Rose of the Shires Ultra
Brixworth, United Kingdom • 11 Apr 2026
Event overview
The Rose of the Shires is a circular ultra held at Brixworth Country Park, Northamptonshire (NN6 9DG). Distances and options:
- 54 miles - Rose of the Shires Ultra
- 26.2 miles - Rosebud Marathon (covers the last 26.2 miles of the ultra)
- Relay legs: 8.7 / 7.1 / 7.4 / 6.8 / 7.7 / 8 / 8.4 miles
The event is a registered UTMB Index race (100K category). Competitors must be over 18. Prizes are awarded to the first three male and female finishers; all finishers receive a medal and event merchandise. Parking is available at the Country Park (lower meadow car park).
Course, support and rules
The route uses footpaths, country trails, roads and canal towpath. Exact terrain for the full ultra is: 36.4 miles cross-country trails, 15.6 miles roads and 1.8 miles canal towpath, with total ascent +2315 ft (+706 m) and descent -2315 ft (-706 m). The Rosebud Marathon section lists 14 miles trails, 10.4 miles roads and 1.8 miles canal towpath, with +1241 ft / -1308 ft of elevation.
There are six checkpoints on the ultra, about 6-8 miles apart, each offering water, snacks and fruit cake. The race is waymarked but requires some navigation; OS Maps 207, 223 and 224 cover the course. The overall cut-off is 13.5 hours with progressive cut-offs from Checkpoint 3. The event uses Geo Tracks GPS trackers for live tracking (position updates every 10 seconds, accuracy to 5 m, battery life about 70 hours). Mandatory kit includes a charged mobile phone, minimum 1 litre water capacity, survival blanket, waterproof jacket, whistle, headtorch and spare batteries, hat and gloves, and a long-sleeved base layer or fleece. Baggage can be stored at the finish; bag size limit 56 x 45 x 25 cm. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.