The course is now 25 miles rather than the usual 26.2
13:10, 26 Sep 2025Updated 13:36, 26 Sep 2025
A marathon has been cut short because of bulls in a farmers field(Image: Evening Gazette)
Organisers of a major cross-country marathon event taking place between Bristol and Bath tomorrow have said they are ‘disappointed’ after having to cut the 26.2-mile distance down to 25 miles, because one of the fields participants were due to run through has been filled with bulls.
The Trail Escape organisation, which organises marked out races and events across the UK, has told competitors via email that the change was because a farmer has put the bulls out on the edge of the village of Westerleigh.
Everything was in place right up until the start of this week, when there was an issue with where the runners would be going around Westerleigh. “We had two possible routes originally planned for the marathon around Westerleigh, and both have become unavailable in the last 24 hours,” competitors have been told.
“One route cannot be used as there has been a growing issue with local residents who have become unhappy about us using a public right of way path as they keep animals adjacent. When asked individually, they said they were happy for the event to happen, but now warn us that their neighbours are unhappy.
The southern entrance to Westerleigh, in South Gloucestershire(Image: Google Maps)
“We’ve taken the decision to rule out this section of the route to avoid last minute complications. A second route solution was a crossing over a nearby field which was empty for all our previous route checks, but that now has a herd of bulls. The footbridge we planned to use to exit this field is also out of action, presumably damaged by the herd,” organisers said.
“This is disappointingly resulting in a shortening of our marathon route to approx 25miles – however we hope you appreciate that your safety and a smooth and stress-free journey is more important on the day than an exact distance,” they added.
Trail Escape stage cross-country events at locations across the UK, including in Edinburgh and Manchester, and the event in Bristol takes place on tomorrow (Sept 27) morning. People taking part will leave the Bristol and Bath Science Park in Emersons Green on the eastern edge of Bristol at 8.15am, and head off on a marked course into the countryside.
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Runners will depart first, with people who want to take part in the event but just hike it leave a at of an hour later. After leaving Emersons Green, the route will take competitors out into the South Gloucestershire countryside, north to Westerleigh and the fields between Yate and Coalpit Heath, before heading back east and then south to Pucklechurch, back west to the A4174 Avon Ring Road, down to Warmley and Oldland Common before heading east over the hills north of Kelston and down into Bath, finishing at the bandstand in the middle of Royal Victoria Park.
It is the second year running that the event has been held, with the inaugural race last year proving popular. Hundreds of competitors are expected to take part, with money being raised for the event’s charity partners Mind.
Organisers will install 400 signs to mark the way, and four aid stations along the way, with shuttle buses to take participants between the finish and the start and to designated car parks.
“Having trained for many months, it’s a bit disappointing to find out, not only the route has changed, but it’s different in length,” said one runner. “What is surprising is that it’s partly over a herd of bulls, but better be safe running than get charged at by a bull I suppose.
“I’m sure it won’t take away from the enjoyment of the event, which I, and I know many others, are looking forward to,” he added.