The 2025 South Downs Way 100 and 50km are right around the corner and the inaugural edition of the 50km has attracted a stellar field for this first outing. As part of the World Trail Majors - Short Series, we've got both international and domestic atheltes vying to take home maximum points and be in the running for the overall standings.

In the build up race Weekend we will be previewing the leading contenders for the top spots in four separate posts. We have already previewed the womens and mens SDW100 fields, below is our SDW50km Womens Preview.

You can see full details of the Elite SDW50km Mens Field here.

You can see full details of the Elite SDW100 Womens Field here.

You can see full details of the Elite SDW100 Mens Field here.

Stay tuned to the website and our YouTube channel in the lead up for race day for links to the live broadcast, tracking and results:

Imogen Ainsworth (ITRA Rank: 707): US based British athlete with a fine pedigree of results at extremely competitive races in the recent past. She finished fourth at the Black Canyon 60km in February before going on to seventh at Lake Sonoma 50 in April. In 2024 she finished second at the Leadville Silver Rush 50. She is no stranger to the South Downs either having won a Maverick event held a little further east - back in 2021. She's also won other events including Jemez Mountain 50km and Monument Valley 50km.

Imogen Ainsworth (Photo: @somerrunner - Somer Kresiman)

Georgie Bruinvels: Georgie is a former winner of the Manchester Marathon in 2:37, which remains her PB. In 2024 she ran bests of 2:44 for the marathon in Pisa (third), 76:08 at Fleet Half Marathon for the win, 35:48 at the Richmond 10km for the win and 58 minutes for 10 miles at the Dorking 10 where she also took top spot. She's not just a road runner however, having finished 23rd at Parliament Hill in the British Athletics Cross Country Champs. This past winter she won the Surrey Cross Country County Championships.

Sophie Biggs (ITRA Rank: 620): In 2022 Sophie won the Chiltern Wonderland 50 and finished third at the North Downs Way 50. In 2023 she won several events ranging between 50km and 50 mile on trail. She also placed sixth at the inaugural Hundred Hills 50km which she then improved upon to finish in second at the 2024 edition. This year she finished fifth at the Arc 50 in January and second at the North Downs Ridge 50km in February.

Sophie Biggs

Holly Stables (ITRA Rank: 615): Previous GB international over the marathon distance, Holly turned her hand to the longer stuff around ten years ago and has had quite the career since. She has won a raft of races including the 2021 Autumn 100 in 16:51, UltraVasan 90km, North Downs Way 50 where she held the course record for almost ten years and the Cotswold Way Century . Internationally she has finished seventh at Comrades and at CCC proving she can do it on the trails, on the road and in the mountains. In 2024 she finished second at the Arc 50 before winning Wendover Woods 50 last November. Holly is recently off of the back of a successful finish at The Speed Project, where she ran from LA to Las Vegas Solo - a distance of 300 miles.

Holly Stables

Anna Buckingham (ITRA Rank: 605): Anna comes in with great form having finished second at the South Downs Way 50 in April. The Centurion Coach and former Spine winner has a really broad range of strings to her bow, having done well at mountain races like MIUT where she finished eighth and UTS50km where she won her age category in 2023, as well as at flatter races and on the road.

Anna Buckingham

Imo Boddy (ITRA Rank: 543): Imo Boddy comes into the 50k with possibly the greatest range, with a 2nd at the British 50k Champs this May, as well as the record for the super long distance National Three Peaks, climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon whilst running the distances between.

Imo Boddy (Photo: @Tommy_leeming_)

The 2025 South Downs Way 100 is upon us and we are delighted to welcome what is one of if not the largest 100 mile field in a UK event together with the deepest competition. As part of the World Trail Majors Series, the event has attracted some of the best in domestic as well as international competition and will make for some great spectating for all. 

In the build up to South Downs Way 100 & 50km Race Weekend we will be previewing the leading contenders for the top spots in four separate posts. Our second post here focuses on the Elite Mens field for the SDW100. The full entrants list can be found here. 

