Simon Chalk launched Woodvale, a property development company, in 1998 after taking voluntary redundancy from BT.
In 2000 he launched Woodvale Events, a subsidiary company set up to organise and manage Simon’s personal ocean challenges.
In 2002 Woodvale Events saw Simon, and rowing partner Bill Greaves, safely to the start of their first self organised ocean challenge. They were to attempt to row across the Indian Ocean from Western Australia to Mauritius, some 3,100 nautical miles (3,565 land miles). Unfortunately disaster struck only a few days into the row when their boat capsized after hitting something large submerged in the water. Simon and Bill survived by sitting on the upturned hull unable to reach the life raft which was trapped inside. After a staggering 14 hours in the water they were eventually rescued by bulk carrier Africa. Amazingly undeterred by his experience Simon returned to Western Australia in 2003 to make a second attempt, only this time he went solo. This attempt was a success making Simon the first British adventurer, and youngest person ever, to row solo across the Indian Ocean.
After this success, Woodvale Events went on to sponsor the Atlantic Rowing Race 2003 and establish themselves as an authoritative figure in the world of ocean rowing. Spurred on by the success of the race, Simon purchased the Atlantic Rowing Race and Ocean Fours Rowing Race from Sir Chay Blyths’ Challenge Business in 2004. Woodvale Events hosted their first race, The Atlantic Rowing Race 2005 last November. Their second race, and the first North Atlantic rowing race ever, started in June 2006 and set out from New York, USA. The race will finished in Falmouth, UK the first rowing race to ever finish in the UK. Determined to bring ocean rowing into a new era we have already added a third race to our calendar, the Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009 which will see teams of pairs and fours rowing 3,100nm from Western Australia to Mauritius.
Woodvale Challenge now aims to take Ocean Rowing into the next exciting chapter and we look forward to working with you to acieve it.
