to your vehicle between yards.
Everyone else should use Event Parking 1.
Please car share wherever possible.
Please follow the instructions of the parking team when you arrive.
Event Parking 1
This parking area is approximately 300 metres from Base Camp.
Please use Event Parking 1 if you are:
- A 7 Hour Challenge runner.
- Runner Support Crew.
- A member of the non-emergency event team.
- Not using your vehicle as part of your Base Camp between yards.
- Able to leave your vehicle away from the main event area.
Event parking 2
This parking area is for runners who genuinely need access to their vehicle between yards and are using their vehicle as part of their runner setup.
Please do not use Event Parking 2 simply because it is closer to Base Camp.
BOOKING ADDITIONAL PARKING
One runner vehicle is included with your entry.
If your support crew or another member of your group is travelling in an additional vehicle, an Additional Vehicle Parking Pass must be purchased in advance.
Additional vehicles should use Event Parking 1 unless directed otherwise by the event team.
REGISTRATION
Registration takes place inside the Vigo Rugby Club clubhouse from 18:00 to 20:30.
All runners must complete registration before attending the race briefing
You will:
- Check in with the event team.
- Collect your timing band.
- Collect your race bib.
- Confirm or update your medical information.
- Confirm or update your team or charity name.
- Have your runner profile photograph taken.
- Confirm you have a working headtorch.
TEAM CHALLENGE
If you selected a team, running club or charity when booking, we will ask you to confirm the name at registration.
If you did not select one when booking, you can join a team at registration.
The Series II Team Challenge awards £200 to the team, club or charity whose runners collectively complete the greatest distance across the Kent Backyard Ultra Series.
TIMING BAND
Timing is provided by Eightmile.
Keep your timing band on for the duration of your event.
You must scan back in after every yard.
If your band does not scan correctly, speak to Race Control immediately.
Timing bands must be returned when your event ends.
You can follow the event live here:
RACE BIB
Your race bib must be worn on the front of your body and remain clearly visible at all times while running.
Before starting, please complete the information requested on the reverse of your race bib, including your emergency and medical information.
Make sure the information is clear and legible.
VEHICLE INFORMATION
Every vehicle parked at the event must display the driver's name and mobile telephone number in the window.
Paper and pens will be available at registration if you need them.
To save time when you arrive, we strongly recommend preparing this before travelling to the event.
SUPPORT CREW
Runner Support Crew do not need to register.
If your support crew are bringing an additional vehicle, their name and mobile telephone number must also be displayed in the vehicle window.
Please arrange this before arriving wherever possible.
RUNNER PROFILE PHOTO
Your runner profile photograph will be taken at registration.
Event images will be available to view and download free of charge
MANDATORY EVENT SAFETY BRIEFING
The race briefing will take place inside the Vigo Rugby Club clubhouse at 20:30.
Attendance is mandatory for all runners.
Please make sure you have completed registration and are inside the clubhouse ready for the briefing before 20:30.
BASE CAMP & FACILITIES
Base Camp opens at 18:00 on Friday 16 October.
The clubhouse, outdoor camping area and start line are all within approximately one minute's walk of each other.
INSIDE THE CLUBHOUSE
The clubhouse will remain open to Rugby Club patrons until 23:00, so please be respectful of other users and only take the space you genuinely need.
If you are planning to base yourself inside, keep your setup simple:
- One foldable chair.
- A couple of bags or kit boxes.
- Essential food, clothing and equipment.
Please do not bring your entire setup into the clubhouse.
There are a limited number of tables and chairs available. We recommend bringing your own foldable chair in case none are available.
Space may feel tight before 23:00 while the clubhouse is still operating normally. Once the bar closes and the Rugby Club patrons have left, there will be more room available.
Please keep all walkways, doors and access routes clear.
OUTDOOR SETUPS
There is space outside for runners to set up a tent, gazebo or similar shelter.
Setup areas include both:
- Grass.
- Hard-standing concrete.
If you are bringing a tent or gazebo, make sure you bring sufficient weights or suitable equipment to secure it properly.
Do not rely on being able to use ground pegs in every area.
BAR
The Rugby Club bar will be open from 18:00 to 23:00.