You can see full details of the Elite Womens Field here. 

Stay tuned to the website and our YouTube channel in the lead up for race day for links to the live broadcast, tracking and results:

Mark Darbyshire (ITRA Rank: 875): Centurion Ultra Team runner. After a rough first half of TransGranCanaria (part of our World Trail Majors Series) in February, Mark then turned on the jets to pass over 50 runners and finish in 12th. He then ran home for a strong win at the South Downs Way 50 in April, over the second half of this SDW100 course. Mark is the course record holder at too many races to list, including but not limited to: NDW100, Lakeland 100, Arc of Attrition, UTS 100 mile, 13Valleys, Lakes Traverse etc. He is simply the best in the business here in the UK when it comes to the 100 mile distance.

 

Mark Darbyshire

Geoff Cheshire (ITRA Rank: 789): Geoff's back catalogue at Centurion events is really impressive, albeit at this race he has come up short a few times now. His best here is 7th in 2021 in 17:46 and he has dropped here twice including after leading last year. However his 100 mile credentials are otherwise exemplary and it is surely time he got this one right too. Last year he won the inaugural Winter Downs 100 which shares much of this course (in reverse). He has won the Thames Path 100, Autumn 100 (13:58 course record) - both in 2023 - and the Chiltern Wonderland 50. Finished on the podium in addition at the NDW100 twice. Top ten at Lakeland in 2023, he has won lots of other shorter but competitive ultras too including Race to the stones. 

Geoff Cheshire

Adrien Combe (ITRA Rank: 770): French athlete with an incredible pedigree, mostly in French races, winning many by big margins over big fields. Towards the end of 2024 he won the Grands Trails d'Auvergne - X Ultra-Trail. He raced six times last year and placed a worst of sixth in any of those. Other wins in his recent past include Impérial Trail Fontainebleau and Trails du Tour du Canton 75 km. In his only previous 100 miler, he also placed sixth at Grand Raid Des Cathares.

Hugh Tibbs (ITRA Rank: 763): Comes in with fine form having won the North Downs Way 50 just two weeks ago in a new course record - in what was the fourteenth edition of our spring classic. Ran a superb SDW100 last summer in the deepest field we've ever had at that event, coming home second in 14:46. He opened up 2025 with a third place at the Arc of Attrition in January.

Hugh Tibbs

Jonathan Young (ITRA Rank: 762): Winner of several North Yorkshire ultras in recent years, most recently two in 2024 including the. Nidderdale Ultra which is 111 miles with over 14,500ft of elevation.

Peter Windross (ITRA Rank: 761): Champion here in 2021, he was third in 2024 in 14:48. Peter has also won the Autumn 100 (sub 14 hours) and the Thames Path 100. Four time Grand Slam finisher, he is one of our most decorated runners both in terms of finishes but more so top tens, podiums and wins.

Gavin Byrne (ITRA Rank: 760): Irish international trail and mountain runner, Gavin is the Wicklow Round record holder but has had some fine results in races too. Notable performances include third at UTS100km in 2022. Finished in the top 50 at UTMB in 2023 in 26:08. Winner and podium finisher at dozens of Irish ultra and mountain races.

Joseph Turner (ITRA Rank: 755): Joe won at the Hundred Hills 50km back in March over a solid field and has since gone on to pick up a few further wins over that distance in what looks to have been an excellent training block. He is a Team GB 100km runner with a PB of 6:35 over the distance, he represtented Team GB in India in December. He has a 12:52 100 mile best from Barcelona 24hr (split) in 2023. But he's handy on the trail too with wins in the past at Wendover Woods Night 50km, Maverick's Jurassic Ultra 50km and Ultra X's summer trail series 50km scattered in amongst some international level road and track running.

