IT’S ONE of the toughest running events in the south – but that won’t put off the hundreds of runners expected to take part in this year’s Butser Challenge.
Both adults and children are set to take to the slopes of one of Hampshire’s and the South Downs National Park’s highest hills for the 2017 race this Sunday.
At 889ft high it provides some stunning views of the surrounding countryside but the sights and sounds of the downs will be the last thing on competitors’ minds.
The senior race, run over a course of approximately five miles, is classed as a Grade B fell run and it takes in three steep ascents and descents of Butser Hill.
The youngsters will get life slightly easier as the school year races mainly take part on the lower slopes alongside the A3.
School Years 3, 4 and 5 will tackle a 1km course, School Years 6 and 7 will take on a 2km race, and School Years 8 to 11 will complete one ascent and descent on the steeper part of Butser during their 3km course.
The Post can take the blame for starting this race off in 1978 – the event was the brainchild of then reporter Glynn Williams.
The event has now been running for 39 years and it pre-dates the first London Marathon and major races such as the Great North Run and Great South Run.
Over the last four decades, the Butser Challenge has raised in excess of £200,000 for the charities it has supported.
This year the proceeds from the event will be donated to Petersfield-based charity FitzRoy.
When numbers taking part in the event fell dramatically during the 2000s, Churcher’s College stepped in to ensure the event continued and their support has been constant since then.
The first race of the day, the School Year 3 event, is scheduled to go off at 9.50am, and the seniors’ event is expected to start at 12.30pm. There are six races in total during the event.
Competitors are urged to take account of the weather and wear clothing and footwear according to the conditions on the day.
Full details of the event and how to register can be found at: www.butser.org