Punk Panthers Christmas Cracker

Event Details

The Punk Panther Christmas Cracker is a trail running event offering three distances: a 12-mile, 19-mile, and a 32-mile ultramarathon. It takes place on Saturday, 12 December 2026. The event has a mass start for all distances. The maximum number of entrants is 100, and the minimum age to participate is 18.

Course and Route

The routes start and finish at Otley Cricket Club in West Yorkshire. The event is not marked with tape, so runners must navigate using provided GPX files and a printed map. The course features views of the Yorkshire Dales and involves significant elevation gain: 1700 feet for the 12-mile route, 2200 feet for the 19-mile route, and 3400 feet for the 32-mile route. The 32-mile ultramarathon qualifies for UTMB indexes (Q20K and Q50K) and awards ITRA points (1 for the 19-mile, 2 for the 32-mile).

Checkpoints and Facilities

There are three checkpoints on the course (CP1 Timble, CP2 Langbar, CP3 Stainburn Forest), offering water, soft drinks, energy bars, snacks, and vegan/gluten-free options. Each distance visits a different combination of checkpoints. A car park opens at 06:00, and registration is at Otley Cricket Club from 06:30 to 07:15. Toilets are available at registration. Dogs are not permitted inside the cricket club.

Participant Requirements

All ultramarathon entrants are supplied with a tracker; trail race runners (12 & 19 mile) can hire one. A mandatory kit list applies to all distances and includes a waterproof jacket, survival bag, whistle, head torch, map, and mobile phone. Random kit checks will be conducted on the course. Support crews are permitted but must avoid official checkpoints.

At the Finish

Every finisher receives a medal and an event T-shirt. Homemade hot food with vegan and gluten-free options, hot drinks, snacks, and mince pies are provided at the finish. Dogs are not permitted at the finish area. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.