Joseph Turner

Alistair Courtney (ITRA Rank: 747): In 2024 Alistair came out of nowhere to finish third at the Hundred Hills 50km against a classy field, before completely dominating the 50 mile Grand Slam. He won three of the four events last year, losing out only at the NDW50 to a course record from Patrick Wightman. He capped the year off with the Wendover Woods 50 in a time which not only won him the race but saw him take the seemingly untouchable Grand Slam record of our very own Jon Ellis by 11 minutes. He is recently off the back of a painful DNF late into the Thames Path 100 which will no doubt make him hungrier than ever.

Alistair Courtney

Henrik Westerlin (ITRA Rank: 740): Danish International who has represented his country over 24 hours, 100km and on the trails. The Swiss resident won the Autumn 100 back in 2019 in a then course record time of 14:02. Won the Lake Zuri 100km in 2023. Finished 21st at Western States in 2024 in 18:37.

Jez Bragg (ITRA Rank: 723): Fifth here last year in 15:35. A past winner of UTMB and a best of third at Western States, Jez was at the pinnacle of the sport globally for many years and has one of the deepest running CV's today. He raced for GB on both the road and the trails and really excelled across a variety of distances and terrain types. In the last few years work and family have taken priority but it truly is an honour to have him back again here.

Jez Bragg

Simon Withers (ITRA Rank: 717): Fourteenth here in 2024 in 17:18 but will be looking for better this time. Finished joint third at this years Arc of Attrition alongside Hugh Tibbs - featured above. Previous winner of the North Coast 110 mile. Also won the 2025 North Downs Ridge 50km in February.

Rob Payne (ITRA Rank: 716): Rob Payne has represented both Great Britain and England over ultra-distance, with the most recent appearance being as part of medal winning England team at the Anglo-Celtic Plate 100k at the start of May. Also of note are his improvements over shorter distances in the last 12 months, with a 2:23 at Chester Marathon, 67:42 at Brass Monkey Half Marathon and 30:32 at the North Lincolnshire 10K.With a range of experience on road and trail, including an eighth position at the 2024 SDW100 that included some time off the front of the race before a tough finish, Payne will be one to watch in the first 50 miles and, hopefully, the second 50 as well.

Rob Payne

David Green (ITRA Rank: 708): Fifth place at the Arc 50 in January. Winner of the 2021 SVP100km and 11th at Trail d'Alsace Grand Est by UTMB over the 115km distance last year.

In the Hunt for Top Ten: Iain Ward (ITRA Rank: 697), Chris Kelly (ITRA Rank: 675), James Fulcher (ITRA Rank: 612).

The 2025 South Downs Way 100 is upon us and we are delighted to welcome what is one of if not the largest 100 mile field in a UK event together with the deepest competition. As part of the World Trail Majors Series, the event has attracted some of the best in domestic as well as international competition and will make for some great spectating for all. 

In the build up to South Downs Way 100 & 50km Race Weekend we will be previewing the leading contenders for the top spots in four separate posts. Our first focuses on the Elite Womens field for the SDW100. The full entrants list can be found here. 

Stay tuned to the website and our YouTube channel in the lead up for race day for links to the live broadcast, tracking and results:

Claire Bannwarth (ITRA Rank: 719): One of the most prolific racers over the last several years in terms of sheer quantity. But is seemingly able to recover fast to record incredible results time after time and most often in the realm of the super long. It is honestly simply impossible to list her achievements even going back 24 months but some of her main highlights of recent years have been a third at Tor Des Geants, two wins at the Spine Race, a win at TransGranCanaria 360, a win at Tahoe 200 just a week after finishing fifth at Hardrock and a Backyard PB of 82 hours or over 400km. These barely scratch the surface of this incredibly French athlete.

Julia Davis (ITRA Rank: 672): Julia is one of our Centurion Coaches and we are incredibly blessed to have her on the team. As an athlete she is a Team GB 100km and Trail Team runner from as recently as December 2024 where she finished fourteenth at the 100km World Championships in India. The South Downs are not her regular training ground but she will have fond memories of the trail, having run and set the existing course record of 6:54 at the South Downs Way 50 back in 2019. She has had many other top results on the trail over the last six years at all distances. With a marathon PB of 2:39, a time she ran in both 2016 and 2017, her speed on what is truly a runners course will stand her in great stead. 

