NDW100 2024 Race Preview

The North Downs Way 100 comes back around for the fourteenth time! This was our original event back in 2011 and as the pedigree of the race continues to grow we have a stellar field with an eye on the prize - certainly the course records which are some of our longest standing, could be put under threat if conditions play ball.... but that is a big if!

The womens record is held by Debbie Martin-Consani who ran 18:34 all the way back in 2016. Mark Darbyshire was early on in his running career when he seemingly appeared out of nowhere and obliterated the mens course record in 2019, by running 15:18. 

WOMENS

Sarah Page: Sarah was our 2023 South Downs Way 100 champion and ran home second later last year at the Autumn 100, her first year of 100 mile races and an impressive one at that.

Sarah Page

Ally Whitlock: Ally is in the midst of running our 50 mile Grand Slam this year and has already recorded a third at SDW50 and a fourth at NDW50 over the first half of the season. Ally has many years of fine results at our events behind her. In 2023 she was third at both the Winter Downs 200 and Wendover Woods 100, arguably the two hardest races we've staged to date. Previously over the 100 mile distance her best was 18:27 for second at the much flatter Autumn 100 in 2022. In 2020 she finished sixth here in 26:45 but there is no doubt she will be looking to go a lot quicker this time. 

Ally Whitlock

Anastasia Hounslow: Two time winner of the Serpent Trail 100km and winner of the 2023 Fox Ultra.

Amy Sole: Our 2023 Grand Slam 50 mile Champion, Amy finished in the top ten of all four events in 2023. She also has a second place at the Arc 50 to her name.

Kate Archer: Kate was fifth at the Lakeland 100 in 2023 in a sub 30 hour time which bodes very well for a good run here.

Mary Marshall: Mary was fifth at the NDW50 earlier this spring, which followed a win at the EnduranceLife North Cornwall 50km back in January. 

Sophie Brownlee: Sophie looks to have podiumed at each of the six ultras she has to her name. Those races include Race to the Castle, the South West Traverse and then in 2023 her longest race to date - the Devon Coast to Coast over 112 miles. 

Kim Loney: Two ultra distance wins already this year and plenty more in the past, mainly in the Yorkshire and Northumbria racing scene. This years wins include the Pennine Journey North Ultra and Ripon Stinger. This looks to be her first 100 miler.

Emily Newton: Has been a prolific racer since stepping into ultras in 2021, including plenty of wins, podium and top ten finishes. Stand out results include a 7:24 over 50 miles at Manchester to Liverpool. Has a finish at the Arc of Attrition to her name too.

 

MENS

Geoff Cheshire: Geoff bounces into this one after dropping from the South Downs Way 100 this past June, where he led over the first 40 miles. He is the course record holder at the Autumn 100, where he ran 13:58 in 2023. He also won the Thames Path 100 last year in 14:18. In 2021 he ran 17:07 here to finish second behind only Hungarian international Norbert Mihalik. He will be very hungry to get this one right!

Geoff Cheshie

Richard McDowell: Rich is our Thames Path 100 course record holder where he ran 13:43 in 2021. That year he also won the South Downs Way 50. In 2022 he won our South Downs Way 100 in 14:49. Both of his 100s to date have not, however gone to plan. Rich's background is on the road and track where he has had a glittering career. A marathon PB of 2:23, he ran 2:28 at London this year - it's his consistency which is most impressive. He will certainly be looking at targetting the course record here.

Ryan Whelan: It is rare that we welcome back the previous years' first and second place finishers but that is the case this time. Ryan pipped Joe Ackerley by less than the lap of the track in 2023 to take the win in 17:07. This year is off to a great start with a 146km+ effort for the win at the Taipei 12 hour. The Hong Kong based athlete has years of fine results behind him mostly in that territory.

Joe Ackerley: Finished 87 seconds behind Ryan last year in the closest finish we've ever seen here, to finish second in 17:08.

Ryan and Joe go 1,2 in 2023

Ed Knudsen: Ed's pedigree is deep and he knows this trail well. He has finished the NDW50 three times including a win in 2022 in 6:55. Previous CW50 champion in 6:34 alongside a raft of other strong runs. He is also no stranger to long events with two of our 100s featuring in the earlier part of his ultra career, but this is his first step back up to the distance in a while.

Mauro Persic: Sixth at the 2023 Arc Of Attrition, twice in the Top Ten at Istria by UTMB - the 100 mile distance which attracts an international calibre field. At least 20 Top Ten ultra finishes at all distances and terrain types over the past four years. 

Jamie Pugh: A member of our coaching staff here at Centurion, Jamie brings his world class expertise to our team. But he is also a fine runner in his own right. He ran home sixth at our highly competitive Hundred Hills 50km back in March before running a PB of 7:20 over 100km in Sweden in April. 

FOLLOW THE RACE

Follow the race live from 0700 3rd August via the Live Tracking (available here from 1st August) and our Instagram Channel.