A wonderful field of regulars and newbie's alike, joined us in Worthing for the start of the twelfth edition of the South Downs Way 50, which has been and will no doubt always be one of our most popular events and has recently benefitted from some glorious spring weather. This year was to see a continuation of that theme.

Temperatures were close to ideal to kick things off, but some early morning mist took some time to clear which it did thanks to a strong south westerly breeze mostly assisting runners all the way to Eastbourne.

The front of the womens race was close and competitive from the outset, with Michelle Attridge immediately seizing control from the front, followed hotly by Helen Moss and Ally Whitlock - with just three minutes separating them at check point one. The positions remained the same throughout the race and the gaps hardly changed at all making it exciting viewing for all of us out on course and for those dot watching from home. Michelle won in 7:50:51, Helen closed really hard over the final section taking three minutes out of Michelle between Jevington and the Finish but ulimately just falling short of the win, in 7:53 and Ally Whitlock coming home for third and a huge PB - in 8:03. 

Michelle Attridge

The mens race shaped up very differently with a pack of three guys leading the way early on. Centurion Ultra Team runner Dan Lawson and La Sportiva's Kim Collison separated themselves and ran together at a rapid rate early on and gapped the field. Alistair Courtney who was third at Hundred Hills 50km last month shadowed them in the same position here. On the way to Saddlescombe Farm CP2 on what is truly Dan's home turf he pushed ahead and held a two minute gap over Kim. He then led through Housedean and the marathon mark, Southease and down into Alfriston at Mile 41 where Alistair who had long since passed Kim, finally caught up to him. The two forged on over from Alfriston and when it seemed Alistair would get ahead, the opposite happened as Dan made a break for it depsite cramping on the hills. When the two hit the road in Eastbourne with 2 miles to go, Alistair was able to find that little something extra to forge past the old master and cross the line first in 6:27, Dan finishing in second just over a minute back with the two close enough to share the track together at the end. Guy Hudson ran a superb race and improved on his PB to pick up third in 6:35, edging out Kim into fourth. 

Alistair Courtney

The Age Categories, awards went to the following:

FV40 to Ally Whitlock in 8:03, also third overall. FV50 to Samantha Ridley in 9:22 and FV60 to Jackie Turner in 10:22, a course record by 18 minutes and a stunning time for an FV60 50 miler. 

MV40 went to Guy Hudson also third overall. MV50 to Dan Lawson, also second overall and who took the course record down by nearly 40 minutes! MV60 went to David Prince-Iles in 8:49, what is remarkable there is that David turns 70 in a few weeks time, so expect some new age group records if he carries on racing! MV70 went to Ken Fancett as usual in 9:53. Aged 75 Ken continues to finish well inside the top half of the field.

With 10 minutes left until the cut off, a number of runners were still out on course, and we were desperaetly willing them all home. Iain Ross became our 401st and final finisher in 12:56:54, with Ben Love last man out on course unfortunately missing the cut by just a few minutes. He showed tremendous grit and we hope he returns next year. 401 finishers is a record for us and we are so happy that so many were able to share a wonderful day with us.

Massive thanks as always to our team of volunteers without whom none of this would be possible.

 

The 2024 season opened with a bang this past Saturday 16th March as over 400 runners set off on a bright and sunny morning on their 50km adventure around the Chilterns. Stonor Park was once again our start, middle check point and finish - with the two loop course taking runners out through the village check points at Ibstone and Skirmett on Loop One and then Hambleden and Bix on Loop Two. The course is set up for first timers and experienced racers alike. 

2024 marked the second edition of our Hundred Hills 50km and it was wonderful to see such a cross section of runners out on course. Lots of people were out there running their first ever ultra and the nerves were palapable. But they were joined by a large number of Centurion regulars out there getting a longer run in before their spring 50 and 100 milers, or just testing themselves against the distance. At the sharp end we had runners capable of lowering already stout course records from Year 1 - Daniel Weller's 4:05 and Amy Jo-Clarke's 4:46 - which, it should be added were set on a day when the rain fell for the entirity, turning the course into a bit of a mud bath!

This year however, things were drier out on course - there were the typically muddy cross country style bridleway sections but there was a lot of good dry trail in there too and it was a glorious sunny morning for all of our runners.

In the womens race, past Chiltern Wonderland 50 champion Sophie Biggs looked like the most experienced and consistent performer on the line, but she was up against sub 3 hour marathoner Anna Klucnika, who may only have had one ultra under her belt before this, but in that race she'd not only won but beaten all of the guys too. 

Anna Klucnika

It was in fact Anna who went off in the lead and she was to hold that position all day, steadily building her margin from start to end. She ran through half way in 2:05, with Hannah Shutt in 2:15 in second and Sophie in third in 2:17. 