Julia Davis winning the 2019 South Downs Way 50

Lucy Gossage (ITRA Rank: 669): Lucy is one of the UKs greatest ever Triathletes, with 14 wins over the Ironman distance amongst many other successes over other distances. Since she turned her hand to ultras she has unsuprisingly also found massive success, bettering her 2024 Spine Race third place with a win at the iconic event this past January. She has also just set a new course record at the Lap. In 2024 she also took home second at the Lakeland 100, coming home under the magic 24 hour mark. 

Lucy Gossage winning this years Spine Race (Credit: Adam Wild Aperture/ The Spine Race)

Nicole Frisby (ITRA Rank: 621): Nicole has had a tremendous spring, coming home second at our Hundred Hills 50km, before running a 2:56 at the London Marathon. Prior to 2025, some of her best results include a seventh at Lakeland 50, eighth at UTS50km and a win at the 2024 Serpent Trail 50km.

Nicole Frisby

Georgia Campbell (ITRA Rank: 615): Georgia's background is much more in the realm of shorter, faster racing but since she's turned to ultras she has gone from strength to strength. Two solid finishes at the Highland Fling helped her develop and take home third at the Lakes Traverse in awful conditions last year. That followed a win at the Harrogate Hustle Ultra a couple of months prior. 

Karla Borland (ITRA Rank: 604): Karla ran home the winner in a competitive field at the Hundred Hills 50km earlier this year. The sub 3 hour marathoner is also at home over longer distances on the road - she landed on the podium at the 2023 ACP 100km running for Northern Ireland. This will be her first 100 miler.

Karla Borland winner of this years' Hundred Hills 50km

Anastasia Hounslow (ITRA Rank: 600): The Liss runner has four ultras under her belt with four top tens to show for it. Two of those were wins at the Serpent Trail 100km which covers similar ground to this course. 

Anna Brown (ITRA Rank: 551): Thames Path 100 champion last year, Anna previously had a number of top results at this distance. In 2022 she had to miss out on the Thames Path as part of our Grand Slam quest but went on to finish this event in eleventh place, before running home second at the NDW100 and fourth at the Autumn 100. This year she is already off to a flier taking home the win at the inaugurual London 100km by Camino last month. 

Jennie Dunkley (ITRA Rank: 529): Jennie takes this event on as race two in her Grand Slam of 100s quest for this year. She is off to quite the start, with a win at the Thames Path last month. She is no stranger to the distance or this trail. She ran the race back in 2022 finishing fourteenth, but has since kicked on, running home fifth at the 2023 Autumn 100 before her move up to the top step of the podium at the TP100. On the road her best marathon is a 3:06 at London. 

Jennie Dunkley winner of the 2025 Thames Path 100

More warm dry weather of late and a week out, a great looking forecast awaits those taking on the fourteenth North Downs Way 50. 

The mens course record was lowered by Patrick Wightman to 6:31:48 and after a DNF at SDW50 last month he is back and raring to go after it again. 

The womens course record has stood for almost a decade, with Holly Stables' 7:11 mark from 2016 still the one to beat. That may be under threat this time. We have 350 runners joining us in Farnham to run the first 50 miles of the North Downs Way, as far as Knockholt Pound, a little village right on the edge of London which has always hosted our finish. The course roughly breaks down into two halves. A screaming fast mostly flat and runnable section over to Box Hill check point in the Stepping Stones Car Park. Before an ascent up the steps and the tougher second half over to the Finish. Let's have a look at who might be contending for top spots this time around.

You can follow the race live here from 0700 on Saturday 17th May.

WOMEN

Fiona Pascall: Fi was our 2022 Wendover Woods champion but has since frankly exploded onto the international scene winning and competing in some of the marquee events. Whilst this is very much a preparation event towards Western States for which she won a Golden Ticket through winning the Chianti Ultra Trail 120km back in March, she will naturally be the one to watch. Other recent wins for Fi include Mozart 100km, Julian Alps 170km, Wildstrubel 100km as well as more recently that Chianti performance - all UTMB events where she beat world class competition. 

