South Downs Way 50 2025 Race Report

Our 50 mile race season got underway under flawless blue skies offering runners a picture perfect day on the Downs. This was the thirteenth edition of what has always been a big favourite within our community, incidentally the day also marked the occassion of us welcoming our 10,000th 50 mile finisher over the line, across the forty three 50 mile races we have held in our history. Finishing in 11:14:48. Tom Brain in 230th took that prestigious honour.

You can find a podcast review of the race and results here

428 runners set off from Hill Barn Rec Ground in Worthing, with the joy of being able to experience the South Downs at their best. Deep fields in both the mens and womens races led to different strategies, with the leading men sticking together in a fairly tight pack through the early miles. Whilst Sarah Page led out the womens race from the gun and forged an early gap over Anna Buckingham and the other chasing ladies behind.

The mens race began to fragment on the section between Saddlescombe Farm and Housedean Farm. Patrick Wightman our NDW50 course record holder was in fourth but dropping back and clearly having a few issues that would lead to him stopping at the half way mark. Paddy Hamilton running in third also came in to Housedean battling what was a humid day which together with the headwind made staying on top of race fueling the key to success. Mark Darbyshire pulled away from Matt Hammerton on the descent to Housedean reaching there first, but then had to catch back up on the climb up to Kingston as Matt didn't stop! Mark then built a small lead which stayed at roughly the same time gap over Matt all the way to the track in Eastbourne, crossing the line in 6:15:00 to better Matt's 6:23:22. Fantastic racing. The gap to third was almost an hour as all of the early protagonists dropped away or dropped out, leaving a strong Ash Varley - past CW50 champion - to take the final podium spot in 7:18. 

Mark Darbyshire

The womens race was far more balanced, with Sarah and Anna running in one and two all day, seemingly managing the issues that the warmer conditions were throwing at them really well. Without falter, they settled in to their own races with Sarah coming home to win for the second time on this track, the other being at the 100 in 2023 and having lead gun to tape in a time of 7:41.

Womens Champion Sarah Page

Anna who recently joined our Centurion Coaching team took second in 8:01, making us doubly proud. The final spot on the podium changed hands several times and it was a race right to the finish line. Alex Coomber held the spot until Southease at Mile 34 but in hot pursuit were a cast of other hopefulys including Annaka Charters, Caroline Lear, Flic Archer and Laura Watts. In the end, Caroline pulled clear coming over the top of the final climb with less than 3 miles to go and took third. The gap between third and tenth in the womens race spanned just 18 minutes. 

Centurion Coach and Second Place - Anna Buckingham

In the age categories, there were some regular fixtures and some new faces taking trophies home. 

In the womens, first FV40 went to race winner Sarah Page. First FV50 went to Alex Coomber in 8:52 and First FV60 went to Yvonne Walker of Black Trail Runners in 12:38.

Yvonne Walker - First FV60

In the mens, first MV40 was Mark Darbyshire, first MV50 went to Ash Varley in third overall. First MV60 went to Aziouz Lammali in 9:11 and first MV70 to Ken Fancett in 11:31 - incidentally that was Kens 10th finish here. 

The finish rate was 85% on the day, with over 60 runners succumbing to the beautiful but warm conditions amongst other issues. But to welcome 365 runners over the line is still a huge thrill and a great accomplishment by all.

A huge thanks as always to our volunteer team who make all of this possible, our race sponsors for their support and the people of the South Downs National Park for allowing us to keep coming back every year.

Next up is the Thames Path 100 in just under three weeks time.