How long is the race?
The Stunning and Savage Olympic Tri is slightly different to a standard Olympic distance triathlon. Whilst the sea swim is 1.5km, the (new route for 2024) bike route is 37km and the off-road run is 12km, allowing the course to take in the stunning headlands of Down End and Baggy Point. It is worth the extra 2km of running! The Still Stunning but Less Savage Sprint Tri is a 750m sea swim, a 18.5km bike route and a 5.5km circular run taking in spectacular view of the ocean and beaches, farms and countryside. Please note that part of the sprint run route is on private land. The local farmers have kindly allowed us permission, but ONLY on race day, so please DO NOT TRESPASS if you practise.
How much does it cost to enter?
Early bird tickets are available until 31 August, then prices increase to tier two prices. Two weeks before all prices rise to tier three prices.
Olympic: early bird £94, tier 2 £99, tier 3 £125
Olympic relay: early bird £129, tier 2 £139, tier 3 £149
Sprint: early bird £70, tier 2 £80, tier 3 £95
Sprint relay: early bird £90, tier 2£105, tier 3 £125
British Triathlon COMPULSORY race pass
To participate in this event, you are required to become a member of British Triathlon and hold a race licence. You must either become a Core or Ultimate annual member or purchase a single use Race Pass for your race. Go here for more information on the race pass. EVERYONE will have to show either their membership OR a day race pass on the day at registration.
If you are already a member of British Triathlon please ensure you bring your pass with you on the day. Everyone will be required to show a race pass or a membership of British Tri at registration. We will send out links and information nearer the time for you.
How many people in a relay team?
Relay teams can be made up of teams of two or three people. For either the Olympic and Sprint Tri. There are separate categories for women and open, and and mixed teams. There will be medals for the first, second and third teams in each category.
I have hear I can buy a ticket for £20 is that true?
Yes it is, we offer unlimited fundraiser tickets, scroll down to: Can I raise money for charity and read all about it! There is free cake, coffee and a massage involved!
How many waves are there?
There are usually waves for different age categories and open/female – the number of waves is dependent on the number of entrants in each category. These are likely to be Females and Super Vet Open (50+), Relay Teams, Veteran Open (40+), Senior Open (20-39).
Female or Open?
British Tri rules say: Only people who are the female sex at birth will be eligible to compete in the Female category. For competitive activity for individuals above the age of 12 that is run in accordance with the British Triathlon Competition Rules and events permitted by British Triathlon, fairness of competition is paramount and so the policy stipulates a female category (open to athletes who are the female sex at birth) and an Open category (open to all, including male, transgender and non-binary individuals who were the male sex at birth) be provided.
What are the age categories?
For both individual female and open have the following age-group categories in both the Olympic and Sprint. Ages are taken as age at 31 Dec 2024:
| A | Juniors | under 20 |
| B | Seniors 1 | 20-24 |
| C | Seniors 2 | 25-29 |
| D | Seniors 3 | 30-34 |
| E | Seniors 4 | 35-39 |
| F | Veterans 1 | 40-44 |
| G | Veterans 2 | 45-49 |
| H | Veterans 3 | 50-54 |
| I | Veterans 4 | 55-59 |
| K | Veterans 5 | 60-64 |
| L | Veterans 6 | 65-69 |
| M | Veterans 7 | 70-74 |
| N | Veterans 8 | 75-79 |
| O | Veterans 9 | 80+ |
The relay teams have mixed, female and open categories.
How do I find the start on race day?
The race starts at Putsborough Beach – EX33 1LB.
What time is registration?
From 4.00pm – 7.00 pm on Saturday 11 July 2025 at Billy Buds in Croyde or (Croyde Village Hall if bad weather) EX33 1LX.
If you are a British Tri member you MUST bring your membership. If you can’t make it to the Village Hall on Saturday. See us at race HQ on Sunday morning from 05:30. We close registration at 07:00 at Race HQ, Putsborough.
