PA hire for races and outdoor sport
A battery-powered PA for races, runs and outdoor sport across the Peak District, Derbyshire, Cheshire and Greater Manchester. Loud enough for a crowd of up to 1,000 across open ground, with handheld radio microphones your commentator can carry from the start line to the finish. No mains and no generator needed. Prices start from £200, with a full quote once I have your details.
The short answers
What race organisers ask first
Will it carry across the whole field?
It covers a crowd of up to 1,000 across open ground. Two Yamaha DXR12 speakers on stands, aimed down the field, reach the start, the finish and the crowd in between.
Can the commentator walk around with a mic?
Yes. It comes with handheld radio microphones, so your commentator can read names off a list at the finish line and move about freely.
Do I need to sort power or a generator?
No. It runs from a battery and inverter, so there is no mains hook-up, no generator, no fuel, and no cables run across the ground.
What does it cost?
Every event is different, so I put a quote together once I have your details. Prices start from £200, including delivery, set-up, a run-through and collection.
The kit
What turns up on the day
A field PA built for speech across open ground, delivered, set up and tested before your first runner arrives.
Two speakers on stands
Two Yamaha DXR12 speakers, raised on stands so the sound carries over heads and down the field rather than into the backs of the front row.
Radio mics and music
Handheld radio microphones with no trailing cable, for a commentator who needs to move. Music playback for warm-ups and prize giving as well.
Start and finish
Being heard at both ends of the field
Can it cover the start and the finish?
For a start and finish in the same field, the speakers cover both. Where they are far apart, the rig packs down and moves in a few minutes, so registration and the start happen at one end and the rig is at the finish for the runners coming in.
Reading names as runners finish
The handheld radio mic lets your commentator stand on the line with the finishers list and call people across as they come in, without being tied to a fixed spot.
Announcements from end to end
The same rig handles registration calls, the safety briefing, the start, and prize giving at the end, with music through the gaps.
How it works
Simple to book, set up before you need it
Tell me about the event
The field, the rough number of runners and spectators, and where the start and finish are. That is enough for a fixed quote.
Set up before dawn if needed
Early starts are normal for races. The rig is delivered and tested before your first arrivals, in the wet if it has to be. The speakers are built for outdoor use.
Nothing to trip over
Battery power means no cables run across the ground and no generator to fence off. Safer for a field with hundreds or thousands of people moving through it.
Coverage
Where I cover
Which areas do you cover?
Based in Buxton, covering the Peak District, Derbyshire, Cheshire and Greater Manchester, roughly 60 miles out. Buxton, Bakewell, Ashbourne, Leek, Macclesfield, Stockport and the towns and villages between them.
Fields with no electricity
Most race fields have no mains. That is what this rig is built for. No hook-up needed.
Events beyond 60 miles
Possible by arrangement. Ask, and I will tell you.
The detail
Full specification
Full equipment specification
- 2 × Yamaha DXR12 active speakers on stands
- Handheld radio microphones
- Music playback from phone, laptop or media player
- Battery and inverter power, no mains or generator needed
- Covers a crowd of about 1,000 across open ground
- No mains or generator required
- Public liability insurance: {{PL_INSURANCE}}
Questions
Common questions about race PA hire
How loud is the PA, and will it cover a large field?
It covers a crowd of up to 1,000 across open ground. Two Yamaha DXR12 speakers on stands are aimed down the field so the start, the finish and the crowd between them all hear clearly.
Can a commentator walk around with the microphone?
Yes. It includes handheld radio microphones, so your commentator can stand on the finish line, read names off a list, and move about with no trailing cable.
Do I need a generator or mains power?
No. The rig runs from a battery and inverter, so there is no mains hook-up, no generator and no fuel to organise.
Can it cover both the start line and the finish line?
In a single field the two speakers cover both. Where the start and finish are far apart, the rig packs down and moves in a few minutes, so it is at the finish for runners coming in.
Can you set up before dawn?
Yes. Early race starts are normal. The rig is delivered, set up and tested before your first arrivals, wet or dry, as the speakers are built for outdoor use.
Are there cables to trip over?
No. Because it runs on a battery, there are no power cables across the ground and no generator to fence off, which is safer on a field with a thousand or more people moving through it.
What areas do you cover?
Based in Buxton, covering the Peak District, Derbyshire, Cheshire and Greater Manchester, roughly 60 miles out, including Bakewell, Ashbourne, Leek, Macclesfield and Stockport.
What does race PA hire cost?
Every event is different, so I put a quote together once I have your details. Prices start from £200, including delivery, set-up, a run-through and collection.
Get a quote
Tell me about your race and I will sort the sound.
Four things and your details. I will come back with a fixed price.
See also: Speaker hire and PA for fetes and shows.