South Downs Way 100 2024 Race Report

Our South Downs Way 100 has always held a special place in the hearts of many, right from the first year back in 2012. But the legacy of the event and the trail, goes back very much farther. The route has existed for thousands of years, it is etched onto the rolling wave of land that is the South Downs and on a weekend like the one we have just had, with the sun out and views for miles, with a magical sky overhead at night - it really does not get any better for runners brave enough to take on a 100 mile trail journey. Previously the South Downs 80 which existed during the late 1980s and early 1990s was the World Trail Championships - and their course echoes the final 80 miles of this race too. It was great to have some of the runners of those races decades ago, around at the weekend.

This years event was even more special as in its first year as part of the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors series, we had the highest finish rate of any 100 mile race we have organised to date. From 56 races, the 81.1% finish count was a new record. What a weekend it was! 

This year the race took on a different dimension, as with the help of a newly formed media team, we were able to deliver a live broadcast of the race for the first time, allowing those at home to watch the action unfold live. With webcams giving an eye on first to last through every check point, as well as live commentary from out on the course at least every 2 hours, we were able to hopefully convey the magic of the race to people who otherwise haven't or won't get the chance to experience it for themselves. We very much look forward to expanding on this in future, it was extremely worthwhile!

On to the race itself.

Runners began congregating at Matterley Bowl just east of Winchester, on Friday afternoon and there was a palpable buzz around the incredible natural amphitheatre, where the race starts and registration takes place. At 1830 the highlight of the calendar kicked off - the 1 mile kids race! Some superb performances were laid down by our group of up and comers aged between 4 and 12. 

On Saturday morning, registration complete, runners gathered in the starting area for a short pre-race briefing before getting underway at 0600 prompt in near perfect running conditions. 

The mens and womens races unfolded in very different ways but one similarity to both was that the initial early leaders were not those that eventually triumphed - this day would belong to those who managed their efforts a little more conservatively early on, which reaped rewards in the second half. That is normally the way in a 100 miler but even more so when the depth of the starting field is more significant!

In the womens race, it was Winter Downs 200 podium finisher Sophie Bennett who led the early miles around the estate looking very relaxed, before the field exited onto the South Downs Way at mile 4. Justine Putnam then forged into ahead and led through CP1 and CP2 at QECP, with Sophie and Cat Simpson - from our Centurion Ultra Team - rounding out the top three spots. Hannah Green sat just off of the back of them in fourth place. The same group occupied the top four spots through Cocking Mile 35, but over that intervening section, Cat had moved ahead of Justine and opened up a gap out front. Having finished second here twice before, the GB international looked completely in control, despite missing out on her gels which her crew had briefly left behind at CP2!

Sophie Bennett and Hannah Green

Over to Washington at mile 54 and the major 'half-way' check point, Cats' lead grew substantially and she seemed to be on cruise control. Her split there of 9:23 was 40 minutes ahead of the other three ladies who in fact, came into Washington together. Behind them however, was a fast closing Karen Benway. Previous podium finisher at one of the other World Trail Major Series Events - Quebec Mega Trail - Karen, one of the most experienced runners in the field, had clearly managed her effort very wisely indeed.

Cats' lead only grew over the following miles, at one point stretching out to over an hour, asJustine slowed and dropped back, Hannah Green moving into seecond place at the 100km mark. Vermont native Karen, then took the impetus as the closely packed group behind moved through the Saddlescombe Farm check point and found clear air in third initially, before passing Hannah Green into second coming down into Alfriston with just eight miles to go. From there, the positions remained unchanged.

So after two second places here in the past including in 2023, Cat took home a much deserved victory in 19:26. Karen Benway took second in 20:18, with Hannah Green finishing third in in 20:25.  

Cat Simpson took the victory in her third finish here

In the mens, the race went out fast with Autumn 100 course record holder Geoff Cheshire heading out solo ahead of a big group of likely leading contenders. Geoff starts quick and likes to establish and hold a lead which he did here, running bang on course record pace through the early check points. We wondered if this could finally be the year that Mark Perkins' 14:03 could be threatened, especially with the calibre of runners behind Geoff. In the chasing pack were GB international Rob Payne. From South Africa - twice second place at Tor Des Glaciers finisher Tiaan Erwee. Previous SDW100 champion Pete Windross. Summer Spine and recent Northern Traverse Champion Dave Phillips and behind of them, the two most decorated and experienced runners of all - our Ultra Team runner and previous European 24hr Champion Dan Lawson, alongisde former UTMB winner Jez Bragg. Two of the more unknown runners in amongst them were Hugh Tibbs and Matt Hammerton - who both looked very cool and measured in their approaches.

Jez Bragg with pacer

Over the ebb and flow of the early miles, positions barely changed. Geoff first through Cocking at Mile 35, Rob Payne in second, but Geoff was faltering with some cramp, eventually dropping shortly after and Rob blew past into the lead. Rob held that into Washington but first then switched to Pete Windross who put his foot down to what seemed an almost crazy pace over the coming miles to forge ahead by a healthy margin. However, unsustainable it did prove to be, as the more consistent pacing of the highest performing runner over longer ultras that we have seen in the past decade here in the UK - Dan Lawson, used every ounce of his competitive ability to move into the lead with the final quarter of the race approaching. Hugh Tibbs was impressing to, as he and Pete Windross arrived at Housedean Farm and the final drop bag point almost together. 

The gaps were only ever a matter of minutes over the closing part of the race and it was clear that any faltering by any runner would allow those behind to quickly move up. But each of those front guys remained strong and positions unchanged as they arrived in Eastbourne in the same order. 

Dan Lawson won in 14:27:30, making him the second fastest ever finisher at this race. Hugh Tibbs was second in 14:46 and Pete Windross third in 14:48. Incredible racing. 

Dan Lawson

In the Age Categories awards went to the following:

First FV40 was Cat Simpson, race winner. First FV50 was Karen Benway who finished second overall. First FV60 and indeed our only FV60 finisher was Darla Crispin in 28:27.

First MV40 was Matt Hammerton in 15:04. First MV50 was Dan Lawson - race winner. First MV60 wqas Tony Deacon in 23:21 and in what was one of the stand out performances of the weekend, first MV70 did not go to Ken Fancett for a change, but to David Prince-Iles who has moved up into that Age Category this year. David ran 20:14 for a new Age Group record. 

Ken though, went home as the only new recipient of the 1000 mile buckle - for his tenth finish at this race and 103rd all time 100 mile finish.

Ken Fancett

Our final finisher was Kunal Yadav who was the 349th person to cross the line out of the 430 starters. That is a new record for total finishers. But incredibly as mentioned above it is also a new record for highest finishing rate - 81% - of any 100 mile race we have organised to date - out of 56 total events. 

A quick mention to John Robertson also - John was on the track when the cut off of 30:00:00 passed and finished just 90 seconds over. He immediately agreed to come back in 2025 at the offer of a sponsor place. His spirit is exactly what makes this sport so special.

Kunal Yadav - Our Final Finisher of 2024

As always, we cannot do any of this without the help of the 150 volunteers plus the race staff and broadcast teams. Our biggest thanks to them, to our landlords and the South Downs National Park for their help in hosting this event every year.

See the links below for the race recap:

Part 1 of the Live Stream
Part 2 of the Live Stream
Part 3 of the Live Stream

Click here to view and play back the live tracking. 

Results and photo links at the top of the page.