Woodvale Events was formed in 1999 by Simon Chalk, himself a former Atlantic Rowing Race competitor, to organise and manage his own personal ocean adventures.

Simon took part in the inaugural Port St Charles, Barbados Atlantic Rowing 1997 with rowing partner George Rock.  They finished the Race in 13th position with a crossing time of 64 days, 5 hours and 11 minutes.

Under the management of Woodvale Events, Simon then went on to become the first British person ever to row across the Indian Ocean.  He rowed a massive 3,100 nm single handed from Kalbarri, Western Australia arriving at Reunion Island some 107 days later.

After Simon's return to the UK, Woodvale Events took the title sponsorship position for the Atlantic Rowing Race 2003, organised by Sir Chay Blyth's Challenge Business.  Soon after the start of the Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race 2003, Woodvale Events announced that it was purchasing the future Challenge Business ocean rowing races consisting of the Atlantic Rowing Race 2005 and the Ocean Fours Rowing Race.