HUNDREDS of riders took part in the first Gorrick mountain bike event to be held at the Hogmoor Inclosure.

This new cycling event forms part of Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company’s programme of providing healthy living activities for the town and the surrounding areas.

Gorrick has been running events since 1991 on land owned by the Ministry of Defence, the Forestry Commission, the National Trust and the Woodland Trust.

It has an experienced team of organisers who consider the make-up of the natural environment, including plants and wildlife, when mapping the cycle route and positioning support services.

The route for the event, on March 5, was planned using the wooded area of the Inclosure rather than the sandy parts so dog walkers and ramblers were still able to use the site as usual.

Naomi Metcalfe, the regeneration company’s community development officer, said: “We would like to thank everyone involved in arranging this first mountain-bike event in Whitehill and Bordon – from the traffic-management team and marshals, to the route planners and participants.”

Gorrick’s Jon Lucas said: “We would like to thank the Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company for helping to make this event a success.

“We were really pleased with the turnout and local cyclists said how pleased they were to be able to take part in an event like this on their doorstep.”

The next mountain bike event is on Sunday, April 30.