The Hedgehoppers Handicap takes place on a Tuesday night in July. The course starts and finishes from the Foredown Road next to Foredown Tower. Participants set off at pre-planned intervals – slowest first, fastest last. Runners handicap times are usually based on their recent times in West Sussex Fun Run League races.
The event was started in 1984 and was the inspiration of one of the earliest Hedgehoppers, Dave Wilkins. Originally the event started at the sports centre and finished close to the Foredown Tower but with the increase in traffic along Fox Way in was decided to move the start to it’s current place. The distance of the handicap is now just under 10k but still offers an excellent challenge.
The first male and first female receive a small award and roughly six months custody of a large shield, which now carries some 60 individual small name shields.
Please find description of course and map below:
Start at Foredown Tower, going North towards by-pass. Cross bridge over by-pass and continue downhill to the farm.
Through the farm and uphill to the crossing of paths at top of hill. Through gate on left, and continue northerly on path until it meets the bend in the Devils Dyke Road shortly before the hotel. Sharp left on to wide farm track for a very short distance and over stile into field. Through rough area and keep on path close to fence, with fence on your left. Stay on this path until it joins with the South Downs Way at the next gate. Through gate and downhill on SD Way until you reach Peters Post on your left.
Go round post, keeping it on your left. Paths now are a bit confusing, but follow arrows taking you on to correct path. Continue on this path until the gate at the top of the Foredown path. Through gate and Southwards on path for just over one and a half miles until you reach the concrete road at the start point for the Hedgehopper 5.
Downhill to barrier, round edge of barrier then sharp right over by-pass bridge. Left turn over bridge and due south to the finish.
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