Winter Downs 200^®

Entries

Applications for 2023 will open at 1000 on Monday 1st May 2023. Places will be managed to allow 100 runners on the start line and are on a first come, first served basis and subject to acceptance by race management.

To apply, runners must submit details of their running or multi-sport experience and pay a deposit of £150. If an application is successful, the details for the remainder of the payment will be emailed across. Payments can be made in one go upon acceptance, or via installments. If a runners qualifying details are not deemed acceptable, the deposit will be returned in full and the runner contacted via email to explain why.

There will be no waiting list for this event.

The total entry fee is £550.

Qualification Standard

Runners must declare their previous running and multi-sport experience in their application. The key focus of which should be to instill confidence in us as organisers of their ability to cover very long distances between check points on foot, self-navigating in what could be extremely difficult conditions including 16 hours of darkness in every 24. As organisers we reserve the right to refuse any application.

Applications should include not only relevant race experience but experience of winter, mountain or self-supported, self-powered journeys. 

It isn't possible for us to list accepted events, there are simply too many but as a gauge, a runner who has completed a single stage trail 100 mile (or longer) event would stand a good chance of their application being accepted. Completion of single stage events of less than 100 miles will not on their own be substantial enough for a successful application, though will of course help. Equally as valid as 100 mile plus race finishes would be self-powered or solo adventures in the mountains or in winter over difficult terrain with limited support, whether on foot or other means of travel. Inclusion of adventure racing, orienteering, climbing and other adventure sports will all be viewed positively. 

Cut Offs

Runners must finish within the 96 hour time limit. There are additional cut offs at every checkpoint on route and these are listed within the aid station table.

Start/ Finish Location

Race HQ, the start and finish are all at Juniper Hall, Old London Road, Dorking, RH5 6DA.

Route

Starting out from Juniper Hall in the shadow of Box Hill and the North Downs Way, the route travels east for 18 miles on the NDW National Trail as far as its intersection with the Vanguard Way at Botley Hill. The course then travels south for 45 miles on the Vanguard Way to Alfriston, which is our 91 mile point on the South Downs Way 100. Runners will then turn west and run almost 80 miles of the South Downs Way, as far as Exton. Before turning north first on the Wayfarers Walk and then the St. Swithuns Way up to Farnham - a section of 32 miles - and rejoin the start of the North Downs Way National Trail. The final 25 miles of the course completes the loop back on the NDW to Box Hill and Juniper Hall.

A map and downloadable GPX of the route can be found at the bottom of this page. 

Awards

Buckle to all finishers.

Additional prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place Male and Female and all Vet Categories: MV40, MV50, MV60, MV70, FV40, FV50, FV60, FV70. 

Aid Stations

There will be 3 major aid stations and 1 safety point along the length of the course. At all three aid stations, runners will have access to full hot meals, their drop bags and sleeping accommodation. Crew are not permitted at or in the aid stations themselves. The Safety Point (check point 4) will provide only hot water and shelter.

Runners are permitted a maximum of 3 hours at CP1 and 6 hours at CP2 and CP3 respectively. But must ensure they leave the check point before the final cut off passes, irrespective of their arrival time. Runners are only permitted 60 minutes maximum stopping time at CP4.

Aid Station 1 at Mile 49 is at Blackboys Village Hall where runners will find a large hall for eating and sorting their kit, with adjacent kitchen. And a side room available for getting a short rest - 3 Hour Time Limit for total stay. 

Aid Station 2 at Mile 92 is at Truleigh Hill YHA. Runners will have access to the entire hostel. Hot Food will be served in the upstairs lounge area and sleeping accommodation is in the YHA rooms.

Aid Station 3 at Mile 137 is at the Sustainability Centre. Much like the YHA, runners will have access to the entire centre, with food served in the main canteen and sleeping in the many rooms the Centre offers.

Aid Station 4 at mile 183 is at Puttenham Cricket Club Pavilion. This is a Safety Point, not an aid station. Runners will have access to hot water, tea, coffee and soup. Toilets and shelter in the pavilion but there is a strict 60 minute time limit. There is no access to drop bags here or any crew support.

