Chiltern Challenge Race 2005-2022
One for the Orienteers and Forest Lovers today. This is an area Ive been going to for 22 years now- anyone whos walked the Chilterns will agree its a superb area of old growth forest, typified by steep escarpments, mature beech and native trees. Running the contoured slopes always provides great competitions and Im most familiar with the area below Wendover. During the time I studied Adventure Recreation Degree in 2003-6 these were the nearest hills to University of Bedfordshire (then De Montfort) which we could camp, walk and explore in. This weekends race is at Great Hampden and Whiteleaf on the edge of Princes Risboro, should be exciting as always. This is actually the postponed event as in my memory there has never been so many events cancelled or postponed due to snow, it dosent seem to have been that hard a winter, but maybe thats just me. Great weekend ahead when all the summer events start getting going so I hope you enjoy the outdoors whatever you get up to, wish me luck! Update – I was 17/59 on the day Ill be competing in Short Brown distance 8.4 KM 235 Metres climb this year. My last few years results below with a 1st in 2014:- 2017–18/82 (Short Brown) 2016– 9/44 (Short Brown) 2015–14/58 (Short Brown) 2014–1/84 (Blue) You can see the dated maps over seven years from Wendover below- interesting to see how an area changes – lots more growth now than the first few years I ran there, with big changes in the maps. O.S 165 covers most of this area. Thanks to TVOC for their work on the Chilterns. Our next race in local Canford Heath 03 June is a mixture of woods at Darbys Lane, the red brick road and Canford Heath Urban, come down and check it out. Details