The Tour de Trigs is a major event in the walking calendar
which attracts walkers from all over the WORLD!

The full Tour de Trigs event is a 50 miles in 24 hours orienteering cross-country hike that takes place around Banbury, Oxfordshire during the first weekend of December each year. It is a great test of stamina and map-reading ability, much of it taking place during the hours of darkness, cross-country, in winter conditions. The 50 mile route, which is changed each year and kept a secret until the day, is only disclosed to each team of three competitors as a set of map references, 30 minutes before they set off at one minute intervals from the Warriner School, Bloxham on the Saturday morning.

The Tour de Trigs is held in during the first weekend of December, giving walkers a maximum of about 9 hours of daylight within the 24 hours available, however the faster teams may have as little as 4 or 5. The route avoids roads wherever possible, taking competitors along footpaths, bridleways and little used country lanes. The pretty rolling countryside around Banbury is not generally seen as being particularly difficult for walking, however with ploughed fields, flooded ground near streams, darkness and perhaps rain or fog to contend with, not to mention the 50 miles distance and only a set of map references to navigate by, it becomes a major challenge. Each team of three competitors must carry specific items of kit, including a sleeping bag, a survival bag, food and a first aid kit

A number of trophies are awarded for the fastest teams in a range of categories, and everyone who completes more than 30 miles receives a certificate. A shorter 30-mile hike for youngsters aged 14 - 17 (inclusive) was introduced in 2005. Separate trophies are awarded to the fastest teams of youngsters. By encouraging younger walkers to compete in a shorter, 30 miles hike, we hope they may be encouraged to take up walking as a lifelong hobby. It will also be a useful thing for them to add to their National Record of Achievement and CV!

The Tour de Trigs is organised by the Banbury District Scout Council to high standards of safety, with between 18 and 22 manned and unmanned checkpoints being operational during the event. Nearly 300 people are involved in running The Tour de Trigs, helping to man check points, provide emergency services, supply hot food, and drinks right through the night. National Mobile Communications Sea Cadets Corp provide radio and data communications between checkpoints and Hike Control, and Raynet provides radio communications for transport, rescue services and marshals.

Computers and communications play an important part in ensuring the safety of competitors during the hike. At any one time, every walker's position is known to within about 2 miles. Transport and rescue vehicles have radio equipment and the accepted standard is to ensure pick-up and return to Hike HQ of a retired walker from a checkpoint or rescue of an injured walker within 30 minutes. Much of the rescue organisation is provided by NEAT (Northamptonshire Emergency Aid Team), a group of Explorer and Network Scouts specially trained to provide emergency aid for major events. NEAT have a number of fully equipped ambulances and a communications unit donated by the Northamptonshire Ambulance Service and Police. Staffing of Hike Control involves members from the 15 Banbury Scout groups and Explorer units, Cherwell Division Guides and Banbury St John Ambulance.

The Tour de Trigs started in 1966. This year is the 42nd tour and in addition to the recent foot and mouth epidemic the tour was also cancelled in 1967 for the same reason. It has been held every year since its first year except for those two years.

Many people when they have successfully completed the Tour de Trigs for the first time declare: "Never again!" But somehow they seem to keep turning up, year after year! Such is the appeal of this extraordinary challenge! No doubt there will be many competitors from previous years trying to improve on their previous times again this year! What is it they say about mad dogs and Englishmen?!