Fi Pascall

Jess Gray: A previous winner of this race exactly 10 years ago, Jess has gone on to have a long and successful career in the sport. Stand out results across the years inlude a 16:42 100 mile at the Autumn 100, a win at the South Downs Way 50, two podiums at Lakeland 50 and many others to boot. Her most recent win came at the Grand Tour of Skiddaw in 2023. It is great to see her back here.

Dani Battersby: Third at the South Downs Way 50 in 2022 in 8 hours flat before running home for fourth at the 100 later that year in 18:43.

Claire Kanja: Lots of great performances at our events over the years including second place at the Autumn 100, Wendover Woods 50 and Wendover Woods Night 50km.

In the hunt for top ten: Amelie Karlsson, Kathrin Hartmann, Veronika Gill, Georgia Campbell, Flic Archer, Veronika Gill, Jo Wilson.

MEN

Patrick Wightman: Course record holder going for his fourth finish here. In 2023 he was second to a course record, he then lowered that to 6:31 in 2024. 

Hugh Tibbs: Ran a superb SDW100 last summer in the deepest field we've ever had at that event, coming home second in 14:46. He opened up 2025 with a third place at the Arc of Attrition in January.

James Local: New to ultra running, but a blazing fast marathoner with a 2:29 at London in 2024. Won another North Downs trail event with Maverick in 2024 also.

Benjamin Hall: Last year he finished third here behind Patrick and Alistair Courtney who went on to win the other three 50 mile events in 2024. Not a shabby result! He then ran home second at Chiltern Wonderland 50 and third at Winter Downs 100.

Alex Hammond: Won Hurtwood 50km last December before a 5:16 at country to capital so he comes in with good form.

In the hunt for top ten: James Whetman, Harvey Waller, Mark Potts, Jamie Pond, Sam Larcombe.

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We look forward to welcoming everyone on Saturday and a huge thanks in advance to our volunteers without whom none of this would be possible.

Our 100 mile season opener since 2012, back for the fourteenth edition this year - the Thames Path 100 is right around the corner. Flat, fast, often attracting those hopeful of a first 100 mile finish as well as those shooting for major PBs at the distance - this year looks to be no different.

Follow all of the action live via the website homepage from 0900 on Saturday 3rd May.

The conditions have been incredible on the trails over the past month. A couple of weeks out from race day as we write this, things look set to stay the same, but any late downpour especially on race weekend itself can as we have seen in the past, lead to tough going in the final third in particular. That aside, there is so much fast all weather trail surface including paved sections early on, that the going for most at least as far as Henley is often extremely swift.  

The starting field at this event is always set at 300 and this year is no different. So let's have a look at the likely leading contenders in both the womens and mens events.

MEN

Alastair Courtney: Still relatively new to the ultra game but what an opening account he has put together so far. In 2024 he came out of nowhere to finish third at the Hundred Hills 50km against a classy field, before completely dominating the 50 mile Grand Slam. He won three of the four events last year, losing out only at the NDW50 to a course record from Patrick Wightman. He capped the year off with the Wendover Woods 50 in a time which not only won him the race but saw him take the seemingly untouchable Grand Slam record of our very own Jon Ellis by 11 minutes. This however, is his first 100. This year he kicked off with a third place at Country to Capital but in a sub 5 hour time. 

Alastair Courtney

Josh Barrow: The 2020 South Downs Way 50 champion (6:15) took victory at Race to the Stones last year and this year has so far recorded wins at both the Chester 50 and the Manchester to Liverpool 50. This does look to be his first 100 mile attempt.

Sergey Ionov: A long race specialist Sergey has had some outstanding results mainly over the flatter profile course over the years. Winner of the Grand Union Canal Race along with two runner up finishes. Third place at Badwater. Winner of Leeds Liverpool Canal Race and a 13th at Spartathlon. He has run this race once before finishing inside the top ten all the way back in 2017.

