Crackpots Trail Run

Crackpots Trail Run
The best 10km-ish run in Kirkby Malzeard returns on Sunday 8 June 2025.

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Highlights
Award-winning event returns for its 3rd year. Now with a unique locally-produced medal.
The Crackpots Trail Run is an award-winning event for runners of all abilities with a mixed terrain route starting from the village of Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon, North Yorkshire at 10.30 on Sunday 8 June 2025. It's an undulating route that takes in quiet country roads, off-road trails, scenic moorland and a few rivers within Nidderdale AONB.

The run is part of the Kirkby Malzeard Family Festival with forest school for kids, street food, picnic, bar, lots of live music, games and activities, local stalls and loads more. The run took place for the first time in 2023 and received such fantastic reviews it was awarded a Racecheck Gold Award.
Fantastic event experience - cracking route, beautiful scenery & fabulous atmosphere
Fully marshaled with the friendliest marshals in Yorkshire - rated 4.94/5 on Racecheck
Way-marked route with flags every 100m - no need for navigation
Five water crossings - to add a splash of fun to the route
Plastic bottle-free event - please bring your own cup for water
Delicious pie and free cuppa waiting at the finish line
Fete atmosphere - plenty for family and non-runners to do
"Hard to say what can be improved ... Definitely hope to be back next year."
James H, 2023 runner.

Read all the reviews here.

NEWSFLASH! Multi award-winning local legend DJ Rory Hoy will be bringing the music festival to a climax covering his usual eclectic mix of genres.
The route
The route has been put together, tried and tested by local trail running vets and is a mix of quiet country lanes, footpaths, bridleways, byways and river crossings (bridges for some!). Starting at Highside Playing Fields in Kirkby Malzeard, the route heads west along country lanes towards Kirkby Malzeard Moor for a gentle warm up before taking to the trails. Following parts of the infamous Crackpots Mosaic Trail and Ripon Rowel Walk routes, the route gradually climbs to the highest point at the 6km mark - with fantastic views across Nidderdale to the west and the North York Moors as far as Roseberry Topping to the east. It's mostly downhill from there with a few little bumps and river crossings on the way before hitting the tarmac just after 9km for a fast downhill finish back into the village. The full route is available as a PDF map or GPX route.
What's included
A unique locally-produced medal plus everything you need to enjoy the run and some free grub & a cuppa afterwards!

Unique medal

Designed and made in the village pottery using local clay, this will be a real collectors item!
Chip timing

Our friends at Even Splits are providing chip timing so you'll get an accurate finish time.
Cuppa

There'll be plenty of water and a free cuppa waiting for you at the finish line.
Free pie

And thanks to our friends at Highside Butchers, you'll also get a free pork or veggie pie.
Entry fees
Your entry fee covers the cost of putting on the event, chip timing & food. Any profit goes straight into the village coffers.
Affiliated
For UKA affiliated runners (early bird entries)
£20
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Unaffiliated
For all other runners (early bird entries)
£22
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Cash prizes

Cash prizes for the fastest men & women plus £50 for the fastest local and fastest club.
Want to sponsor these prizes? Please get in touch.

£50
There's a £50 cash prize for the fastest male, fastest female, fastest local and fastest club!
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£30
And for second fastest male and female, we've got £30 cash up for grabs.
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£20
And last (or third) but not least, there's £20 cash for the third fastest male and female.
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Spot prizes
Just like last year, we've got some fantastic spot prizes lined up that any runner can win!
Please get in touch if you'd like to provide a prize for this year. 🙏
All runners automatically get ONE entry to the prize draw but you can massively increase your chances of winning by getting more runners to sign up - for each person you get to sign up you get an EXTRA entry in the prize draw. So getting just one person to sign up doubles your chance of winning a prize! If you get someone else to sign up, please message us on Facebook saying who you got to enter and we'll give you an extra entry in the prize draw. Good luck!
TBA
Prize to be announced.
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TBA
Prize to be announced.
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TBA
Prize to be announced.
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FAQs
Commonly asked questions.

Where does the race start?
The run starts at Highside Playing Fields, a short walk from the car park. There are toilets at Highside.
Where's the parking?
The car park is just off the Main Street, a short walk to the start line. Follow the 'Run parking' signs when you get to the village.
Why is the run 11km?
Good question. When we devised the route we tried to cut it down to 10km but loved it all so much we couldn't decide which km to cut so we kept it all!
Why is it called Crackpots?
Another great question! There are a few answers, you choose the one you prefer! (a) The run has been put together by a group of crackpots. (b) The run has been put together for crackpots or (c) the run takes along part of the Crackpots Mosaic Trail.
How do I volunteer to help?
As a community run event we rely on volunteers to make it all work. If you'd like to help that would be fantastic, thank you. Please register your details here and someone will be in touch nearer the time.
Is there a cut-off time?
Yes, the cut-off time is 2 hours.
Can I listen to music?
No, sorry, you'll have to listen to the ground nesting birds and babbling brooks instead! Any runner found using an audio device or mobile phone will be disqualified.
Is water provided?
Yes, water will be provided at approx. 6.8km and at the finish line. Please bring your own cup - we are a plastic-bottle free event.
Is the event licensed?
Yes, the event is licensed. Our RunBritain licence number will be published in due course.
Can I win 2 cash prizes?
If you win a prize for being in the fastest 3 runners and you are also the fastest local, the fastest local prize will go to the fastest local who isn't also a fastest 3 winner!
Who qualifies as a 'local' runner?
A 'local' runner is any runner with a home address with a HG4 postcode.
Which is the fastest club?
The first 3 runners affiliated to the same club wearing club vests. Only applies to runners who have an affiliated entry in the RaceBest platform and who specify their running club name.
Where do I get the race information pack?
Please click here to download the race information pack.
Where can I see the results?
You can view the 2024 results here.
Get in touch
We'll get back to you shortly.
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