This article is organised as follows:

PART SIX: GOVERNING BODIES, ASSOCIATIONS AND CHAMPIONSHIPS

6.0     Introduction

This part of the article outlines some of the governing bodies, associations and championship to be found within the realm of OCR. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list.

6.1     Governing Bodies

Examples of governing bodies include:

  • F��dération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO): Established in 2014, FISO or the International Obstacle Course Federation, more commonly known as World OCR, is the world governing body for OCR and related sports. World OCR members are composed of National Member Federations administering OCR and its related Sports, with belonging to one of the five Continental Confederations:
    • OCR Africa: 5 national federations.
    • OCR Americas: 16 national federations.
    • OCR Asia: 15 national federations.
    • OCR Europe: 36 national federations.
    • OCR Oceania: 4 national federations.
  • USA Obstacle Course Racing (USAOCR): Established in 2013, USAOCR is the national governing body for obstacle sports, disciplines, and events in the US (announced by FISO on 08 March 2017 (Murphy, 2017)). USAOCR is also a member of USA Pentathlon and a founding member of the World OCR. USAOCR is also committed to meeting the requirements of the US Olympic Committee and World OCR.
  • European Obstacle Sports Federation (EOSF): Established in April 2017, the EOSF is the governing body for OCR and related sports across Europe. EOSF was originally formed as an association of European organisations prior to the 1st OCR European Championships on 10-11 June 2016. OCR Europe was incorporated as the EOSF on 08 April 2017 at Olbia, Sardegna, Italy.
  • Obstacle Sports Canada (OSC): OSC is a registered non-profit organisation seeking to become the official governing body for Obstacle Course Racing in Canada (OSC, 2018).

6.2     Associations, Federations and Unions

Examples of national associations and unions include:

  • American Obstacle Course Racing (AOCRA): Established on 30 January 2018, AOCRA is a co-operative organisation created by a group of organisations, individuals, and supporters within the OCR community. Its goal is to develop and support the sport of OCR and its participants within the US. AOCRA acts partly as a trade group and partly as an individual membership for athletes (Smith, 2018).
  • The OCRGB Group Ltd: Established on 19 February 2018, and formerly known as the Obstacle Course Racing Association UK (OCRAUK) between 02 October 2014 and 19 February 2018, the OCRGB Group Ltd is an independent organisation that seeks to provide governance and regulation on the rules for competition within the UK OCR industry. [Still going in March 2017 (Open Air Business, 2017)].
  • United Kingdom Obstacle Sports Federation (UKOSF): In July 2019, the UKOSF was officially recognised and affiliated as the new OCR Federation in the UK by World OCR. UKOSF is the UK’s official channel for athletes to get involved in EU and World OCR. It was officially launched at a Town Hall meeting in London in September 2019, which was open to all members of the OCR community (Moffat, 2019).
  • International Obstacle Course Racing Union (IOCRU): Established in [YEAR] with the purpose of serving the global community of OCR athletes, promoting and developing the sport of OCR, and fostering relationships between athletes, supporters, sponsors, fans, and race organizers.
  • Danish OCR Association (DOCRA).
  • OCR France.
  • OCR Association Ireland.
  • Italian OCR Federation (FIOCR).
  • OCRA Benelux (Netherlands).
  • OCR Polska (Poland).
  • OCRA Slovakia.
  • OCRA Espana (Spain).
  • OCR Organisation of Australia.
  • Swedish OCR Association (SOCRA): Established in 2017.
  • International Obstacle Course Racing Federation: Incorporated on 18 February 2015 but dissolved on 31 May 2016.

6.3     Championships

Examples of championships include:

  • OCR World Championships:
    • Created by Adventurey, LLC, in 2014 the OCR World Championships is the first and only independent championship event in OCR, and requires athletes to qualify for a limited number of spots through a network of qualifying events.
    • The championships also follows the World Anti-Doping Agency guidelines.
  • OCR US National Championships:
    • The first OCR US National Championship (international distance) sanctioned by FISO was the Spartan Race held at Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah, Florida, on 30 April 2017 (Murphy, 2017).
  • OCR European Championships:
    • The first OCR European Championships was held in June 2016, and was hosted by OCRA Benelux.
    • The championships consist of several qualifying events held around Europe with the final event in June.
    • The third championships, hosted by DOCRA between 29 June and 01 July, consisted of a short course and standard course (separated into elite, age and journeyman divisions), team relay, and open course.
  • UK OCR Championships:
    • The “UK’s first independent national championships” was held on 14 November 2015 (Foulkes, 2015).
    • Participants could qualify by placing in a top 20 spot, in their gender, at one of twelve qualifiers between March and September.
    • There were also age group and elite divisions.
  • World-level events sanctioned or recognised by World OCR include:
    • Shardana World Team Challenge.
    • OCR European Championships.
    • OCR Asian Championships.
    • OCR Pan American Championships.
    • Youth OCR World Championships.
    • University OCR World Championships.
    • Beach OCR World Championships (scheduled April 2019).
    • Track OCR World Championships.
  • OCR Brand World Championships include:
    • Spartan Race World Championships, first held in December 2011.
    • World’s Toughest Mudder.

6.4     Exhibitions

In 2017, The Mudnificent Seven, in association with the Obstacle Race Magazine, hosted the UK’s only OCR exhibition.

The exhibition hosted a variety of industry manufacturers, retailers, exhibitors, and OCR companies.

Return to Part 05 Continue on to Part 07