South Downs Way 100 2025 Race Report

The fourteenth edition of the South Downs Way 100, saw a record field of 532 athletes toe the line, for what was the seventh stop in the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors Series. 

Race weekend was blessed with exceptional weather. Dry, a tailwind and temperatures on the warm side but almost perfect overnight. Together with a depth in the two starting fields the likes of which we simply haven't seen before here in the UK, records were set to be broken and broken they were. 

 

In the womens race it was a close fought battle all the way between Lucy Gossage and Julia Davis. Spine Race winner and former 14 time Iron distance triathlon champion Lucy,  held a small lead over Julia for most of the day. Julia, part of our Coaching Team set up and a Team GB 100km and Trail team runner, would close to within minutes before eventually in the final miles, Lucy eeked out just enough of a lead to finish an incredible battle. Both came home under the old course record with Lucy first in 16:30:35 and Julia second in 16:43:08. 

Lucy Gossage 

Third place went to Nicole Frisby in 16:58:45. Only one woman had ever broken 17 hours in the 13 previous editions of this race. To have three do that this time speaks to the incredible strength of these women and the increasing calibre and depth of competition. 

Julia Davis 

In the mens event, the early pace was set by first Adrien Combe and then relative newcomer Peter Newman before they both faded towards the end of the first third of the race and were passed by the eventual key protagonists in the overall story.

Mark Darbyshire, arguably the best 100 mile runner we have on UK soil forged a small lead over recent NDW50 course record breaker Hugh Tibbs and the rest of the field, pushing towards half way. Mark seems to get stronger as races progress and this time was no different. From early on in the day he was ahead of the course record of Mark Perkins that has stood since 2014 and in the closing miles he edged out more and more of a gap, to eventually cross the line in 13:42:54 and bring down the old mark by 21 minutes. What was lovely is that Mark Perkins had come down to the track to see him do it and hand over the baton. Two of the best representatives for all that is good in our sport. Mark is the course record holder at the North Downs Way 100, Arc of Attrition, Lakeland 100, UTS and now the South Downs Way 100 amongst many others.

Mark Darbyshire

Hugh Tibbs took second place for the second year in a row, significantly improving upon his 2024 time to finish in 14:13. Third place went to hard charging Morgan Glazier who ran a spectacular race to finish in 14:41:41.

In the Age Categories, awards went to the following:

FV40 to Lucy Gossage the overall womens race winner. FV50 to Vanessa Dolling in 21:14.

MV40 to Mark Darbyshire the overall mens race winner. MV50 to Benjamin Atkins in 16:09. MV60 to Paul Horton in 24:27 and MV70 of course went to Ken Fancett in 26:39.

In the World Trail Majors Teams League, awards went to the following:

First Team: Maureleven
Second Team: Winchester RC
Third Team: Bad Boy Running Club

MV60 first place award winner Paul Horton

Our final finishers over the line made the last 'golden hour' of the race as unforgettable as ever. Special mentions go to Padmini Baker who was in last place leaving QECP and statistically at that point with the time she had taken, stood almost no chance of making the 30 hour cut off. Not only did she make it, she came home with  18 minutes to spare in front of several other runners. And to Sarah Preston pictured below who wrapped up the event in a really special way in 29:52:22.

405 finishers in a 100 mile is a huge record for us in what is our 62nd all time 100 mile event.

Thanks as always to our volunteers first and foremost of which 185 made this possible. Our staff team. The Live Broadcast and Media Teams and all of the stakeholders of the South Downs National Park who allow us to cross this incredible landscape twice a year. And finally to our race sponsors and the World Trail Majors partner events for all of the support.

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

Results and photo links at the top of the page.