Event Recognition & Sanctioning.
Connecting Events With the National OCR Pathway
The Obstacle Course Racing Association of Ireland (OCRA ÉIREANN) provides opportunities for independent race organisers to connect their events with the wider national development of obstacle sport.
Different levels of involvement are available depending on the event and what the organiser wants to achieve.
Being included on the OCRA event calendar does not automatically mean that an event is sanctioned, a qualification event or a National Championship.
Listed Events
Suitable obstacle racing events can be included within the OCRA Events Calendar.
A Listed Event remains an independently operated event.
Listing helps:
- Promote OCR participation
- Make events easier for athletes to discover
- Build a more complete Irish OCR calendar
- Connect organisers with the wider community
Listing does not mean that OCRA has sanctioned the competition or approved its results for international qualification.
OCRA Sanctioned Events
Race organisers who want a formal sporting relationship with OCRA may apply for event sanctioning.
Sanctioning involves OCRA reviewing the event against the requirements appropriate to its proposed competition status.
The exact requirements may depend on:
- Race format
- Competition level
- Athlete categories
- Qualification status
- Technical Official requirements
- Safety arrangements
- Applicable sporting rules
Qualification Events
Where an international championship requires Irish qualification, only events approved by OCRA for qualification purposes may be used as part of the official Irish qualification pathway.
Race organisers may apply to have suitable competitions considered for Qualification Event status.
An approved Qualification Event must be clearly identified before athletes are expected to rely on its results for international qualification.
Qualification status may apply only to specific:
- Disciplines
- Categories
- Age Groups
- Race distances
- Competition dates
Sanctioning an event does not necessarily mean that every race within that event becomes a qualification race.
Irish National Championships
OCRA may organise National Championships directly or work with established race organisers to deliver them.
An event wishing to host an Irish National Championship must apply and undergo review.
National Championship status will require an appropriate level of:
- Sporting integrity
- Competition management
- Technical Officiating
- Safety
- Timing and results
- Athlete communication
- Rules compliance
Event Review
Where sanctioning, qualification or National Championship status is requested, OCRA will review the event before approval.
The review may consider areas such as:
- Event format
- Course
- Obstacles
- Competition rules
- Athlete categories
- Technical Officials
- Timing and results
- Safety arrangements
- Medical provision
- Emergency procedures
- Organiser experience
- Event capacity
Approval
OCRA status should only be advertised once it has been formally confirmed.
Approved events will be able to display the applicable status, for example:
OCRA SANCTIONED EVENT
OCRA QUALIFICATION EVENT
IRISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Applying for Sanctioning
Organisers interested in recognition, sanctioning, qualification or National Championship status should contact OCRA with details of the proposed event.
Early engagement is encouraged, particularly where qualification or championship status is being considered.