We are a Cupless event! In pursuit of creating a sustainable event, please note, cups will not be available at water stations. Please bring your own water vessels.

Run through the breathtaking Rathfinny Wine Estate, the first grower-producer of sparkling wine in the world to become B Corp certified. The route will guide you through the beautiful vines via hilly trails and cambers with views of the South Downs National Park.

The Charity Christmas Run at Rathfinny Wine Estate is held on 29th December 2024 and is a perfect opportunity to run 2 x 5km loops around the vineyards. This is a limited event (75 spaces) and is open to local runners only to reduce car travel and the ecological impact on the vineyard. £7.50 of your registration fee will go directly to local cancer charity WOLO.

ON RACE DAY

Race Location: The Tasting Room, Rathfinny Wine Estate, Alfriston, Polegate, BN26 5TU

Race HQ: Race HQ will be located at the start/finish point of the race, near the Tasting Room. Please follow the signs to the car park.

Car Parking: There are parking spaces at Rathfinny near the Cellar Door and Tasting Room for runners only. There will be a donation charge of £5 for all single use car parking. (card or cash)

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Marshals: Marshals will direct all cars into the car parking area, which will be open for arrivals from 08:30am. Please allow plenty of time to park and join the race in good time. Car Parking is free for cars with 2 or more runners as per our car sharing criteria.

Toilets: There will be portable toilets available near The Hut by the car park.

Facilities: Please arrive ready to run. We are a cupless event so please bring your own hydration or cup.

Aid station: There will only be water available at the start/finish line. 

Bag Drop: You are welcome to leave your bag at the start, however this is done at your own risk and discretion. Drop bags will need to be clearly labelled with your race number and name.

There will be no medical services at this event due to the limited number of runners. There will be qualified first aiders on course and we have access to AED's on site.

RACE START TIMES

Start time: 10:30am. You will given a bib before the start. Times will be recorded via Webscorer (similar to East Sussex XC) so please ensure you show your bib number as you go through the finish funnel on both loops. 

Prize: A bottle of Rathfinny Sparkling Wine for the first male and first female.

COURSE MAP ROUTE & TERRAIN See Route Map. Mainly grass/chalky/flint trail with undulating hilly cambers in places. https://strava.app.link/vdXdKtTFtFb

Recommended footwear & kit: We recommend light trail shoes if the weather is dry however if it is wet prior too or on the day then more robust trail shoes will be better. Please keep an eye on the forecast and dress appropriately for the conditions, bringing a spare set of clothes (and socks!) if needed. Please note, there are no changing facilities available at the site.

Litter: Please remember to NOT drop litter during this event, both on the course and at Race HQ. Bins will be provided so please hold on to your rubbish until it can be disposed of correctly.

Race Numbers: Your race number must be worn on the front of your shirt and not on your legs or back otherwise you may not receive an accurate time. 

Your Health & Fitness: Before attempting to race we ask that you make sure you are 100% fit to do so. If you believe that you are not fit enough to take part in the race, please could we ask you to think about the serious effects that could possibly be triggered if you do so and return to racing when you feel fully fit.

About Rathfinny Wine Estate

Rathfinny is a family-owned Wine Estate with B Corp status in East Sussex, established in 2010 by Mark and Sarah Driver. Once a working arable farm, the first vines were planted in 2010 and today Rathfinny comprises over 200 acres of predominantly Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. 

Rathfinny Wine Estate is located in the South Downs National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty in Southern England. It occupies the main part of Cradle Valley, on a south-facing slope close to the iconic Cuckmere Valley, just three miles from the sea and the famous Seven Cliffs, about half a mile south of Alfriston village.  

As well as being a stunning site, the Rathfinny vineyard is perfect for growing sparkling wine grapes: The light, thin, clay loam soils over chalk are free draining and very similar to the Champagne region of France. The chalk provides a ready source of water for the vines during the drier summer months. The warm semi-continental climate and long summer days ensure perfect ripening, and the proximity to the sea helps mitigate frost risk, a major problem in cooler climate vineyards in Northern Europe.  

About WOLO Foundation

This Fun Run raises money for the good work of the WOLO Foundation. £7.50 of the £10 race fee goes directly to WOLO. 

The Wolo Foundation helps families living in Sussex through their cancer journeys. They support them by offering practical help and support to make their day-to-day lives easier. They work with local businesses and communities to offer families a wealth of services to support them through their diagnosis, treatment and beyond.

If you would like to find out a bit more about what they do, then please take some time to look at their website... www.wolofoundation.org If you would like to, then we would encourage our runners to raise as much as they can for this very worthwhile cause through additional sponsorship so that the WOLO Foundation can continue all of their wonderful work supporting families in Sussex who have been touched by Cancer.