Homegrown Gravel Adventure, Franklin GA - February 22nd 2025

The

The White Horse Challenge

April 27 2025
Oxfordshire South East UK
Date Confirmed
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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
 
 
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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
Roving Mechanical Support
 
Features
Course Timing
Finishing Medals
Results Within 24 Hours
Photos
Post Ride Shower
 
Nutrition
Feed / Aid Stations
 
Number of Timed Hill Climbs
1 Hill Climbs
 
thewhitehorsechallenge
Apr 27 2025 - EVENT: The White Horse Challenge