The British Heart Foundation has been running its Hearts First Sponsored Randonnee challenge along the South Downs Way for ten years now. Or rather, it will have been in 2007. And by way of celebration (and in response to the event’s popularity), there’ll be two dates.

30 June 2007 will host three challenges of 100 miles (Winchester to Eastbourne), 65 miles (Winchester to Devil’s Dyke) and 35 miles (Devil’s Dyke to Eastbourne). The second date, 28 July, is being kept for 100 mile challenge riders only.

All the routes follow the South Downs Way, the longest continuous bridleway in the country. 100 mile riders that complete the ride will have climbed a total of 10,000ft, which is a not inconsiderable amount.

Entries are now being taken and the BHF is encouraging riders to get their entries in early. In the interests of avoiding congestion and disruption to other trail users, numbers are limited to 400 riders on each date.

Interested? Call the event hotline on 0800 100 2109 or contact the BHF’s event team by email.