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.