Camping and accommodation
For camping contact Sally at Combas Farm the campsite is 20 minutes walk to Putsborough and the start line. For a holiday park try Ruda in Croyde. Woolacombe is loaded with hotels, holiday parks and Air BnB’s and is 10-15 mins drive to Putsborough. Check out the Thatch in Croyde for a great pub meal and lovely en suite rooms.
Transfer from Barnstaple train station
Contact Glen Preece here from Tor Moor and Sea who can also help. If you use Glen to transfer you, let us know and we will shout you a FREE cake on the day to say thanks for coming by train!
Storage
As we have dedicated parking area for our Triathlon which is independently run by the car park and beach owners, the best place for valuables and storage is your car. We cannot guarantee the safety of your valuables. We do not have separate secure storage area. Bring only for the race and leave it in the transition area in your bag next to your bike. We also have a team ensuring only athletes enter the transition area and we even keep things tidy for you…..
Parking
Parking is at Putsborough Beach, it is a large independently run car park directly next to the transition area, we have a dedicated car park specifically for the Croyde Ocean Tri and currently charges £14 per car per day (please car share where possible). We do not have any control over the cost. Free parking for season pass holders.
What time is the race briefing?
An online virtually hosted briefing takes place one week before the event. A recording will be made available. Every competitor who signs up is confirming they will confirm that they watch the race briefing and that they are fit enough to take on the 2026 event.
This is compulsory and must be confirmed no more than 7 days and at least 4 days before the race.
Can I wear shoes from the end of the swim up the hill
From the end of the swim you run from the high tide mark across the sand to the bottom of the “hill” back up this steep hill to the transition and your bike. If you prefer to wear shoes/beach shoes on the hill which is tarmac, you are welcome to do so. Leave them somewhere near the bottom of the hill. Some people opt to wear beach shoes or daps to protect your feet from any rogue stones. We do sweep the hill, so the choice is yours and the shoes/daps are left at your own risk. Just find a spot for them and scoop them up after the swim, there is plenty of space.
When can I set up my bike?
The transition area will be open from 5.30am on Sunday 12 July 2026. Transition is NOT open on Saturday.
What time do the races start?
Races start at 7.30am for the first wave of the Olympic Tri and 7.55 for the first wave of the Sprint Tri
Please note: you have to start making your way to the start for the first start time of 07:30 – it is approximately a 25 minutes walk (allowing for acclimatisation on route). Olympic Tri will start first followed by Sprint Tri.
You will still start in wave order.
Do you have GOOD QUICK food vendors in the Race Village?
YES YES YES – we hear you! We have the world famous Thatch Pub from Croyde joining us serving hearty, good sized bacon or sausage or veggie sausage baps, plus mushrooms, spinach and egg. Biffins Kitchen will be on site serving up tasty, fresh and local street food options for you. With some great vegan choices too. We think you will LOVE the grub at the Tri this year :-)
As for coffee we have Justin from 51 Degrees North, serving up filter coffee, lasttes and cappucinos from beans Justin roasts and grinds himself. Best coffee in Braunton by miles! 51 will have a great selection of cakes and bakes too.
We will also be offering you bog standard instant coffee for a £1 but it will be self sevice and quick!
REMEMBER – WE ARE CUPLESS SO PLEASE PACK YOUR REUSABLE COFFEE CUP YOU WILL NEED IT!
Will there be feed stations?
Olympic run: Yes, there will be 1 water and jelly baby station on the run route located near to the 7k mark. You will need to bring sufficient water and snacks for the bike section. If it is forecast to be very hot we will put in a second feed station on the run just past the 3k mark. Please bring additional supplies with you. The run route is tough, so please be prepared! Self-service water. We will have reusable cups at the water station. We have a jelly baby stop at around 2.7km on the Sprint route but for sprint runners, please bring your own water.
PLEASE TAKE ALL RUBBISH WITH YOU
What is the age limit for competitors/volunteers?
Competitors for the Olympic Tri must be 17 or above by 31 December 2026
Competitors for the Sprint Tri must be 15 or above by 31 December 2026
(Please note as the bike course is on public roads all those under 18 must complete the waiver when you enter. Parental or guardian consent is required for those under 18 taking part . Volunteers can be under 18 but must be accompanied by an adult.
