WW50 2024 Race Report

The final event of our traditional season and the last 50 mile race of the 2024 Grand Slam, the eighth running of the Wendover Woods 50 saw it return to its more familiar home in November. 

The autumnal feel was definitely all there, with the trees putting on quite a show - having dropped roughly half of their leaves on the 10 mile loop, but reserving the other half and showing off a range of colours. Together with close to ideal running temperatures (as long as you don't slow down!) and not a breath of wind, the woods had a feeling of calm to them that many of the runners commented on.

Photo c/o Pierre Papet

The race has always attracted some strong athletes who usually stick mainly to the hills or mountains, because this course has that bit more elevation than our other 50s, with just over 10,000ft of climb and descent. That can often lead to deep competition and that was once again the case this time.

Power Line (photo c/o Pierre Papet)

In the womens race, we had the first three ladies in the 50 Slam standings all ready to duke it out one final time, with the addition of two very familiar names in our sport, Holly Stables and Sophie Power. Michelle Attridge led the GS coming into the race and had had a first, second and third so far at the precending three races. Holly went off in the lead, closely followed by Michelle. With Ally Whitlock, Helen Moss and Sophie Power all in pursuit. The pace was fast but sensible, in and around Fi Pascall's course record pace from 2022. Conditions were good, with the exception of some slippery sections on descents where the roots were carpeted by damp leaves, the course was running fast and times across the board were up. Over the next three laps, Holly, who remains our NDW50 course record holder and is a past GB Commonwealth Games marathoner, increased her leading margin, with solid pacing and focus. By the end of the fourth loop she had 22 minutes over Michelle, and extended that slightly over the final loop to finish in 9:04 for her third win with us in all events. 

Holly Stables (photo c/o Pierre Papet)

Michelle held on for a final podium of the year completing the set of four in 2024. With a time of 9:37, she cemented her place as the fastest womens Grand Slammer of 2024 in the process. Ally Whitlock maintained second place in the Slam, but was just pipped for third on the day when Helen Moss came past her out of the final check point to nick the final podium place in 9:52 to Ally's 9:57. Helen took third in the Slam. It has been fantastic to have three women running so close at the front of all four races this year, in what has been one of the most competitive Grand Slam's ever. 

Ally Whitlock (photo c/o Pierre Papet)

In the mens race, it seemed likely that Alistair Courtney, who with wins behind him at the SDW50 and CW50 already this year, plus a second at NDW50 - to be the outright favourite but whom did not have it all his way! He and Iain Ward absolutely tore round the opening loop, trading punches and gapping the field. It seemed to take it's toll on both, but not by enough. Alistair relinquished the lead to Iain for the middle portion of the race as the two maintained a tight margin out front, but were coming under increasing pressure from behind. In what has been quite the impressive year from Alistair however and he dug deep into the well one more time to forge past Iain as both arrived at the end of loop four, within seconds of each other. He eventually managed to hold on to win his third of the four Slam 50 mile events this year. His time of 7:42 was four minutes ahead of Iain and just 7 ahead of a hard charging Matt Hammerton in third, who given another loop may have made things even tighter up front!

Alistair in the process, bettered Jon Ellis' all time best Slam overall mark by eleven minutes, a mark which has stood since 2017. 

Alistair Courtney (photo c/o Jamie Rutherford)

In the age categories, awards went to the following:

First FV40 to Holly Stables also the overall winner. First FV50 to Shelley Gooch-Smith a new age cat record. First FV60 to Chrissie Buckledee in 13:28, a new age cat record.

First MV40 to Matt Hammerton, also third overall. First MV50 to Pete Windross in 8:48, a new age cat record. First MV60 to Christopher Leech in 13:07. 

Sophie Power (photo c/o Pierre Papet)

81% of the starters crossed the line in under the 15 hour cut off. That is the highest finish rate we have had at this event. A huge thanks to all of our volunteers who made this possible. 

The final Grand Slam standings are available here. A huge congratulations to all who attempted this huge feat and especially to the 45 who made it across the line of all four within the cut off times. 

A final note. We were expecting to welcome Jamin Longhurst to the race this year, alongside our other runners, a stalwart from the community, a volunteer and runner for whom nothing was ever too much trouble. Tragically he passed away very suddenly just a couple of weeks ago. After discussion with his family we decided the best way to honour his memory was to relay his bib around the course as a tribute - we wanted to try to make a positive situation out of something so sad, we all felt it was what he would have wanted. Jamin finished in a time of 13:46. A huge thanks to the runners who carried him with them on their loops. Our thoughts with all of the community who knew him, he won’t be forgotten. This one was for Jamin.

(Photos below c/o Pierre Papet)

(Photos below c/o Jamie Rutherford)