Thomas Lepers: The 2022 French National 24 hour champion, Thomas another specialist in the long, flat and faster courses. Last year he set a 24hr PB on route to fourth place in Albi with 257km. He has also has a 100km PB of 7:24 and a 12 hour best of 142km which he ran at our Track 100 in 2022.

Dave Phillips: Dave would feature much higher up the list of potential winners if he wasn't attempting something a little further than the race distance. Dave has shown fantastic form in recent years particularly over the super long ultras. Winner of the 2024 North Traverse, the 2023 Summer Spine Race and with a raft of other wins, podiums and top tens behind him. It has long been Dave's ambition to run all of our National Trails. The South West Coast Path record holder has ticked off a fair few but over race weekend he will be starting off at the Barrier, running to register for the event, running the TP100 before carrying on through to the source of the Thames - a journey of 184 miles.

Matt Gallagher: Super consistent over our TP100 and Autumn 100 courses in years gone by. He has finished five 100 milers with us, top ten positions in all but with a best of 15:34 here in 2023.

Ben Carrol: Seventh at the inaugural Winter Downs 100 back in December, he ran 248km over 24hrs for second place at Crawley 24 back in 2023.

Martin Reed: 2:37 marathoner with three race wins over shorter lower key ultras over the past 18 months.

Alex Sawbridge: Two top ten finishes at the South Downs Way 50, finishing fourth in 6:53 in 2023, he then went on to finish the SDW100 that same year in sixth.

WOMEN

Jennie Dunkley: Fifth at the Autumn 100 in 2023, Jennie also finished fourteenth at the SDW100 in 2023 and seventh at the NDW50 back in 2021.

Jennie Dunkley

Lucile Resplandy: French runner with an incredible CV of mountain races. Has literally dozens of ultra finishes in her past with lots of top tens, podiums and a few wins over the years and most at very long distance events such as Grand Raid Pyrenees, PicAreige, Tuscany Crossing and many many more. It will be fascinating to see what she can do on the flat.

Camilla Mitchell: Picked up five top five finishes at ultras in 2023 including a second at Race to the Stones. In 2024, she won the Ultra X Spring Series 50km and this year finished fifth at Hundred Hills 50km to kick start the season in fine fashion.

Mel Horley: Somewhat of a legend in our community for becoming the first and until this year, only unsupported female runner to finish the Winter Downs 200 - when she took home ninth place in 2023. Previously both a 50 mile and 100 mile Grand Slam finisher, her 100 mile PB of 22:59 was set on this course.

Beyond the usual Centurion Trophies and Age Group Awards, the Ed Catmur Trophies for fastest first-time 100 milers will once again be awarded at the finish, the most fitting way to remember our past champion and 30 time 100-mile finisher with us alone.

A huge thanks to the 100+ volunteers that will make this event possible again in 2025. 

The thirteenth annual running of what is and always has been our 50 mile season opener - the South Downs Way 50 - kicks off Saturday 12th April. 

Live tracking for the race is available here from 0830 on race day.

Once again the race sold out all the way back in the autumn of last year, its popularity undiminished. This years field of close to 500 runners includes some phenomenal athletes at the sharp end all the way through to those whose ambition is much simpler - to make it to the finish line of their first 50 mile race. 

The weather of late hasn't been an early spring so much as an early summer. The trails are in the most unbelievably good shape for the time of year and if anything runners will be more concerned about getting a sun tan and dehydration than rain, wind and muddy ground. Of course there is plenty of time for that to change! And the downs can be notoriously unyielding to any local conditions. The ridge is so prominent and so near the see that mist, fog, high winds and rain have all featured in years gone by. It is always a bit of a game planning for and packing for a downs event in April. 

This years list of contenders for the top spots contains many familiar names but also some new ones who could make things very exciting. As usual you can follow all of the action via the Live Tracking Page and our Instagram Channel from 0830 on Saturday 12th.