If you can, please buy a drink from the bar.
Vigo Rugby Club are helping us by allowing us to use their facilities for the event, so supporting the bar is a simple way we can support the club in return.
TEA, COFFEE, WATER & FOOD PREPARATION
Free tea and coffee will be available from 21:00 to 09:00.
Fresh drinking water will be available throughout the event.
After registration, runners and support crew will also have access to:
Boiling water.
A microwave.
This is a self-supported event, so please bring enough food and calories to support your own effort for however long you intend to remain in the event.
Prepare for longer than you think you may run.
TOILETS
There are separate male and female toilets inside the clubhouse.
Portable toilets will also be available outside.
Female sanitary products will be available in both the clubhouse toilets and portable toilets.
SHOWERS
Separate male and female showers are available on site.
RACE RULES & SUPPORT CREW
All events in the Kent Backyard Ultra Series are officially sanctioned Backyard Ultra events and follow the official Backyard Ultra format.
HOW EACH YARD WORKS
Each yard is 4.167 miles (6.7056 km).
A new yard starts every hour, on the hour.
Runners must be inside the start corral when the yard begins.
You must complete the yard within 60 minutes.
If you do not finish within the hour, your event is over.
If you are not in the corral when the next yard starts, your event is over.
START WARNINGS
Before each yard you will hear:
- 3 whistles: 3 minutes to start.
- 2 whistles: 2 minutes to start.
- 1 whistle: 1 minute to start.
- Start signal: The next yard begins.
Once the yard starts, you must leave the corral and complete the full course.
MANDATORY EVENT EQUIPMENT
You must wear your Eightmile timing band for the duration of your event.
At the end of every yard, you must scan your timing band to record your finish.
A yard is not complete until your timing band has been successfully scanned.
If your timing band does not scan correctly, speak to Race Control immediately.
For all night yards, runners must also carry and use:
A front light with a minimum output of 300 lumens.
Your light must remain operational for the duration of every night yard.
Bring enough battery power or spare batteries to support however long you intend to continue.
If your mandatory lighting is not working, you will not be permitted to start a night yard.
WHILE ON COURSE
Runners must complete each yard under their own power.
You must not:
- Receive food, drink or equipment while on course.
- Be paced or accompanied by a non-competitor.
- Have another person carry equipment for you.
- Use trekking or walking poles.
- Take shortcuts or deliberately leave the marked course.
- Do not drop litter.
- Be respectful to everyone you meet.
Assistance is only permitted between yards at Base Camp.
SUPPORT CREW
Runner Support Crew can help their runner between yards with:
- Food and drink.
- Clothing and footwear.
- Equipment.
- Rest and recovery.
- General support and encouragement.
Support Crew must not accompany or assist their runner once the yard has started.
Please keep the start corral clear until your runner is called forward for the next yard.
WHEN YOUR EVENT ENDS
When you decide not to continue, or you fail to complete a yard within the required time:
- Report to Race Control.
- Return your timing band.
- Do not leave the event without telling the event team.
- Take everything home with you.
- Take all your rubbish home and recycled it.
Your final completed yard will determine your official result.
NIGHT
ROUTE
Used from 21:00 to 09:00.
The Night Route is the opening course at Vigo and is used for the first 12 yards.
Distance: 4.167 miles (6.7056 km)
Ascent: Approximately 102 metres per yard
Flatter and more open than the Day Route.
Most of the climbing and descending is concentrated into a shorter section of the course.
Uses gold/yellow course markers.
The Night Route is used again from 21:00 on Saturday evening if the event
continues beyond 24 hours.
Review the route before the event and download the GPX file to your watch or phone if you intend to use it.
YARD INFORMATION
2.1 Vigo is a challenging trail Backyard Ultra built around two different routes.
The event starts at 21:00 on Friday night, so every runner begins in darkness. If you are going long, darkness will return on Saturday evening before you have reached 24 hours.
Vigo does not simply ask you to repeat the same course. The challenge changes as the event progresses, with the Day Route becoming more demanding than the opening Night Route.
Vigo gets harder the longer you stay in it.
That matters when judging your result.
