Rose of the Shires Ultra

Event Overview

The Rose of the Shires Ultra is a 54-mile circular ultra marathon through Northamptonshire. The event is based at Brixworth Country Park, where the route starts and finishes.

The Courses

There are three distinct race formats.

Rose of the Shires Ultra

• Distance: 54 miles
• Terrain: A mix of trail, road, and canal towpath, passing villages, towns, and country parks.
• Navigation: The course is waymarked, but some navigation is required. A GPS tracker and voice cue navigation app are available.
• Checkpoints: Six checkpoints, spaced 6-8 miles apart, provide water and snacks.
• Cut-off: There is a total time limit of 13.5 hours, with progressive cut-offs at each checkpoint.

Rosebud Marathon

• Distance: 26.2 miles
• Course: This covers the final section of the Ultra route.
• Start: The race starts at Ashton Road, Hartwell. A transport service (for a small fee) is available from Brixworth Country Park.
• Checkpoints: Two checkpoints are located at 9.5 miles and 17.7 miles.
• Cut-off: There is an 8-hour time limit.

Rose of the Shires Relay

• Format: A team relay covering the full 54-mile Ultra course, split into 7 legs.
• Team Options: Teams can consist of 3, 4, or 7 runners, each with a specified driver requirement.

Event Details

Parking is available at Brixworth Country Park. A GPS tracker is used for real-time tracking of participants. Prizes are awarded to the first three male and female finishers in both the Ultra and Marathon races. Participants must be over 18. A list of mandatory kit is required, which includes trail shoes, a mobile phone, water bottle, survival blanket, waterproof jacket, whistle, and a headtorch. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.