WOMEN

Sarah Page: Sarah was the 2023 SDW100 Champion and the 2024 NDW100 Champion. Also bagging second place at the Autumn 100 and 7th at the 110km Bue Course at Istria by UTMB amongst them. She started 2025 with a bang finishing second at the Arc of Attrition. 

Sarah Page

Anna Buckingham: Centurion Running coach Anna Buckingham has completed some of the most iconic races in the UK and Europe, including the Spine, Mont Blanc 90k and the Tor des Geants and is still getting quicker over the shorter distances with 8th at the MIUT 85k last year a sign of that. 2025 started with a 10k PB of 40:06 and that leg speed will be key with the SDW being a little more runnable than her usual races.

Rachel Stanley Evans: Finished third at the Autumn 100 in 2023. Top 5 finishes in recent years include Race to the Stones, Ultra X Jordan, Pilgrims Challenge, Race to the King and many more.

Tamsin Neale: Second at the Thames Path 100 last year, Tamsin has been really consistent across the 50km - 50 mile distance in years preceeding that. Results include a third at the Chiltern Wonderland 50, two fifth places at Hundred Hills 50km and some solid results at much more mountainous ultras such as UTS50km and 14 Peaks.

Rachel Lindley: 7th here in 2019, Rachel went on to a superb Grand Slam in 2022 finishing sixth at this race in 8:10, before taking fifth, third and sixth at the remaining three 50s that year. In 2024 she ran onto the podium at Hundred Hills 50km before taking fifth at the SDW50 again, in 8:26. 

Charlotte Laing: 7th at this race in 2023 in 8:43, a big improvement on her 2020 time of 10:01. 

Laura Watts: Our 2024 Winter Downs 100 champion is back for some more downland running!

Annaka Charters: Winner of Run to the Sea Bournemouth in 2022, in 2024 she was second at the London Lea Valley 50km by Camino Ultra, and fourth at the 5 Valleys ultra later that September. 

MEN

Mark Darbyshire: Centurion Ultra Team runner who remains the best in the business. 2025 is off to a mixed start, after a DNF at the Spine Challenger South in appalling conditions, and a rough first half of TransGranCanaria, Mark then turned on the jets to pass over 50 runners and finish in 12th. Mark is the course record holder at too many races to list, including but not limited to: NDW100, Lakeland 100, Arc of Attrition, UTS 100 mile, 13Valleys, Lakes Traverse etc.

Mark Darbyshire

Josh Barrow: Champion here in 2020, in a blazing time of 6:15. A 2:33 marathoner, in 2024 he won Race to the Stones in a sub 8 hour time and this year has started off with a win at the Chester 50 in 6:25.

Patrick Wightman: 9th here back in 2015, the last two years have seen him raise the bar substantially at the NDW50, with a second place in 2023, bettered by a win and a new course record of 6:31 at that event in 2024.

Guy Hudson: Third here last year in 6:35, a big improvement on his three other previous top ten finishes here. Guy has turned Vet 50 this year so it looks a tough ask for him to be beaten in his age cat!

Paddy Hamilton: 2:23 marathoner back in the day, Paddy has raced a few shorter ultras in recent years including a win at Race to the Stones in 2021 and a win at the Pilgrims Challenge in 2023. 

Matt Hammerton: Burst onto our scene with a win and course record at Wendover Woods Night 50km in 2022. Since then key results include eighth at UTS50km in 2023, fourth at the SDW100 in 2024 in a really impressive 15:04 and then a podium spot at the Wendover Woods 50 mile late last year.

Tim Piggott: Picked up a few wins over the years on the UK scene, amongst some finishes at bigger international ultras. Key first place finishes include Spine Challenger South in 2022 and Race to the Stones in 2019.

The first race of the 2025 season is upon us. Kicking off at 0900 on Saturday 15th March is the third edition of the Hundred Hills 50km. With approximately 4000ft of climb and a 9 hour cut off, the race has quickly become an early season show down, showing us who is in shape headed into the spring and summer race seasons. As well as a perfect way for many to build up to our 50 mile and 100 mile events to come, or simply to tackle their first ultra.

