The fourteenth edition of our 50 mile season opener - the South Downs Way 50 - kicks off from Hill Barn Rec in Worthing this coming Saturday at 0830. The course joins the SDW100 route just 10km in and then mirrors that course including all of its check points, to finish on the track at Eastbourne Sports Park. A stunning route with rolling hills, ridgeline running and screaming fast descents. Ideal for first timers and seasoned pros alike and an event which for the last few years has enjoyed near perfect conditions. We hope for the same this time out!
This race attracts solid competition. Course records are held by Tom Evans (5:44) from back in 2018, and Julia Davis (6:54) from 2019. Nobody has gotten close since so it will be interesting to see if this year, either is threatened by the cast of characters below.
Follow the race live via the link here (will be active from mid-week prior to the race).
WOMENS RACE
Karla Borland (ITRA 630): Fourth at the SDW100 last year in the most competitive field of all time at that event. That followed her win at the Hundred Hills 50km last March. The Northern Ireland international was third at the British 100km Champs in 2023.
Karla Borland
Veronika Gill (ITRA 623): Veronika had an amazing 2025 with improvements and consistency standing her out. Third at the NDW50, Second at the CW50 and then a win at the Wendover Woods 50 in November saw her finish the year with a bang.
Veronika Gill
Sophie Seward (ITRA 575): Sophie won the Autumn 100 back in October of 2025 in a time of 18:25, an improvement of 5 hours and 9 positions on her 2024 result there. Also finished second at Peddars Way ultra last year.
Sophie Seward
Katie Brazier (ITRA 577): Winner of this years Country to Capital and St. Peters Way Ultra. In 2025 she won the Thames Trail 50 and Stour Valley Path 100km.
Fiona Slevin-Brown (ITRA 563): Our 2024 Chiltern Wonderland 50 champion, Fiona won the North Downs Ridge 50km and Butcombe Trail 50km in 2025 also - all as a FV55 category runner, amazing performances and even more so in light of that.
Claire Howard (ITRA 556): Lots of fantastic results spanning the period 2022 to now, many at the longer end of the spectrum. In 2025 she was second at GUCR. In 2024 she ran an 18:10 100 mile split at Crawley Track 24hr where she finished third. In 2023 she won Hardmoors 160. In 2022 she finished top ten at the SDW100 so is familiar with this course.
Laura Watts (ITRA 555): 2024 Winter Downs 100 Champion, she was fifth at this race last year before going onto yet another Badwater (Top Ten) finish. This will be her fifth outing at the SDW50.
Hayley Green (ITRA 530): Sixth at the Arc 50 in 2025.
Amelie Karlsson (ITRA - no rank): Winner of the 2024 Beachy Head marathon she has some fine ultra performances in her background too but seemingly none since 2021.
MENS RACE
David Green (ITRA 758): Ran a 14:15 for second at last years Autumn 100 behind only a new British 100 mile trail record for Hugh Tibbs. Fifth at the Arc 50 last year, Past winner of the Ridgeway 86 in one of the very few sub 13 hour times in history. Also scored big with an eleventh at Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB - Ultra-Trail des Païens 116K in 2024.
David Green
Matt Hammerton (ITRA 757): Second at this race last year in 6:22 behind only Mark Darbyshire. In 2024 he was fourth at the SDW100 in 15:05, one of the fastest ever times on that course. He also finished third at Wendover Woods 50, he had previously held the CR at the Night 50k over the same loop. A past top ten finisher at UTS 50km also.
Matt Hammerton
Paul Grieve (ITRA 730): Superb fifth place at the Hundred Hills 50km last month. Seventh at the SDW100 in 15:55 in 2024. In 2025 he won the Dartmoor Winter Traverse 50km, finished eighth at the Arc 50 and third at the Beacons Ultra 100.
Adrian Busolini (ITRA 701): Our 2023 Wendover Woods 100 champion, a year when he also took fifth at the SDW100. Form has been a little lower since but he did pick up a second at the SVP100km last year in a solid time.
Toby Meanwell (ITRA 686): Tenth here in 2023, he has had other solid results in races around the South Downs National Park area over the past 24 months too. Seems like a favourite hunting ground for him.
Tim Landy (ITRA 665): Tim was eighth here back in 2023. Since then amongst other things he has taken a top ten at the SDW100. Last year he made it deep into a second loop at Barkley and then took home a 17th at Tot Dret in September - much hillier races than here but he has retained his running speed alongside.
James Hatton (ITRA 664): Our follow cam man at the SDW100, the Precision Fuel and Hydration Staffer has made big strides recently in ultra land and most recently took third place at the North Downs Ridge 50km back in February.