For some of you your yard count at Vigo may look different from what you achieve on a flatter Backyard course. Whatever number you finish on, give it the context it deserves.
Don't think:
“I only did x yards.”
Reframe it:
“I completed x yards at Vigo.”
The Night Route and Day Route are detailed below.
DAY
ROUTE
Used from 09:00 to 21:00.
The Day Route begins after the you've completed 50 miles.
Distance: 4.167 miles (6.7056 km)
Ascent: Approximately 149 metres per yard
Around 46% more ascent per yard than the Night Route.
Undulating and challenging.
Uses silver/white reflective course markers.
Sunset on Saturday is approximately 18:00, so runners continuing will experience running into a 2nd night on the trails.
Review the route before the event and download the GPX file to your watch or phone if you intend to use it.
MEDICAL, SAFETY & EMERGENCIES
Medical cover at Vigo is provided by T&R Medix and will be available throughout the event.
EVENT EMERGENCY CONTACT
07540 194650
Save this number in your phone before the event.
In the event of a medical emergency, contact Race Control first wherever possible.
Our medical team knows the course and can usually reach a casualty significantly faster than an ambulance crew unfamiliar with the route.
IF YOU NEED MEDICAL HELP
If you feel unwell, are injured or have any medical concerns, speak to:
The medical team.
Race Control.
A member of the Hellfire Event Crew.
Do not wait for a problem to become serious before asking for help.
ON-COURSE EMERGENCY
Mobile phone coverage is poor in parts of the course.
If you find another runner injured or in difficulty:
Do not leave them unattended.
Ask another runner to backtrack towards the sweeper marshals.
Contact 07540 194650 as soon as you can.
Your safety and the safety of other runners takes priority over completing a yard.
IF HELPING ENDS YOUR RACE
If you stop to assist another runner with a genuine medical emergency and, as a result, you are unable to complete your yard within the 60-minute limit, your event will end under Backyard Ultra rules.
You will be offered a free transfer to an alternative Hellfire event at a later date.
WITHDRAWING FOR MEDICAL REASONS
If you are advised to stop by the medical team, or decide you are not safe to continue:
Report to Race Control.
Return your timing band.
Do not leave the event without informing the event team.
MEDICAL INFORMATION
If your medical information or medication has changed since you booked, update the registration team before the event starts.
Please also complete the emergency and medical information on the reverse of your race bib.
7 HOUR CHALLENGE
The 7 Hour Challenge takes place within the main Vigo Backyard Ultra.
You start with the full field at 21:00 and complete the same course, under the same hourly start rules.
HOW IT WORKS
Yard 1: 21:00
Yard 2: 22:00
Yard 3: 23:00
Yard 4: 00:00
Yard 5: 01:00
Yard 6: 02:00
Yard 7: 03:00
Complete Yard 7 within the hour and your 7 Hour Challenge finishes before 04:00 on Saturday morning.
If you fail to complete a yard within 60 minutes, or are not in the start corral when the next yard begins, your challenge ends.
AFTER YARD 7
If you decide that you do not want to continue beyond 7 yards, your Backyard Ultra result will officially be recorded as a DNF with 7 completed yards.
Those 7 yards still count towards:
Your Team Challenge total.
Your Series II Tally.
Every completed yard counts.
UPGRADES & SERIES II OFFER
7 HOUR CHALLENGE UPGRADE
If you complete Yard 7 and decide you want to keep going, you can upgrade to the full Backyard Ultra for £40.
Payment can be made by card or cash at Race Control.
The payment must be completed before Yard 7 starts at 03:00.
Once upgraded, you continue as part of the full Backyard Ultra.
VIGO RUNNER SERIES II OFFER
After Vigo, all Vigo runners can book any of the remaining Kent Backyard Ultra Series II events for £105 per event.
To claim the offer:
Email hello@hellfireevents.com
Tell us which Series II events you would like to enter.
We will send you a booking code.
This offer is available for a limited time only.
Your email must reach us by Sunday 25 October.
Your booking code will be sent by Monday 26 October.
KIT
WHAT TO BRING
manditory / recommended / basecamp
Vigo is a self-supported trail event.
Bring enough equipment, clothing and nutrition to support your own effort for longer than you expect to remain in the event.
