Pearson Steeplechase

Both courses will take riders via a series of steeples through the beautiful Surrey countryside.

Food and refreshments: Food and drink stalls at HQ. Ample food and hydration stations on both routes.

Entertainment: Music at start and finish, gantry start/finish line. Polo match invites for afternoon picnic opportunities for riders and families.

Rider benefits: Mechanics at HQ and feedstop, roaming first aid responders and medical provision at HQ. Fully signposted route, GPS routing, timing mat with bike mounted timing chips. Woven finisher’s badge for gravel and road riders. Rider event photography. Idyllic cycling routes and surroundings at Box Hill, steeped in the Surrey countryside.

• Woven Steeplechase badge for all participants
• Prize for fastest time around road course
• Prize for fastest time around gravel course

Staged across the rolling Surrey countryside, the time chipped event offers two different courses on two types of terrain; gravel grinders can sign up to a 60km off-road ride, while road riders can opt for a 100km route on the hard stuff. According to experts (us), a good roadie and their gravel-riding equivalent should complete their respective distances in roughly the same times. Whichever course you choose, riders will be required to pass multiple checkpoints all of which are, funnily enough, church steeples.

The event is likely to be competitive but, like the Lord’s house, all are welcome. Indeed, for those of you who conclude that slow-and-steady doesn’t win the race but frankly who cares, Pearson will be waiting at the finish line with a beverage or two. Because, in contrast to the abundance of steeples you’ll encounter en route, the Pearson Steeplechase concludes at just the one pub. If that wasn’t enough, we’ve even roped in some equine action for the post-ride entertainment.

The steeplechase concludes at the Hurtwood Park Polo Club where, as luck would have it, a polo match will take place that same afternoon and is free-to-watch to all Pearson Steeplechasers. The nearest train station to Hurtwood Polo Club is Ockley Station, only 5.8 miles away, and there is also extensive free parking at the venue for those arriving by car.