Battle of the Yser

The Belgian army’s defense of the Yser Canal in October 1914 is referred to as the Battle of Yser. The land surrounding the River Yser, which formed a natural obstacle to the German advance, was woven through with a network of drainage canals, the area itself being made up of ‘polder’, or reclaimed land. The water level was situated just below the surface and was regulated by the canals and their associated network of sluices and pumps. The head of the drainage system was at Nieuwpoort, where the Yser met the sea, and where several other major canals joined. The German Fourth Army, operating under Duke Albrecht, began attacking Belgian forces deployed along the Canal on 18 October with a heavy bombardment all along the Belgian lines. With the aid of British warships lying off the coast, the Belgians managed to repel the German advance, the latter temporarily withdrawing to Oostende, having unsuccessfully trying to torpedo the warships. With Belgian resistance weakening and the King, Albert I, fearing a German breakthrough in the direction of Dunkirk and Calais, the Belgians took the drastic step of the opening of the Canal locks at Nieuwpoort on 25 October. The result was gradual flooding of the low country between the Canal and the railway. Consequently, the German Fourth Army was obliged to retreat on 29 October, transferring its offensive effort to Ypres. Diksmuide fell to the Germans on 10 November, but Nieuwpoort remained in Belgian hands throughout the war.

open

Summary

• The Open race is open to all ages 18 and up
• Minors from 15 years of age must be accompanied by an adult
• The race is timed for everyone (waterproof bracelet to wear at the ankle)
• Departures are in waves of 200 people at 15min intervals, all distances combined
• All results will be posted on our website
• The Top 5 will also be posted on our social networks

Prices

See pricing table

Race Rules

These Rules stipulated in this document are binding on all soldiers participating in any War-Race event. The War-Race rules ensure that all events are conducted correctly and with consistency, with fair-play and honesty. It is necessary in order to standardize the competitions throughout the world and make sure every participant understands the set of rules. Changes & Additions to these Rules can be done by War-Race at any moment in its absolute discretion. This document is subject to translation but the English language version of these Rules shall be controlling in all respects and shall prevail in case of any inconsistencies with translated versions, if any.

No person shall participate in a War-Race event unless that person is trained adequately for that specific event, as might be expected of a prudent person entering a similar competition and is in excellent health based on recent training, physical and other medical examinations, if any, and generally accepted standards of good health.

When participating in a War-Race event and while on an event site, every individual must:

• Act in compliance with these Rules
• Respect for the fellow soldiers, environment, staff members, crowd, volunteers is mandatory
• Use of insulting words or conduct is not permitted
• FAIR-PLAY is the only correct attitude
• Illegal substances are strictly prohibited before, during and after the race
• Soldiers will run/walk only in the designed route for the race
• Running across a fellow soldier or any other action that interferes with fellow soldier’s line of race is not permitted
• Tactical gear must be worn throughout the entire race. Only when not moving forward, it is allowed to be taken off. Once race is resumed, tactical gear must be correctly worn.
• If an obstacle is failed, soldier must go towards the designated penalty area and allow supervisor to add 1 extra KG to the backpack + allow the supervisor to punch a hole in the official weight card.
• At the finish line, the official weight card will the verified with the actual total weight inside the backpack. If there is a difference, it is the sole responsibility of the participating soldier. Soldier will not receive the foreseen goodies/prizes in this case.
• All necessary refueling items are included in the tactical gear before the start of the race. There are no refueling stations during the race. Soldiers are allowed to take their personal refueling items as long as they fit in the gear properly.
• The race number should be visible in the foreseen pocket in front of the vest at all times. A soldier may momentarily protect their race-number pocket during situations where it may be damaged. Soldiers must only use a race number assigned specifically to them for each event.
• Littering is absolutely prohibited and may result in permanent disqualification of the soldier for any future event. We respect our environment to the fullest and we ask the same from every participating soldier.
• No soldier shall use any equipment, including but not limited to equipment which might provide an unfair advantage or endanger other soldiers.
• All soldiers shall start in and with the their assigned starting wave. Any soldier who starts in an incorrect heat shall be ineligible for awards including possible qualification to any championship events.
• PRO soldiers who do not start in the correct wave will be moved to the Open category.
• No soldier is allowed to engage with any obstacle on the course prior to race day unless explicitly approved beforehand by the War-Race organization. Violation of this rule shall result in disqualification.
• Anyone who participates in any part of an event without first registering and paying any registration fees as stipulated by War-Race will be banned from all War-Race events permanently. This includes any person who assists someone to enter unregistered.
• Any person suspended from War-Race shall be ineligible to participate in any War-Race event and shall be disqualified from all War-Race events during the suspension period and until that person has applied for and received written notice of reinstatement from War-Race.

pro

summary

• The Pro category is reserved for competitive athletes 18 years of age and older
• The race is timed for everyone (waterproof bracelet to wear at the ankle)
• Departures are in waves of 200 people maximum per distance (one wave per distance)
• The distances available in Pro are Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery
• The top 5 will have their place on the official podium and win a set of prizes/goodies
• The top 3 will also win cash prizes
• Infantry: 1st place: 150€, 2nd place: 100€, 3rd place: 50€.
  Cavalry: 1st place: 200€, 2nd place: 150€, 3rd place: 100€.
  Artillery: 1st place: 250€, 2nd place: 200€, 3rd place: 150€

Prices

See pricing table

Race Rules

These Rules stipulated in this document are binding on all soldiers participating in any War-Race event. The War-Race rules ensure that all events are conducted correctly and with consistency, with fair-play and honesty. It is necessary in order to standardize the competitions throughout the world and make sure every participant understands the set of rules. Changes & Additions to these Rules can be done by War-Race at any moment in its absolute discretion. This document is subject to translation but the English language version of these Rules shall be controlling in all respects and shall prevail in case of any inconsistencies with translated versions, if any.

No person shall participate in a War-Race event unless that person is trained adequately for that specific event, as might be expected of a prudent person entering a similar competition and is in excellent health based on recent training, physical and other medical examinations, if any, and generally accepted standards of good health.

When participating in a War-Race event and while on an event site, every individual must:

• Act in compliance with these Rules
• Respect for the fellow soldiers, environment, staff members, crowd, volunteers is mandatory
• Use of insulting words or conduct is not permitted
• FAIR-PLAY is the only correct attitude
• Illegal substances are strictly prohibited before, during and after the race
• Soldiers will run/walk only in the designed route for the race
• Running across a fellow soldier or any other action that interferes with fellow soldier’s line of race is not permitted
• Tactical gear must be worn throughout the entire race. Only when not moving forward, it is allowed to be taken off. Once race is resumed, tactical gear must be correctly worn.
• If an obstacle is failed, soldier must go towards the designated penalty area and allow supervisor to add 1 extra KG to the backpack + allow the supervisor to punch a hole in the official weight card.
• At the finish line, the official weight card will the verified with the actual total weight inside the backpack. If there is a difference, it is the sole responsibility of the participating soldier. Soldier will not receive the foreseen goodies/prizes in this case.
• All necessary refueling items are included in the tactical gear before the start of the race. There are no refueling stations during the race. Soldiers are allowed to take their personal refueling items as long as they fit in the gear properly.
• The race number should be visible in the foreseen pocket in front of the vest at all times. A soldier may momentarily protect their race-number pocket during situations where it may be damaged. Soldiers must only use a race number assigned specifically to them for each event.
• Littering is absolutely prohibited and may result in permanent disqualification of the soldier for any future event. We respect our environment to the fullest and we ask the same from every participating soldier.
• No soldier shall use any equipment, including but not limited to equipment which might provide an unfair advantage or endanger other soldiers.
• All soldiers shall start in and with the their assigned starting wave. Any soldier who starts in an incorrect heat shall be ineligible for awards including possible qualification to any championship events.
• PRO soldiers who do not start in the correct wave will be moved to the Open category.
• No soldier is allowed to engage with any obstacle on the course prior to race day unless explicitly approved beforehand by the War-Race organization. Violation of this rule shall result in disqualification.
• Anyone who participates in any part of an event without first registering and paying any registration fees as stipulated by War-Race will be banned from all War-Race events permanently. This includes any person who assists someone to enter unregistered.

Any person suspended from War-Race shall be ineligible to participate in any War-Race event and shall be disqualified from all War-Race events during the suspension period and until that person has applied for and received written notice of reinstatement from War-Race.