8 Apr 25 by James Elson
South Downs Way 50 2025 Preview
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.
4 Mar 25 by James Elson
Hundred Hills 50km 2025 Race Preview
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.
MEN
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)
