A competitors age category is determined by the age they turn in 2025.

FAMILY TRAIL RUN

• 11 years and under

• 12 - 13 years

• 14 - 15 years

• 16 - 18 years

• Open

GREAT VOLCANIC MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE

• 14 years and under

• 15 - 18 years

• 19 - 29 years

• 30 - 39 years

• 40 - 49 years

• 50 - 59 years

• 60 - 69 years

• 70 - 79 years

• 80 years and over

Medals will be presented to the three fastest female and male competitors for each of the above age categories at the presentation ceremony back at Pinnacle Reserve.

FINISHER MEDALS
All finishers will receive a commemorative medallion.

OVERALL PLACE GETTERS
Medals will be awarded to the top 3 male and female runners.

AGE CATEGORY PLACE GETTERS
Medals will be presented to the three fastest female and male competitors for each of the above age categories.

YOUNG WOMAN CANOBOLAS & YOUNG MAN CANOBOLAS
Awarded to the fastest Junior female and Junior male (18 and under).

SENIOR AWARDS
Awarded to the oldest female and male competitors that complete the course within 150 minutes.

Presentations will take place at the Pinnacle Picnic Grounds (Start area).

GREAT VOLCANIC MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE 11KM
Junior (19 years and under as at 31 Dec 2025)
$35 STANDARD ENTRY

Senior (20 years and over as at 31 Dec 2025)
$75 STANDARD ENTRY

The start is located at the Pinnacle Picnic Ground at the foot of Mount Canobolas, 12km south of the centre of Orange NSW.

Approaching Orange from Bathurst, Cowra or Dubbo, follow the Great Volcanic Mountain Challenge signs from the large roundabout, corner of Summer Street (Mitchell Hwy) and Woodward Road, Orange.

Head south on Woodward Rd for 1km, turn right into Racecourse Road, cross a railway bridge and continue south. The road becomes Pinnacle Road and winds its way to Towac Pinnacle Picnic Ground assembly area. (Coordinates: -33.3465, 149.0295).  Please take your time on this road, it is narrow with some tight turns.

Allow 30 minutes for travel from Orange, parking and walking to Registration Area.

Parking will be available at Pinnacle Picnic grounds.  Please follow directions from the Parking Marshals to achieve maximum efficiency with the space available.

Spectators may not be able to park at the finish as space is extremely limited.

Presentations will take place at the Pinnacle Picnic Grounds (Start area).

11:00AM Presentation for Family Trail Run and GVMC 11km Placegetters followed by age category and other awards.

Where possible presentations will commence earlier.

1:00pm - 5:00pm
Saturday 29 March 2025
Badlands Brewery Taproom 153 Summer Street Orange.
Pedestrian access is through laneway opp Chemist Warehouse or from the Sale Street carpark.

Bibs collection will also be available at the Registration Area from 7:30 am on race day.
Where possible please take advantage of the Saturday pick up to reduce the rush on race day morning.

GVMC & Family Trail Run Race briefing: 8:30am

Please gather for a welcome and pre-race briefing at the bluestone hut in the Pinnacle Reserve. 

After this time, marshalling will commence for the Great Volcanic Mountain Challenge with runners to move to the start line on Walker Lane.

GVMC START TIME
Depending upon registration numbers, there may be two start waves.

9:00am First wave start for faster athletes.
9:05am Second wave start for remaining competitors.

At approximately 9:35am, Family Trail Run competitors to move to the start line on Walker Lane.

FAMILY TRAIL RUN START TIME 9:45AM
All runners will start at 9:45am.

For both events competitors will self seed.
The objective is to allow top runners to complete their descent of Mt Towac before slower contestants commence their ascent.  With electronic timing at the Start and Finish, there is no handicap in starting a little later.  With growing numbers in the event, safety becomes more important.  Please respect the special start procedures to assist with this goal.

Please be aware you will be running on public trails and some roads that are open to other traffic.
Event staff and volunteers will be present to assist at road junctions and crossings but it is your responsibility to lookout for any pedestrians or vehicles. 

Please stay to the left hand side of roads and trails in public areas. 

Please obey all event, road and directional signage and always stay on the marked trails.

First aid teams will be located around the course. If you or another runner need first aid while out on course please make your way to the next marshal or aid station. If this is not possible please phone the emergency number on the back of your race bib.

Runners are expected to assist competitors who have injured themselves. If you come across an injured runner, provide assistance and ask a fellow runner to inform race officials at the next intersection, please make sure you inform race officials of the injured runner’s race bib number. Times will be adjusted to compensate for any time lost while helping fellow runners.

Spectators wishing to see the finishers at the top of the mountain can catch the bus from Pinnacle Picnic Grounds.
Note: The bus will leave promptly after the start of the 11km GVMC at 9:00am.

• All GVMC participants will be required to run through a foot bath when leaving Forests NSW area and moving into National Parks area to stop the spread of an invasive fungus of concern. This will not require runners to stop, just slow and run across the wet mats.
  Note: The foot bath does not apply to the Family Trail Run.

• Portaloo toilets will be available near the Registration area.  There will also be toilets at the finish point of the race.

• A ‘Clothing Return’ bin will be available near the Start area
  Garbage bags will be available for your clothing.  Please place your bag into the clothing bin and it will be transported to the Finish at the summit during the run.

• Please note that dogs ARE NOT permitted on the course or any associated area, e.g. Registration, Start and Finish areas.

• What to wear?  Trainers that fit firmly on the feet are important to deal with gravel roads and bush tracks.  Sunscreen, a hat, and water are also recommended.

• There is no public transport to the Registration/Start area.