When will I receive my race pack?
Race packs with comprehensive information for competitors will be emailed (NOT POSTED) to entrants 10 days prior to the event and put up on our website. This contains important safety information, so please ensure you read it thoroughly before arrival. Along with the online briefing, this constitutes your safety briefing for the day. Only essential additions/updates will be given if necessary on the day.
If you do not receive your Race Pack by this time, please check your Junk Email folders as unfortunately some email systems filter out our emails.
Please add [email protected] to your “Safe Sender” list to minimise the likelihood of this happening.
What are the rules?
No drafting.
You must wear a cycle helmet.
Wetsuits (cuff to ankle) are compulsory at our triathlon. Wetsuits are banned if the water temperature hits 22 degrees (this will not happen). Average water temperature in July is around 15.5 degrees. You must wear a wetsuit – no exceptions. We have teamed up with Event Wetsuit Hire – go here to rent a swim wetsuit. Take a look at their pre loved page too.
Please DO NOT wear a shortie or a sleevless wetsuit.
No MP3 players or similar.
No littering and you must mount and dismount at the designated points.
The latest British Triathlon rules will apply and are available to download here.
We have one no overtake zones on the very steep descents on both the Olympic and Sprint Tri. Time penalties will be added to those who are reckless or ignore our no overtake zones.
Race cut offs* Olympic Tri
Swim: 9.am**
Bike: 11.30am
Total: 1.00pm
Race cut offs* Sprint Tri
Swim: 08:40am**
Bike: 10:00am
Run: 11:00
*based on 07:30am start time for Olympic and 07:55 start time for Sprint (Race Director may change times depending on conditions).
** this is tide dependent. If by half way you are not making sufficient progress to meet the cut-off time, you may be asked to exit sooner. If you need to exit the swim before the cut-off time you will be allowed to continue but your time will not count overall.
Are there timing chips supplied?
Yes
Why do you start so early?
We are driven by the tide as low tide conditions are normally favourable, low tide on12 July 2026 is at 10:40, so you will be swimming on a dropping tide. The power and size of the waves at Putsborough are less at low tide, so we need to start at a time early enough to take advantage of this but not too late as we want you on and off the roads as early as possible.
Are there prizes?
Yes.
Everyone who finishes will receive a finishers medal. If you don’t want a medal, we will happily have it back! We will have goodies on the finish line for you too! Take a look at posters at Race Reg which will tell you all about prizes.
When will I receive my results?
You will be able to receive your results on the day at the end of your race. We do not offer print outs of race results. They will be available via a link online and via the QR codes that we will pin up at Race HQ.
What happens if the sea is too rough?
In the event of poor sea conditions the swim may be shortened or if it is deemed unsafe by the Water Safety Officer there will be a 2km beach run instead. We will leave this decision as late as we can so always come prepared for every eventuality.
Cancellations/Deferrals/Refunds
Once you enter this event, if your entry is not claimed within the statutory 14 day cooling-off period. We do not offer refunds. Right from the launch of tickets in July 2024 costs are incurred, work is untaken on your behalf from web development, securing our medical team, ordering medals and hats a long way in advance so we can have them shipped not flown here, logistical organisation, risk assessments, project management time – this list goes on an on.
We understand the frustration of injuries and therefore if you become unable to take part in the event for any reason your entry fees may be credited for use on a future Croyde Ocean event. You may defer your ticket or transfer it to a fellow competitor.
DEFERRALS: You must defer your place by 11 May. After that deferrals or refunds will be not permitted under any circumstances. If no Croyde Ocean events are organised you will not receive a refund after deferral. You must use your deferred place within 220 days of the race date. Following the conclusion of the 220 days you will not be able to use your deferred place.
TRANSFERS: You may transfer your ticket to friend/fellow competitor as long as you do this before 11 June.
Deferrals and transfers are done on line, within the timeframe above via Etchrock ticket system. Please do not email us and ask. Simply log onto Etchrock and follow the steps. Use the HELP button and type in the word defer ticket or transfer ticket. Depending on what you want to do.
