The race

Raceday

Whether you're racing, supporting or just here for the spectacle, here's how Straw Race day unfolds - from first registration to the final trophy.

The schedule

Your day, hour by hour

Timings are a guide and confirmed in your race pack closer to the day.

The route

Six pubs, two-and-a-half miles

From the Waggon & Horses to the Dog & Gun - with a pint at every stop along the way.

The Oxenhope Straw Race route map, from the Waggon & Horses to the Dog & Gun

Click the map to view it full size. The exact route is fully marshalled on the day.

The Oxenhope Straw Race route between the six pubs

What to bring

  • No need to bring a bale - we supply them, collected from The Bay Horse pub
  • Fancy dress - the dafter the better
  • Sturdy footwear for uneven ground
  • Cash for the raffle and a few extra pints
  • Water, and a good sense of humour

Spectators & parking

Spectators are the heart of the day - line the route, cheer the teams and soak up the carnival atmosphere. The best views are around the pub stops and the final climb to the Dog & Gun.

Village parking is limited, so please arrive early or car-share. Marshals will direct you on the day.

Stay safe

Daft, but never reckless.

The race takes place on open public roads and footpaths, involves alcohol and a heavy bale of straw. You take part at your own risk - look after your team, follow the marshals, and know your limits. You don't have to drink the pints to race.

Read the full race rules below, and remember the emergency contact details we collect at checkout help keep everyone safe on the day.

Enter the race Read the rules
2½ miles · 6 pubs

One bale. One unforgettable day.

Before you race

Race rules & key information

Everything you need to know to race safely, qualify for a result and get the most out of the day. Please read it through before raceday.

Route & course

  • The course is fully marked and marshalled. You'll find the full route map on our Route page.
  • The first section is steep, uneven and narrow in places, so large fancy-dress props or bale-carrying contraptions are best collected further along the route.
  • Oxenhope Straw Race can't accept responsibility for lost or damaged contraptions.

Eligibility & children

  • Entrants must be aged 18 or over. Anyone breaching this rule will be withdrawn.
  • Children may accompany an adult entrant only if registered via the Oxenhope Straw Race website.
  • Registered children remain the entrant's responsibility and must be accompanied at all times.

Registration & race numbers

  • Registration is at The Bay Horse, Oxenhope, between 12:00 and 15:00 on Saturday 6 July.
  • You'll collect your race numbers, a dibber (the electronic timing tag you dip in the boxes at the start and finish) and your start time.
  • Race-number colours show your category: red for half bale / half pint per team, black for full bale / full pint per team.
  • Each team receives four stickers - one for each entrant and two for the straw bale.

Merchandise & travel

  • Straw Race merchandise is on sale at registration: T-shirts £15 and baseball caps £10, cash or card. All proceeds go to charity.
  • The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway is offering free race-day travel to entrants displaying their race numbers.

Timing & start arrangements

  • Dibbers record your race time and must be collected at registration.
  • Both team members must check out at the start line (The Waggon & Horses) and check back in at the finish (The Dog & Gun).
  • Dibbers must be handed in at the finish line - a charge may apply if they aren't returned.
  • Minibuses run from Oxenhope Railway Station to the start line from 10:00 until noon. Tickets are £2 per entrant, payable at registration by cash or card.
  • From 11:30, central Oxenhope roads close and a diversion is in place, so please allow plenty of time to reach the start.
  • From 11:40, the starter calls teams forward by race number, in batches of 15 every five minutes. Linked teams are scheduled to start together where possible.

Bales & finish

  • Collect your straw bale from the bale compound just before The Bay Horse, and attach your bale stickers to the bag straight away.
  • To qualify for a result, you must finish with your correctly numbered straw bale.
  • The race ends at 15:30, when the roads reopen to traffic. A farm vehicle and trailer signal the end of the race - if it catches you, your race is over.
  • Anyone not completing the course by 15:30 is recorded as Did Not Finish.

Facilities, medals & results

  • Portaloos are at The Waggon & Horses, The Bay Horse, Straw Race Central, The Lamb, The Shoulder of Mutton and the junction at the end of Black Moor Road, in addition to pub toilets. Please use only the facilities provided.
  • Medals are handed out at the Dog & Gun finish line once you've checked in and returned your dibber.
  • Results are announced at Straw Race Central at around 16:30.

Fancy dress

  • Fancy dress is judged at Straw Race Central, so make sure you put on your best show.

We hope you have a brilliant day. The committee will be busy with final preparations, so replies to emails and social media messages may be slower than usual.

This is a charity event: 75% of funds raised go to Sue Ryder – Oxenhope Manorlands Hospice, with the remainder supporting other local charities. Thank you for helping these fantastic causes.

Around 70 volunteers help make the race happen, so please be respectful and courteous and follow marshal instructions throughout the course.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday.