D-DAY (Gold Beach)

Gold, commonly known as Gold Beach, was the code name for one of the five areas of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the Second World War. Gold, the central of the five areas, was located between Port-en-Bessin on the west and La Rivière on the east. High cliffs at the western end of the zone meant that the landings took place on the flat section between Le Hamel and La Rivière, in the sectors code-named Jig and King. Taking Gold was to be the responsibility of the British Army, with sea transport, mine sweeping, and a naval bombardment force provided by the Royal Navy as well as elements from the Dutch, Polish and other Allied navies.

The objectives at Gold were to secure a beachhead, move west to capture Arromanches and establish contact with the American forces at Omaha, capture Bayeux and the small port at Port-en-Bessin, and to link up with the Canadian forces at Juno to the east. Forces attacking Gold faced elements of the German 352nd Infantry Division and German 716th Infantry Division. About 2,000 men were stationed in the immediate area. Improvements to fortifications along the Normandy coast had been undertaken under the leadership of Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel beginning in October 1943.

On D-Day at Gold, naval bombardment got underway at 05:30, and amphibious landings commenced at 07:25. High winds made conditions difficult for the landing craft, and the amphibious DD tanks were released close to shore or directly on the beach instead of further out as planned. Three of the four guns in a large emplacement at the Longues-sur-Mer battery were disabled by direct hits from the cruisers Ajax and Argonaut at 06:20. The fourth gun resumed firing intermittently in the afternoon, and its garrison surrendered on 7 June. Aerial attacks had failed to hit the Le Hamel strongpoint, which had its embrasure facing east to provide enfilade fire along the beach and had a thick concrete wall on the seaward side. Its 75 mm gun continued to do damage until 16:00, when an Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (AVRE) tank fired a large petard bomb into its rear entrance. A second casemated emplacement at La Rivière containing an 88 mm gun was neutralised by a tank at 07:30.

Meanwhile, infantry began clearing the heavily fortified houses along the shore and advanced on targets further inland. The British Commandos of No. 47 (Royal Marine) Commando advanced on Port-en-Bessin and captured it on 7 June in the Battle of Port-en-Bessin. On the western flank, the 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment captured Arromanches (future site of one of the artificial Mulberry harbours), and 69th Infantry Brigade on the eastern flank made contact with the Canadian forces at Juno. Company Sergeant Major Stanley Hollis received the only Victoria Cross awarded on D-Day for his actions while attacking two pillboxes at the Mont Fleury battery. Due to stiff resistance from the German 352nd Infantry Division, Bayeux was not captured until the next day.

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.