Where an event is cancelled or curtailed at short notice because of adverse weather, pollution or other factors outside of our reasonable control, We shall not be liable to make any refund or pay any compensation.
We recommend you consider taking out appropriate travel insurance to protect yourself against such eventualities. There is the chance to purchase Event Protect insurance when you sign up. Please read what this covers you for carefully. It is not our insurance it is an independent insurance company.
In the event of cancellation of any event prior to it’s taking place, for any other reason, the maximum possible refund will be made to ticket holders, less any unrecoverable expenses. We shall not be liable to pay any compensation.
These Terms and Conditions do not and shall not affect your statutory rights as a consumer. For further information about your statutory rights contact Citizens advice, Consumer direct (http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/) or the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.
Can I swap my entry from a Sprint to an Olympic?
Yes you can – assuming the event to want to swap to is not sold out. You can do this as long as entry is still open online via your Etchrock account. If you swap from Sprint to Olympic you will be asked to pay the different in ticket price online. If you swap from Olympic to Sprint you will not receive a refund for the difference. We do not offer refunds. Any swap must be done by the time we close ticket sales. This will depend on when we sell out.
Why is there an environmental focus to the event?
With an increasing recognition of the environmental challenges that we are facing, we teamed up with Earth Devon North Devon (EAND.) 100% of our profit now goes to EAND and other local charities. We want to encourage greater consideration for the environment as an event, and for the competitors taking part. This approach has been adopted at all our events and a Plastic Free Toolkit has been shared with British Triathlon and other event organisers in the UK and beyond.
In addition to providing recycling and zero single-use plastic containers at the event, we will continue to minimise our impacts through supplier choice, snacks available and prizes.
In 2019 we raised awareness of climate change and the role our event – with us aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and be carbon neutral as soon as possible. We continue our environmental focus with participants and partners – together we can all do our part!
Please remember to bring your reusable coffee cup and water bottle, we will not have any single use coffee cups or paper cups on site. The coffee at 51 Degrees north is REAL coffee, freshly roasted and ground the day before the tri. We will have a coffee cup rental scheme just in case you forget. We get that queues can be annoying so we will try hard to get this right in 2026. Either way we will be offering a quick istant coffee stand too.
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN BOTTLE AND REUSABLE COFFEE CUP WITH YOU – THANK YOU
Safeguarding
This permitted triathlon event acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This permitted triathlon event is also committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and British Triathlon requirements.
Can I raise money for charity?
All charity tickets cost £20 and are non refundable) for either individual or relay. We have two types of fund raiser tickets.
1) Raise a minimum of £200 and all funds raised got to EAND.
2) Choose a charity of your choice, raise a minimum of £350 and split all your funds 50/50 raised with your charity and EAND. Just select the correct ticket when you go ahead and enter and we will be in touch.
All fundraisers get a voucher for a slice of home made cake, a coffee and a hug to be claimed on race day! We give you access to the EAND fundraisers tent and you get a free 5 minute massage on the day too!
If you would like to raise money for one of our partner charities please contact them via the links below:
Family Compass – We help children and families to improve their mental health and wellbeing before they reach crisis point. [email protected]
Children’s Hospice South West For more than 30 years Children’s Hospice South West has been caring for children and young people with life-threatening conditions by providing children’s hospice and professional family support services. Click here to fill out the contact form.
North Devon Hospice – A local charity providing specialist care and support to people who are affected by a life-limiting illness. Although many of our patients have cancer, we also care for people who have other life-limiting illnesses too, such as Motor Neurone Disease, Heart Failure and COPD, among others. Our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do. Drop the team an email and they will come back to you [email protected]
The Wave Project We are adding another charity to our gang! The Wave Project changes lives through surf therapy. Typically for young people referred by professionals such as GPs, social workers, or teachers. Participants often face challenges like anxiety, grief, bullying, depression, or learning/physical disabilities. The sessions are held in a safe, supportive beach environment, frequently in partnership with Surf South West. [email protected]
