22nd Founders' Challenge, Saturday 13th October 2018


Welcome to the 22nd Founders’ Challenge walk

Saturday 13 October 2018 - 16 and 27 mile options

 

Start & Finish

Peaslake Memorial Hall, Surrey GU5 9RR [Grid ref: GR 086447]

 

Start Times

8.30 to 9.00 for walkers and 10.00 for runners (27 mile route only).

 

Checkpoints

There are 3 checkpoints (1 on the 16 mile route) providing drinks and light refreshments and a friendly welcome. Refreshments are also available at the Start and a meal is provided at the Finish.

 

Entry information

Entries open: Tuesday 1st May 2018.

Entries Close: Sunday 7th October at 22:00.

It is recommended that you enter online here

An Entry Form is available here

Fees: LDWA Members £10 (On the day: £15)

Non-Members £15 (On the day: £25)

 

Routes descriptions and downloadable GPX files

Entrants are expected to download and carry one or both formats; route descriptions will not be provided at the start.

The current route descriptions and GPX files are available below:


16m_FOUNDERS_2018_Final.pdf

16m_FOUNDERS_2018_with_checkpoints FINAL.gpx

27m_FOUNDERS_2018.FINAL.pdf

27M_FOUNDERS_2018_FINAL.gpx


Young people

Participants aged between 11 and 16 years (inclusive) will be required to complete and bring with them to the event a completed copy of a Parental Consent form.

You can download a copy of this form by clicking here


Getting to Peaslake

If you are coming by Rail the nearest railway stations with frequent trains are Dorking and Guildford. If you need a lift from the station to Peaslake, please inform the organiser at founderschallenge@ldwa.org.uk and he will arrange for you to be collected from Guildford Station.



[In 2017 the preferred trains departed London Waterloo 0745 via Clapham Junction 0752 to arrive Guildford 0823 for walkers and departed London Waterloo 0835 via Clapham Junction to arrive Guildford 0916.]



If you're coming by Road, follow the maps at the top of the Route Description documents.

 

Enquiries and Refunds

All enquiries regarding the event to Gordon Parker founderschallenge@ldwa.org.uk

[Email london.walks@ldwa.org.uk if for any reason you have problems accessing hyperlinks.]

A refund on cancellation will be paid before Sunday 16th September 2018, £5.00 admin will be charged. After this date no refund will be paid.

 

Volunteer Marshals

The event could not happen without the hard work of a team of committed volunteers. If you would like to support the London Group as a marshal at a checkpoint or in Peaslake, preparing food or as a driver please email Gordon Parker at founderschallenge@ldwa.org.uk

Volunteering does not mean you have to miss out on walking the route as this year, the Marshals will walk either of the routes on Saturday 29th  September (click here for details of the Marshals' 16 mile hike)  (and here for the Marshals' 27 mile). 

These walks will also be used as an opportunity to show anybody who has not done a Challenge walk before, what is involved. They are open to anybody who would like to attend.   More details will be posted here closer to the time.

 

Background to the Founders' Challenge Walk

The event was first held in 1997, when it was called the Founders’ Jubilee Challenge.

Tony Youngs devised a 26-mile route as a commemoration of the founding of the LDWA and the role of Alan Blatchford and Chris Steer in this.

The route linked various places connected to the origins of the LDWA in 1972: Blatchford Down, Steers Field, Tanners Hatch youth hostel, Pitch Hill and the old Peaslake Post Office.

 

Maps

Zoomable Interactive maps of the 2017 routes can be viewed below:

FINAL 2017 16 mile route:

FINAL 2017 27 mile route:

 

Access maps:

Outline overview map:
 

Detailed overview map: