The White Horse Challenge

April 27 2025

Oxfordshire South East UK

Date Confirmed

Distances: 70, 90 miles

Difficulty: Difficult terrain with longer, steeper hills

Limited to: 500 Participants

Pass by four white horses: Uffington, Broadtown, Cherhill & Hackpen (Uffington White Horse is the oldest of all British chalk figures and dates back almost 3000 years).

Passing through Avebury which lies in the heart of the Wiltshire downs. The Avebury stones are thought to have been constructed in neolithic times (2700 BC to 2400 BC).

Enjoy beautiful views across the Lambourn & Marlborough downs.

Other historical places such as the Saxon town of Cricklade and picturesque villages such as Hannington and Castle Eaton.At least 24 white horses are know across the UK, although not all are visible today.

There are believed to have been 13 in Wiltshire, eight of which can still be seen. Most of them are chalk carvings. Only the Uffington horse, in Oxfordshire, is of prehistoric origin, dating back some 3,000 years. The Uffington horse is one of only four to face to the right. Marlborough was cut in 1804 by schoolboys. In 1780, Dr. Christopher Alsop of Calne created the Cherhill white horse. The Devizes horse was cut in 1845 by local shoemakers.Hackpen's origin is uncertain, although it may have been created in 1838 to mark Queen Victoria's coronation.

Westbury is the oldest Wiltshire white horse and dates back at least 300 years.

A new white horse was carved in Pewsey in 1937, but the original one dates back to about 1785. The horses are mostly chalk figures, made by cutting and removing the turf to reveal chalk beneath. It is then filled with loose chalk. They vary in size. The largest is Uffington at 365ft (112m) long and 110ft (34m) high.

There are at least five known white horses abroad - in America, South Africa, Mexico, Morocco (which has two) and New Zealand.

The White Horse Challenge

Start Located At: Shrivenham Memorial Hall Highworth Road Shrivenham Oxfordshire SN6 8BL

Included

Clearly signed route with marshals to help at key locations
Electronic timed event (each rider will collect timing chip at the start)
Two well stocked feed stations
Finishers medal
Mechanical support kindly provided by the Mobile Cycle Medic, Shrivenham (www.mobilecyclemedic.com)
Official Photographer (http://www.sportivephoto.com/)
Individual times will be added with Gold, Silver and Bronze standard
Results will be published on the website shortly after the event
Event T-shirt available for £10 (please order your T-shirt at the same time as entering the event)

Prize / Race Categories

Individual times will be added with Gold, Silver and Bronze standard

Facilities

Parking

Changing Rooms

Support for Participants

Route Signposted

First Aid

Emergency Contact No

SAG Wagon

Outriders

Marshalls