As in 2024 the field has been capped for around 425 starters. Beginning at the magnificent Stonor Park, runners head out on the first loop through the villages of Ibstone, Fingest and then Skirmett, two of which have fully stocked check points, before returning to Stonor at half way. The second loop takes them over to the Hambleden Valley, then on to Bix, the final check point before the final kick for home back to Stonor.

The course is unchanged from its previous two editions. Big news is that we have now partnered with Precision Hydration. So not only will runners find Tailwind and Gu out on course, alongside a raft of real food of course, but also a full offering of PH Chews, Electrolyte and Gels to fuel then to success.

You can follow the race live via the tracking page which will be available just prior to race start through the link here.

Let's have a look at the likely leading contenders for the top spots. The womens field is deep with lots of potential winners. The mens field is packed full and should be a very close race.

WOMEN

Julia Davis: Julia is a 50/50 as to whether she will start, as she is just returning to full fitness but if she does, she will be the woman to beat. Our Centurion Coach is still the South Downs Way 50 record holder and recently represented Team GB over 100km again in India in the World Championships in December where she came home in 14th place. The 2:39 marathoner has also won a national vest and competed for GB on the trails at the World Champs, last time out in 2023.

Julia Davis

Amy Sarkies: A past Wendover Woods 50 and Autumn 100 champion, Amy has also represented GB at 100km, in 2022. In 2023 she won Hardmoors 55 and has twice podiumed at Lakeland 50.

Rebecca Ash: Seventh here last year. Previous winner of Robin Hood 100 and top three at Wendover Woods 50.

Karla Borland: Third place at the ACP 100km in 2023, also third at Country To Capital a couple of months ago. Previous winner of the Weald Challenge and Brecon Beacons 50km.

Camilla Mitchell: Has consistently finished in the top 5 at lots of ultras over the past few years including Race to the Stones (second), Ultra X Spring Trail Series (first) and the Amersham Ultra (first).

Amy Sole: Grand Slam 50 mile champion in 2023, Amy finished on the podium at the NDW50 and in the top ten of all four. Second place at the Arc 50 in 2022. Previous winner of the Black RAT.

Nicole Frisby: 2:58 at London in 2024. Winner of Wendover Woods Night 50km in 2023, with several other shorter ultra race wins to her name.

Rachel Dench: Fourth at the SDW50 in 2023, also won the Maverick X Series Chilterns 50km that year around a similar area to this. Lots of top ten finishes at races of all distances going back to 2014, always consistent and including a podium at Chiltern Wonderland 50 along the way.

 

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Kallum Pritchard: Kallum keeps getting faster and faster. Last year he was second to Mark Darbyshire (a late non-starter this time), five minutes back. Since then he has go on to win the Thames Path 100, Manchester to Liverpool 50 in 5:39 and recently set a new course record of 4:45 at Country to Capital. An Ed Catmur course record that had stood since 2014.

Kallum Pritchard

Joseph Turner: Jo is a Team GB 100km runner with a PB of 6:35 over the distance, he represtented Team GB in India in December. But he's handy on the trail too with wins at Wendover Woods Night 50km, Maverick's Jurassic Ultra 50km and Ultra X's summer trail series 50km scattered in amongst some international level road and track running.

Jose Rodriguez: Winner of the NDW50 in 2023 just ahead of Patrick (below) in what was a course record time. Fourth at the SDW100 in 2022 and ran 144km in 12 hours in 2024. 

Patrick Wightman: Set a new North Downs Way 50 Course Record last year, coming home in 6:31. He's finished that race three times, improving to second in 2023 before finally cracking it last year.

In the Hunt for Top Ten: Nick Berry (winner Serpent Trail 100km/ Beacons Ultra), Will Burrard Lucas (2:37 marathon), James Whetman (Winner Serpent Trail 100km, fifth here last year), Mark Shannon (eighth here last year), Mark Potts (second Spine Challenger South in January, 12th here last year), Stuart Farmer (Second at the 2022 South Downs Way 50)