BACK TO TRAIL RUN SERIES HOMEPAGE

CAPTAINS CROSSING - THE GONG

REGISTER NOW

DATE:

Sunday 30 August

TIME:

7am (arrive 6am)

DISTANCE:

24KM | 14KM | 6KM

 

24km is a UTMB Index Race.

ENTRY FEES:

From $25*

PRIZE MONEY:

Over $700

START/FINISH:

Cnr Pinnacle Septimus & Pinnacle Station Roads

Captains Crossing - The Gong

The finale event of our 5 part off the beaten track Trail Run Series. Prize money is once again up for grabs across all distances!

Prepare to get off the beaten track, off-road and on uneven ground. This course is guaranteed to get you panting with an exhilirating uphill challenge for everyone. 

Race Check in: 6am

Race Briefing: 6.45am

Race Start: 7am - 24km, 7.15am - 14km, 6km - 7.20am

Short Course: This event kicks off with a thrilling challenge for all participants. Prepare to hit the ground running as you face a demanding climb at the start.

Mid Course: This trail features a mix of technical sections, including an initial steep climb and a thrilling fast descent. Along the way, you'll encounter enjoyable creek crossings and varied terrain to test your navigation skills and keep the adventure alive.

Long Course: Get ready to venture into the picturesque Mia Mia State Forest, where history meets nature. As you navigate through the trail, you'll pass by a fascinating historic homestead, adding a touch of heritage to your experience. The 553m of elevation is not for the faint-hearted, this is one for the experienced runner. All this PLUS for the first time, the 24km course is an internationally recognised UTMB Index Races giving you automatic privileged access to UTMB World Series Events or Majors - this is Mackay’s ONLY UTMB Index Race.

*Note: Entry fee prices are dependent on course length and are subject to price increases. Athlete photos and insurance are included in the price. Early bird ends 27 June 2026. Late fees start on 23 August 2026.‍ ‍

Maps

The GONG Return

Distance: 6KM

Elevation: 191

Water station at 3KM

Mandatory Gear:

  • Snake Bandage;

  • 500ml of water;

  • Recommend phone with Emergency+ App.

The Go-Long GONG

Distance: 14KM (variable)

Elevation: 375M

Water stations at 3KM, 7KM and 11KM

Mandatory Gear:

  • 1 X Snake Bandage

  • Phone with Emergency+ App,

  • 1L of Water; and

  • Nutrition.

To the CREEK & Back

Distance: 24KM

Elevation: 553M

Water stations at 3KM, 8KM, 12KM, 16KM and 21KM.

Mandatory Gear:

  • 1 X Snake Bandage

  • Phone with Emergency+ App,

  • 1.5L of Water; and

  • Nutrition.

ABOUT THE COURSE

  • The Intermediate - what goes up, must come down!  

    Starting at the bend on Pinnacle Septimus Road, athletes will head straight up the first 3km of Pinnacle Station Road towards Mia Mia State Forest.  Athletes will hit the top of the Crossing, and head straight back down to the start!  Water and lollies will be available here.  

  • A combination of fire road, single trail and creek crossings to test the avid trail runner!  

    The course starts and finishes the same as the 6km Course, however will continue at the top of the crossing for another 1km prior to popping off into old fire roads and single trail terrain.  Rolling downhills and pinchy ups provides small challenges for any style of runner!  The course will be clearly marked with pink tape, signage, arrows and caution tape once you veer off Pinnacle Station Road.

  • The longest run of the series yet! It is full of ups and downs!

RACE RULES

  • In order for our events to run as smoothly as possible we ask all athletes to cooperate and stick to our rules and regulations:

    1. No rego, No run! – Please respect our event, we have permissions from landowners, local and state authorities and have insurances to cover our athletes.  Please do not jeopardise our licences and insurances by running without a registration.  

    2. Race bib – Please make sure you retain your race bib for the entire series. Race bib must be worn on the front of your body, this ensures correct detection of your timing chip by the electronic timing system. The timing chip can not be worn on your wrist or carried in your back pack, this might cause the timing chip to not be picked up by the antenna at the finish line.  

    3. No shortcuts – please stick to the marked track, for safety and fairness reasons. All courses are clearly marked and we have marshals out on the course.

    4. Fitness level – please choose the right distance according to your fitness level! This event is not designed to be walked, especially the 14km & 24km event (accept a little bit of the uphill). Event officials reserve the right to pull competitors out of the race if they are concerned for their well-being.

    5. Obey traffic regulations unless otherwise instructed by an event official

    6. Treat other competitors, officials, volunteers and spectators with respect and courtesy

    7. Dress Code – please wear appropriate clothing and suitable running shoes

    • Be mindful that the trails are open for other users outside of the race, including 4WDs, Motor bikes and MTBs

    • Do not leave any rubbish behind, this is a State Forest and Private Lease Area. What you bring in you must take out

    • Keep left and give way to runners passing from behind

    • Don’t approach any wildlife you may come across on the trails, there is scrub cattle in the area

  • If you are unable to attend the event, you have the following options:

    • Registrations are non-transferable 14 days prior to the event;

    • Transfers & Changes: Allowed up to 14 days prior to the event with a $20.00 administration fee;

    • Refunds are not available for this event.

