1 Dec 25 by James Elson
Winter Downs 200 2025 Preview
The third edition of the Winter Downs 200 kicks off Wednesday 10th December. With a group of the very hardiest souls looking to complete the loop of the North Downs Way, Vanguard Way, South Downs Way, Wayfarers Walk and St Swithuns Way all in under 96 hours.
This is the longest, darkest, most difficult race we have ever put on and it is a true test of adventure. With only four official check points, but those providing sleeping and full catering facilities, it is a classic winter journey which requires planning, preparation and true endurance.
Follow the race live via the website here (live link will be available from Monday 8th December).
WOMEN
Nine women toe the line this year, making up 15% of the starting field.
Sarah Enright is the pick of those, having finished fourth at Race Across Scotland 215 mile, sixth at the 300km Northern Traverse and a second at the Norn Ireland Ultra - 100 miles in recent years.
Jemma Lyons was seventh here in the inaugural year of the race.
Zoe Norman a previous fourth placed finisher at North Downs Way 100, came up agonisingly just 10 miles short here in 2023 and is looking for that magic finish this time.
Libby Clark was fourth at the Winter Downs 100 last year and steps up this year. She has also previously finished fourth at the Chiltern Wonderland 50.
Jade Barrett is looking to become the first person ever to complete the full calendar of Centurion events in one year having already finished Hundred Hills 50km and both the Grand Slams.
Jade Barrett
Darla Crispin comes into this as a finisher of the 100 last year, and an FV60 as well as a cancer survivor, truly an insipiration to us all.
Aimee Tippins won the Bridge 100 Mile in 2024 and has two other podium finishes at trail 24hr events.
Julie Dennis began her ultra journey with us at the inaugural Hundred Hills 50km and has worked her way up through our 50 and 100 milers to this ultimate test.
Helen Milton-Symes is a previous finisher of our North Downs Way 100 and the Marathon Des Sables amongst many other ultras.
MEN
Caspian James: In 2024 Caspian won both the 13 Valleys Ultra and the 215 mile Race Across Scotland. This year he was fifth at UTS 100 miler and 30th at the highly competitive TransGranCanaria.
Nick Berry: Two races with us this year, a third place at Hundred Hills 50km and a second place at Chiltern Wonderland 50. Nick has had some top results in the past including a win at the Serpent Trail 100km, top ten at the Arc and a win at the Beacons Ultra amongst many others.
Nick Berry
Pete Thomason: Pete was second at the North Downs Way 100 this year and won the London 100km by Camino prior to that too.
Tom Harvey: From Forest Row, 35 miles into the course, Tom was third at the Chiltern Wonderland 50 this year, and seventh at the Arc back in January. All his past ultra finishes have been top tens which is mightily impressive consistency.
Dominic Gill: Second at this years Summer Spine. Seventh at the Northern Traverse back in April and ninth at the Spine Challenger North in January - this would cap off an impressive year of going into the super long.
Ben Carroll: Seventh at Winter Downs 100 last year and ran 225km to finish second at Crawley 24hr back in April, the second time he has achieved that position but has a 248km 24hr PB there.
Mike Samuels: Mike picked up 13th at the Arc in 2024 and later that year went on to finish fourth at the Race Across Scotland.
Aaron Jewell: Picked up ninth here last year and could go better again.
1 Dec 25 by James Elson
Winter Downs 100 2025 Preview
The second edition of the Winter Downs 100 kicks off Friday 12th December. With a sell out field of just over 100 athletes looking to see if they can complete the 100 mile point to point course from Amberley Working Museum in the heart of the South Downs National Park to Juniper Hall at Box Hill. The course takes in the second half of the Winter Downs 200 which of course kicks off two days prior. The fastest of them will be home and dry (literally) by the time the 100 kicks off but those fighting those 200 mile cut offs will this year for the first time enjoy company and camaraderie from those 100 milers.
The 1400 start on Friday gives runners just under 2 hours of daylight before they hit a 16 hour night. Many of them will be in before the sun rises again. But they have up to 35 hours or until 0100 Sunday to cover the distance if they need it.
There are strong fields in both the mens and womens divisions with some returning for more of this incredible adventure.
Follow the race live via the website here (live link will be available from Monday 8th December).
WOMENS
Laura Swanton-Rouvelin: Laura won the inaurual edition of the 200 miler back in 2023. Her list of accolades is so extensive it's hard to know where to begin but includes prior to that a Spine Race finish, an Arc of Attrition win and a win at our Autumn 100 amongst others. What's clear is that she is one of the most experienced winter racers. Since then she has won the Hardmoors 200, North Coast 110 mile as well as finishing on the podium at the Northern Traverse and banked another Spine finish to boot.
Laura Swanton-Rouvelin
Sophie Power: Fresh off a Team Gold at the 24 hour world champs, this is quite a change of scene for the founder of She Races. Whilst 24hr racing has become her biggest focus in recent years, a record running the length of Ireland and successful run outs at both our North and South Downs Way 50 and 100 mile events are all in her back catalogue too.
Natalie Utting: Winner of this years South Wales 200, she has had much success at Pegasus events in recent years with wins at some of their other 100 milers etc. In 2024 she was also fifth at the Autumn 100.
Ally Whitlock: Third at Winter Downs 200 in 2023. Ally has a raft of top five finishes in our events including second at the Autumn 100 in 2022, fourth at the South Downs Way 100 in 2021 and third at the North Downs Way 100 last year - when she also ran home in the top four of all of our 50 mile events. This summer she was eighth at the Summer Spine.
Ally Whitlock
Jennie Dunkley: Jennie is having a remarkable year, where she kicked things off by winning the Thames Path 100. She went on to complete the Grand Slam of 100s with three top tens along the way and aims to cap things off with a fifth and final 100 mile finish with us in 2025.
Laura McGill: Sixth at the 200 mile last year, Laura has been a consistent top ten performer at our events over the years including at Chiltern Wonderland 50 where she finished second in 2023. This year she was eighth at the NDW100.
Louise Langmead: Finished tenth at the SDW100 this year in her third finish there. Has also placed in the top ten at Autumn 100 in the past.
MEN
Geoff Cheshire: The stand out runner last year, Geoff blazed home in an inaugural course record of 15:44. Past winner of the TP100, previous course record holder at the Autumn 100 with a sub 14 hour finish there and he's been past Chiltern Wonderland 50 champion amongst many other accolades.
Geoff Cheshire
James Bennett: Continues to turn out an astonishing level of racing that really belies sustainability. Last year he became the youngest person to finish 100 x 100 milers. The volume of racing does seem to have the effect of high variance in his 100 mile performances but he is well capable of competitive results. At the Autumn 100 in October he was fifth in 16:58 and back in the summer he won the 130 mile Leeds to Liverpool Canal Race.
Harry Pickering: 14th at this years SDW100 in 16:49. Went on to finish third at the Serpent Trail 100km in the summer.
Nathan Hutton: Ninth here last year, in 2024 he also won the South Wales 200.