Drop Bags

Runners may have one drop bag, which we will have available to them at each aid station (not at CP3.5). Drop bags must weigh 20kg or less but can be any size. Bags will be weighed at registration and will be refused if they are over the weight limit.

Course Markings

The course is not marked with the traditional Centurion markings. Instead runners should ensure they have access to the GPX files at all times - available at the foot of this page. Each section of the race takes place entirely on one of 5 way-marked trails. In order they are the North Downs Way, Vanguard Way, South Downs Way, Wayfarers Walk, St. Swithuns Way and finally back onto the North Downs Way to the finish. The markings for each trail differ and runners should familiarise themselves with them. Examples are shown below. All of the aid stations are directly on the race course, there are no diversions to them.

Please see the Course Notes Page here for further details.

Pacers

Are not permitted at any stage of the run.

Crew

Runners are allowed to have a crew. The points at which a runner may be crewed, are listed on the crew tab here. Crews are not permitted at the three aid stations and will not be permitted to crew for their runner at any point other than those listed. 

Medical

There will be a team of race medics available throughout the duration of race week including race ambulances and static medical personnel at the aid stations and the finish.

Kit

There will be a full kit check at registration and spot checks at the check points and/or out on course. Runners must carry the following mandatory equipment at all times. A time penalty of one hour will be imposed for any item found to be missing at any point on course. 

Needless to say this event is a significant undertaking at a time of year where conditions could be extremely harsh. Some runners will also be uncrewed, meaning that to level the playing field, everyone will need access to the same kit throughout.

Over the coming months we will release further information and clarification on the kit lists below. For those looking at options now, the kit listed in our Winter Downs 200 collection here will all pass kit check and comes recommended by us.

This kit list is subject to change and alteration right up until the final pre-race communications.

• Mobile Phone including the numbers for the Race Medic and Race Director (on the number you have given at registration)
• Access to the GPX via either a watch or handheld GPS device
• Battery Pack (Minimum 10,000 mAh) and cables: Ability to charge on the move, your phone, GPS watch, Handheld GPS and/ or headlamps.
• Water Bottles/Bladder capable of carrying a minimum of 1 litre.
• Survival or Bivi Bag (NOT Blanket): This can be a Heatshield/ Surival Bag or Bivi Bag
• Waterproof Jacket with Hood: Gore-tex or similar, minimum 20,000mm+ & must have sealed seams. 
• Waterproof Trousers: Gore-tex or similar, minimum 20,000mm+ & must have sealed seams. 
• Synthetic Mid-Layer: Minimum weight of 200 grams.
• Waterproof Gloves
• 2 Pairs of Warm Gloves
• Warm Hat (Buff not acceptable)
• Whistle
• Headtorch or Primary Light Source Minimum 200 lumens
• Second Headtorch or Light source - Minimum 200 Lumens
• At least one spare battery (or batteries) for both lamps
• Red Rear Flashing LED
• Long sleeved base layer or fleece top - This must be carried separately from the start and kept dry, for use only in an emergency. Starting in 2 layers is not a substitute.
• Full length tights or leg covering - This must be carried separately from the start and kept dry, for use only in an emergency. Starting in 2 layers is not a substitute.
• Cup capable of containing hot liquid
• Medical Kit and Gear Repair Kit including minimum: Blister plasters, wound dressing, Tape, Scissors or small knife
• Food: 400 Calories of food at all times eg. enough to sustain you in an emergency situation
• Money: £50 cash plus any card

In your Drop Bag

• Sleeping Bag - Any Season
• Sleeping Pad or Mat - Any Weight
• Towel - Any Size

Recommended but NOT Mandatory

• Windproof Jacket
• Primaloft Jacket
• Spare Waterproof Jacket
• Spare Warm Gloves
• Map
• Compass
• Anti-Chafing & Toilet Kit

Find out all about the 2023 race plus kit advice and discussion via our YouTube video below.