Anna held a strong pace through the slightly longer second half and ran home in a new course record time of 4:32, 14 minutes under the previous best. Sophie used all of her experience and came home second, a big improvement over her 2023 run here in a time of 4:56. Third place went to Rachel Lindley who closed brilliantly to finish in five hours flat. 

Sophie Biggs

Rachel Lindley

The mens race was a very different affair with a lead pack heading off together at a blistering pace. Within the group out front were Robbie Britton and Mark Darbyshire from our Ultra Team - both serial winners over countless events, Kallum Pritchard, Thomas Wright and Hugo Hewitt. 

Through check point one and the 10km mark, Robbie had a small lead of just over a minute. Back through to half way at Stonor Mile 15, that lead had stretched to five, but with the rest of the pack were still together in the hunt and with the exception of Hugo Hewitt, didn't pause for a second to take anything from the check point. 

Out on to loop two, Robbie maintained his lead through the Hambleden check point, but on the gradual road descent to the final CP at Bix, irretrievable stomach issues hit and he was passed by Mark Darbyshire who had moved into second by himself and was now charging hard. Whilst he admitted to looking over his shoulder a lot in the closing section, Mark held on to win in a new Course Record of 3:57. Whilst Mark has been clearing up course records at long standing classic 100 milers like Lakeland 100, NDW100 and the Arc of Attrition, he hasn't raced these shorter distances against deeper competition as much. To see him perform to this level at event which, one could argue, is not completely in his wheel house really exemplifies what an incredible athlete he is.

Mark Darbyshire

The other guys rounding out the podium ran superbly paced races and closed well to move up over the second half. Kallum Pritchard took second in 4:03, also under the old record and third place went to Alistair Courtney in 4:10.

Kallum Pritchard

In the age categories we handed out our new awards for the first time, these will be a feature at all of our events going forward. We have always rewarded age cats and podium finishers with prize vouchers but these new mementos will we hope be treasured by those who earn them!

In the womens race, awards were as follows:

FV40 to Rachel Lindley, also third overall. FV50 to Sophie Biggs, also second overall. FV60 went to Eleanor Grant in 8:02. We had three FV60 finishers which was a superb tally, one we very rarely see and an example of what is possible!

Eleanor Grant won the FV60 Category

MV40 went to Mark Darbyshire who won the mens race. MV50 went to Jason Leaf who finished in 4:30 and MV60 to Doug Cackett in 5:25.

385 runners crossed the line which is a new record for us in terms of total finishers at an event. Long may it continue.

A huge thanks to the team of 60 volunteers who made it all possible. From course markers and sweepers, check point teams, registration, parking and finish line crews literally none of this would be possible without you all. 

Next up is the South Downs Way 50 on April 13th and we look forward to welcoming a similar field size there. 

 

The fourth edition of our annual One Slam virtual event took an earlier start date than usual and kicked off on Christmas Day to allow most people to get off to a good start over the holiday period. 

The challenges were the same as in 2023. Runners/ Walkers (and scooters for the kids division!) had ten weeks to achieve their goal distance which ranged from 50 miles up to 1000 miles. 

Most use this as pre-season training and an added level of motivation to get out and move during the colder, darker and in the case of this year, very much wetter months! It is truly fantastic to see the positive impact this has on so many peoples winters and the rest of their year of racing and training off of the back of the added consistency. The coaching webinars put on by our team, led by Robbie Britton in every case, were widely attended and offered many a chance to learn and reflect and of course therefore improve and further enjoy their running and training. 

473 runners across 19 countries took part in this challenge. From little ones taking on 50 miles on their bikes and scooters, to Aaron Robinson who finished his 1000 miles before the end of January, this event encourages people of all ages, abilities, locations and backgrounds to have a go at challenging themselves. It is become such a worthwhile enterprise each year.

On top of that, 10% of all proceeds will be sent to the charity MIND and 71 trees were planted through runners opting out of their awards in favour of trees not tees.

For 2025 we will be back, again starting on Christmas Day. The distances will be the same. However we will be including a One Up week with separate awards which will be free to enter for those looking to see what they can do in the hills! Further details will be available in the coming weeks.

Huge thanks to all who took part and of course to our sponsors and partners for the spot prizes along the way. Petzl, La Sportiva, Ultimate Direction and Injinji.

One Slam 2024: Photo c/o Brioni Izzard

One Slam 2024 Photo c/o Thuy Nga

One Slam 2024 Photo c/o Frank Leary 

One Slam 2024 Photo c/o Kyla and Keith Miller

One Slam 2024 Photo c/o Christina Lyon

 

One Slam 2024 Photo c/o Chris Goad

 One Slam 2024 Photo c/o Robbie Britton