    All notifications should be sent in writing to info@tri-activ8.com.au.

    We reserve the right to modify the course without notice, as well as reschedule or cancel the event in consultation with emergency services, government agencies, and event stakeholders.

    If the event must be rescheduled, all entries will automatically carry over to the new date. In the rare event that the event is cancelled and cannot be rescheduled, registered participants will receive a credit for a future event, valid for 12 months. Please note that refunds will not be available in this situation.

COMPETITOR INFORMATION

  • Sign in and race bib collection starts from 6am at the FINISH/START Line located at the corner of Pinnacle Septimus and Pinnacle Station Roads. Race course briefing will be held at 6.45am prior to race start.  24km run starts at 7.00am | 14km run starts at 7.15am 6km run starts at 7.20am.  

    The race start is self seeded and we advise the faster runners to position themselves at the front and slower runners at the back. This will help to prevent bottlenecks along the trail and faster runners becoming stuck behind slower runners.

    24KM Runners -

    • 9.00AM 12KM Cut-Off

    • 10.00AM 17KM Short Detour

  • Please see below for the mandatory gear requirements for the 14km run.

    Mandatory gear must be carried for the duration of the run, event officials reserve the right to refuse a participant to start the race if they do not comply with mandatory gear requirements.

    We have marshals on the course and a safety vehicle with additional first aid.

    • 2 x compression bandages

    • a fully charged phone (there is limited service along the course) Please download the free EMERGENCY+ app on your phone prior to the event

    • 1L of water

    • Race plate with timing chip displayed

    • V8 Run Cup (supplied)

    We are proud to announce that we are working towards a more sustainable future by providing runners with recyclable run cups. There will not be any disposable run cups at water stations.

  • The trails include sections of challenging and remote single track, be sure to exercise caution on these sections. 

    If you DO NOT FINISH the race you must see an event official. If you do not report to an event official and a search party is sent out, this will be at the competitor’s cost. It may be hot so please take precautions to stay safe in the heat.

  • Bring sufficient water for the entire duration of your run for what you require.

    • 1L for 24km runners

    • 500ml for 14km runners

    • Run cup for 6km runners

    Each competitor is responsible for their own nutrition requirements.

    Water stations will be available on course at the 3km mark; 8km mark; 12.75km mark; 16km mark; 21km mark (approx).

    Please note that we are no longer providing disposable cups. However, we are providing recyclable run cups for this event!

  • Toilets are NOT available at the START/FINISH Line.  

    The closest public toilets are located at Gargett Rodeo Grounds.  

    The course runs through Mia Mia State Forest, please ensure you do not litter along the course and respect the reserve. 

  • We encourage you to support the local businesses in the area.

    The Pinnacle Whistlestop Cafe is open from 7.00am.

    Water and fruit will be available at the finish line.

  • Top 3 Male & Female for each distance are awarded at presentation

    Top 3 junior boys and girls (short distance only) are awarded at presentation

  • Long course:

    1st $60

    2nd $50

    3rd $40

    Mid Course:

    1st $50

    2nd $40

    3rd $30

    Short Course:

    1st $40

    2nd $30

    3rd $20

  • Presentation will be held as soon as the Top 3 runners have finished.

    Prizes will be given to the top 3 runners on the day

ABOUT THE SERIES

  • Points accumulate across the series and include all 5 events:

    1. New Moon Ultra

    2. ZACH MACH - River Run

    3. Eungella - Rainforest Run

    4. Finch Hatton - Flow Trails

    5. Captains Crossing - The Gong

  • Age groups are as follows (as of your age on 31 December 2026): 

    • Under 16 years

    • 16 to 29 years

    • 30 to 39 years

    • 40 to 49 years

    • 50 to 59 years 

    • 60+

  • oints are awarded based on the following criteria: 

    1. Athletes receive points for each run.  Your total score is the sum of all your attended (and finished) races listed above. 

    2. The winner of each age category will receive 25 points.  Each place will receive 2 less points (ie. 2nd place 23 points, 3rd place 21 points etc.).  

    3. Points are calculated separately for men and women 

REGISTER NOW

One Registration - 2026 Trail Run Series

We have a registration platform for our 2026 off the beaten track Trail Run Series. Please use the registration link to register for the events in the series. You can add other runners to your registration also.

Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email. It is IMPORTANT that you keep this confirmation email as it contains a link that will allow you to register for other trail run events as well as edit your details if required. If you need your confirmation email sent to you again, please follow the link below. Once you have opened the start list, you can search for your name using the search bar at the top. Select the envelope icon next to your name to get your confirmation email resent. (Note: the email address field is case sensitive. Please check spam folder if not received)

PLEASE NOTE: If you have participated in one of the 2026 trails runs already, you will already have an existing profile in the series. You MUST use the provided link to add any other registrations to your profile. If you try to create a new registration, the system will not let you do this and come up with an error message advising that your profile already exists.

If you are ordering merchandise, your items can be picked up at the next event. If you would like to receive your order before the next event, please send us an email to info@tri-activ8.com.au to organise pick up. If you are out of town, postage can be organised at the buyers expense.

START LIST & RESEND EMAIL CONFIRMATION