At British Obstacle Sports, we believe obstacle sports should be accessible and welcoming to everyone. As a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organisation, our members are in control of our sport, which means we have the power to make it more inclusive and accessible for women. However, with only 27% of our membership currently female, we know there’s more work to be done. This International Women’s Day, we’re taking concrete steps to change that and create a more inclusive future for all.
Teaming Up with Talking Dirty OCR
We are proud to announce our strategic partnership with Talking Dirty OCR – a female focused OCR platform & podcast. Together, we’re committed to increasing female participation in obstacle sports, working to inspire and engage more women through initiatives, events, and shared content. Through this collaboration, we’ll be raising awareness of the benefits of OCR and ninja sport for women, while building a supportive community. Stay tuned for exclusive content featuring UK athletes and empowering conversations aimed at making obstacle sports more accessible for all.
Here are three great podcast episodes to give your flavour of the type of content you might see in the future on the Talking Dirty OCR Podcast.
- How to get more women into OCR?
- National 100m Record Holder: Beth Lodge
- A Year in Review (2023) with Federica De Caria
A New Space for Women: Our Women-Only WhatsApp Community
To further support female athletes, we’ve launched a dedicated women’s-only WhatsApp community. This safe and supportive space allows women in the UK to connect, share advice, and encourage each other. Whether you’re new to obstacle sports or a seasoned competitor, our community is here to help you thrive.
Equity in Competition
We are committed to fairness in competition. That’s why we’re continuing our trial of a multi-band penalty system in races, which offers women four penalty bands instead of three. This system aims to create equity, acknowledging that female athletes often face lower completion rates in events that use the traditional three-band penalty system. This is just one of the ways we’re working to ensure that women have the same opportunities to succeed.
Supporting Women at Every Stage
Our new Age Group Pregnancy Deferral Policy is designed to ensure that athletes who experience pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy loss can defer their championship qualification for up to two seasons without losing their qualification status. This policy offers a fair, flexible process for athletes to return to competition when they’re ready, without unnecessary barriers. It’s part of our ongoing commitment to accommodate individual circumstances and help women continue to compete on their own terms.
Women-Only Waves: A Step Forward for Inclusion
We’re committed to working with event operators to offer more women-only waves, creating spaces where women can race alongside others who share their experiences. In 2024, British Obstacle Sports members Megan Tranter and Dawn Jolleys worked with Spartan Race UK. to host a Women’s Empowerment Sprint Wave. Supported by experienced Age Group and Elite racers, the event saw around 40 women of all ages take on a Spartan Sprint (5K) course for the very first time. It was an amazing day, filled with energy, camaraderie, and empowerment. Many of these women have since been inspired to take on more challenges and OCR events, building their confidence and continuing to grow as athletes.
NEW FOR 2025: We’re excited to highlight Nuclear Mud Tribe’s women-only Mud Sisters waves, which offer a fantastic opportunity for women to compete in a supportive, fun environment. Priced at just £36 per person, the Mud Sisters waves provide a unique and welcoming atmosphere for women of all fitness levels to come together, conquer obstacles, 5K of running, and share in the thrill of the race.
Join the Movement
As a volunteer-run organisation, we have the freedom and control to shape the future of obstacle sports. We’re dedicated to increasing female participation—not just on International Women’s Day, but every day. Whether it’s signing up for your first race, encouraging a friend to try, or joining our supportive community, your journey starts here. Together, we can continue to make obstacle sports more accessible for women.
Obstacle sports are for everyone—let’s make it happen, together.