MANDATORY KIT
The following equipment is mandatory:
Eightmile timing band for the duration of your event.
Race bib, worn clearly on the front of your body.
Headtorch or front light with a minimum output of 300 lumens when running in darkness.
Your timing band must be scanned at the end of every completed yard.
Your light must remain operational throughout any yard completed in darkness. Bring sufficient battery power or spare batteries to keep it working.
If you do not have the required mandatory equipment, you may not be permitted to start the next yard.
RECOMMENDED KIT
Vigo is a challenging trail event. Conditions can change considerably during the event, so prepare for longer than you expect to run.
We recommend bringing:
- Trail running shoes.
- Spare shoes and socks.
- Waterproof jacket.
- Warm layers.
- Spare running clothing.
- Hat and gloves.
- Red rear light.
- Spare headtorch or backup light.
- Spare batteries or charging equipment.
- Mobile phone.
- Power bank and charging cables.
- Personal first aid items.
- Towel and shower kit.
- Food and nutrition for the duration of your event.
- Bottles or hydration containers.
CUPLESS EVENT
Vigo is a cupless event.
Please bring your own:
Reusable cup or mug.
Water bottle or hydration container.
Fresh drinking water, tea and coffee will be available, but disposable cups will not be provided.
BASE CAMP EQUIPMENT
Bring a setup that works for you without taking more space than you need.
If setting up outside, consider bringing:
Tent or gazebo.
Sufficient weights to secure your shelter.
Foldable chair.
Small table. (Not in club house)
Storage boxes or bags.
Blanket or sleeping equipment.
Food and drink storage.
Charging equipment or power banks.
If you are using the clubhouse, keep your setup simple.
A foldable chair and a couple of bags or kit boxes should be enough. Please do not bring your full outdoor Base Camp setup inside.
There are a limited number of tables and chairs available, so we recommend bringing your own foldable chair..
ENDUO SPORTS
Sports nutrition built to keep you moving.
Enduo Sports provides endurance-focused nutrition designed to support runners before, during and after long events.
Hellfire discount code: HELLFIRE15
FENIX LIGHTS
Reliable lighting for the hours when the trail goes dark.
Fenix produces high-performance headtorches, handheld lights and outdoor lighting equipment suited to night running and endurance events.
Hellfire discount code: HF10
GORUCK
Built for carrying weight and going further.
GORUCK produces rucksacks, weighted training equipment and endurance gear designed for demanding outdoor challenges.
Email hello@hellfireevents.com for a discount code.
AWARDS
Every completed yard counts
EVENT AWARDS
DNF Medal: Awarded to every runner who completes at least 1 yard.
Bronze Buckle: 24 yards completed.
Silver Buckle: Awarded to the overall Assist.
Gold Buckle: Awarded to the Furthest Male.
Gold Buckle: Awarded to the Furthest Female.
Gold Buckle: Awarded to the Last Person Standing.
There will also be sport prizes, plus additional prizes provided by our event sponsor Enduo Sports.
The Furthest Male, Furthest Female and overall Assist will each receive free entry to next year's Vigo event.
SERIES II TALLY
Every yard you complete at Vigo is added to your Series II Tally.
Your tally contributes towards the overall Series II Male and Female standings across all four Kent Backyard Ultra Series II events.
The overall Series II Male and Female winners will each receive free entry to all four Series III events.
TEAM CHALLENGE
Every yard you complete also counts towards your nominated team, club or charity.
The Series II Team Challenge is based on the combined number of yards completed by runners representing each team across the series.
The winning team, club or charity will receive £200.
PHOTOGRAPHY
We are very fortunate to have Steve Wood back with us for Series II.
Steve is a former military conflict photographer who now brings that experience to endurance events, capturing the people, effort and atmosphere behind the race.
FREE EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY
All official event images will be available to download free of charge for private use.
For any commercial use, please contact: hello@hellfireevents.com
SAY THANK YOU TO STEVE
One of the best ways to thank Steve is simply to use and share his work.
Post your event images on social media and tag @Hellfire.Events.Official and @SteveWoodPhoto
Nothing says thank you quite like seeing an image you created being used and shared.
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