History
This is an annual club run, usually held at the end of May or in June, for club members only. The date changes from year to year to take account of other local races. The 2025 race took place on Sunday 29th June.
This event is a resurrection of a large and popular open event staged from the sports centre. Originally devised by Southdowns Orienteers, the first event was held in 1979. The course record is held by Steve Ovett who won the event in a time of 53.45 in June 1985, albeit on a slightly different course.
At that time, the event was organised by Pauline Stratton as a fundraising event for the 6th Hove Scouts. There were a total of nine such events. In the early days there were 1200+ entries, but by 2007 the entries had decreased to 149. The 2001 event was cancelled due to foot and mouth.
In its current format the course starts and finishes outside the sports centre and takes in Beeding Hill, Truleigh Hill and Devil’s Dyke.
The Course
Start at sports centre car park exit. Left into Chalky Road, left into Mile Oak Road, then right at the top of the hill into The Rise. Bear round to left and follow through to end of houses and through gate into field. Turn right and aim for gap at top left corner of field. Turn right, then over stile on to National Trust land. Take diagonal path, ending slightly uphill and bearing right on to main path.
Follow path through bushes to gate on left leading on to Truleigh Hill path. Turn right and follow path through two gates. Over crest of hill then follow downhill section to metal gate. Turn left after gate and follow path downhill and uphill to sharp corner on tarmac road at Beeding Hill and leading to Truleigh Hill. Drink available here if required. Follow road round right hand corner and continue past youth hostel to Truleigh Hill. Road has now become track (South Downs Way). Stay on South Downs Way until reaching gate where path to Dyke Hotel splits off to the left. Do not follow the SD Way at this point, but take path to the right against fence, leading to corner on road to Dyke.
Over stile and then right turn to head due South. At crossway at end of path turn right and head down to and through New Barn Farm. Cross bridge over by-pass and turn left onto Foredown track. Take first path on right, leading to Fox Way. Cross Fox Way, turning right to head back to sports centre. Down hill and left through first small entry to sports centre then sharp left to finish on grass area.
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