The Hewett Challenge – 129km ER

Celsar Baydahl and Nikki Malcolm - winners in 2004

The HEWETT Challenge is named after Valerie Cooper’s mother

Nora Hewett

who, in 1985,  presented the trophy that is awarded to the winner - a beautiful solid silver rose bowl. 

Hewett Challenge Rose Bowl

This class will be run as an “elevator” ride, giving riders the opportunity to retire after successful completion of a vet gate from 82km (VG3) onwards, and be credited with the distance achieved to that VG. 

The route for this class will be split into five sections, with a vet gate back at the racecourse after each section and the Finish up the final three furlongs of the race track.  We have sought some changes to the route this year and, although we inevitably have to start from the racecourse venue going out onto one of the Drove tracks, we have found an alternative to the somewhat unpopular Faulstone Loop for the final section, which has been trialled at Wiltshire Droves and called the “Royal Oak Windwhistle” loop and this proved much more popular – the 12km Windwhistle section will provide the final loop for this class. 

Following difficulties with local Parish Councils over route marking, the total route will now be as follows:  1.  Monarch’s Way (30km)  2.  Royal Oak/East Grovely loop (28km)  3.  Pentridge loop (34.5km)  4.  Hadden Ebsbury (24km)  5.  Windwhistle (12km) – making a total of 129km.

Class 1 riders will start out at 0630, having been vetted on the Saturday afternoon.

Awards

The winner receives the magnificent silver rose bowl, the Hewett Challenge Trophy, the winner’s sash and a commemorative medal.

There is also a trophy for the Runner-up, medals for 2^nd and 3^rd placed horses and rosettes to sixth place.

A Best Condition Trophy is awarded to the horse judged by the Veterinary Panel to be in the best condition on completing the ride.