Crantock’s giant bale returns to the streets this September

Grab your gloves and pick your team, because Crantock’s most unusual race is coming back around. Once a year the village turns a straw bale roughly the size of a small car loose on its streets, and asks teams to muscle it from one end to the other as fast as they can.

When and where

The Crantock Bale Push takes place on Friday 11 September 2026, with push off at 5pm prompt. Registration is between the Jam Jar and Albions small car park, next to the big tree stump. Organisers say cash and card are both welcome on the day.

The team categories

There’s a class for most ages and abilities. Teams can enter as:

• 8 and Under (start 5pm prompt)
• 12 and Under
• 16 and Under
• Ladies
• Open
• 180 (combined team age)

How the children’s teams work

Organisers know children tend to drift in and out of a team’s line-up over the course of the evening, so there’s a limit of two pushes per child to keep things fair. Anyone with a question about how that works is asked to find Jamie Lee at registration.

The causes behind the push

This year’s event is raising money for Man Down Cornwall, the men’s mental health support group, and Crantock Surf Life Saving Club, along with other local organisations and charities.

Anyone wanting more information can reach the organisers by email, or follow along on Facebook and Instagram (@crantock_bale_push). Team or not, the village will need a good few pairs of hands on the rope come 11 September.