High Weald Challenge from Goudhurst July 2015

Many thanks to all...a superb event and fantastic hospitality and support on the route and at Goudhurst Village Hall.
We entered the event as a group of four from our running club Orpington Roadrunners, and we stayed together throughout. The route was challenging and meant a lot of walking mixed with jogging. A smile was rarely far away despite the toils of the day ! The cheerful LDWA volunteers kept us fuelled at each checkpoint ; progressively more longed for as we racked up the miles with ...28.2 by the end! We journeyed through the finest views, steep hills, deep valleys, over stiles, through gates and past a wonderful array of cornfields, apple orchards, hop farms and free range chickens!!
The best cup of tea ever at the end..like nectar, and a lovely meal. Many thanks, we will be back!

Commendations to Neil Higham for putting together new routes which deserved a higher participation. Once we got away from the A21 noise for the last time and deciphered some of the less certain directions it was all typically pleasant and varied Wealden countryside. I only went because rain was forecast, having been forced out by the heat on the equivalent events the previous two years. At 2900ft ascent I didn't find it as hard as last time in Goudhurst when the last climb up from the river was given a category 4 by theTour de France!

Can we have those macaroony things at checkpoints again please.

to reiterate what is said above - a great day out in pleasant countryside, a challenging route and weather that was certainly better than forecast. We got a bit confused in Bedgebury, but I think probably through not knowing what a "stone edifice" was which we were supposed to fork left after and consequently forking off too early some other stone structure! no real harm done and a friendly jogger got us back on route.
huge thanks to all the organisers and helpers - I am amazed at what you provide for such a small cost.

Dave L

Today we enjoyed the High Weald Challenge, 26 miles through beautiful countryside in excellent conditions. Even though competing with the men’s final of Wimbledon and with a slightly pessimistic weather forecast a good number of entrants made their way around the course, some choosing the 15 or 20 mile options available.

Many thanks to all the helpers, especially those spending many hours manning outdoor checkpoints, feeding and watering us before sending us on our way. The food at the finish was very welcome, and thanks to the helpers manning the fort at Goudhurst.

It was a much more challenging route than previous High Wealds and as a result we took considerably longer than expected – not helped by the Amazon jungle-like growth encountered. Machetes would have been very welcome, as would long trousers. The Garden of England produces a potent variety of stinging nettles and brambles!

Jeff