The fourth edition of our season opener and it was a cracker. After a rain soaked inaugural edition, spring has landed right around the time of three years that have followed and this year was no different. A crisp morning with frozen ground, gave way to bluebird skies and trails that were in excellent condition almost throughout.
Stonor Park in all its glory on race day
The racing at the front was as action packed as expected, with many of the best of British Ultra racing lining up for their first big throw down of the year. But amongst the field of 438 starters were around 25% first time ultra runners too. Together with lots of regular Centurion runners - everyone looking to make it home inside the 9 hour cut off and just enjoy the day.
Listen to our post race recap podcast here or via any good host.
Ultimately we ended up with several records. A new female course record and a record for highest number of runners across a finish line at a Centurion event. Only by five, but we will take it!
The ladies race coming in was quite simply a two horse race between Fiona Pascall (Adidas) and Julia Davis (La Sportiva), but Julia's late withdrawal with a niggle she couldn't quite shake in time, left it likely that Fi would run away with proceedings and that she did. But the race for the podium positions behind was extremely close indeed.
Fiona Pascall
Fi has raced with us three times now and has three course records to show for it. Wendover Woods 50, North Downs Way 50 and now here too. She led from the start and immediately built an expanding time gap over Anna Klucnika's 2024 course record splits (4:32). At half way back at Stonor she ran straight through and out onto a loop two where she began reeling in many of the leading guys to boot, eventually crossing the line in 4:08:11 for the win.
Behind her, a close battle raged from the start for positions two through five and beyond. Lynne Nicholls and Sophie Biggs ran close together through the early stages, with Nicola Glover just back of them. Those three remained locked within a few minutes of each other, for the entire rest of the race. Lynne always had a small margin, with Sophie first and then Nicola passing her sat just behind. In the end second place went to Lynne in 4:39:51. Third to Nicola Glover in 4:46:17 and Sophie took fourth and the first FV50 prize.
Nicola Glover
The mens race took a different shape as the front group went off at an extremely fast pace before gradually fracturing to leave two out front - previous champion Mark Darbyshire (Centurion Ultra Team) and Benjamin Hall, with Ry Webb just behind. Early lead group member Dan Weller who won the 2023 event, dropped at half way. Mark and Benjamin ran toe to toe until the climb up to Bix check point where Mark was just able to snap the elastic that had seemingly held them together, before pulling away very gradually to form a small gap. In the end a hard charging Ry Webb (La Sportiva) who ran a brilliantly paced race, came closest to reaching Mark but ultimately just fell short. Mark took his second win here in 3:49:48. Ry took second in 3:52:59 and Benjamin third in 3:54:13.
Mens Podium LtR: Benjamin Hall, Mark Darbyshire, Ry Webb
Age Category awards went to the following:
Mark Darbyshire won the MV40 cat as well as taking the overall win. First MV50 went to Charles Sykes. First MV60 to David Allan and First MV70 to Keith Simpson, also our final finisher.
First FV40 went to second place Lynne Nicholls. First FV50 went to fourth overall Sophie Biggs. Our first FV60 award was taken by Nicky Callus, just one second ahead of Maya Betheja.
We had amazing feedback from runners from front to back in this race. A team of 60 volunteers made this event possible, we are so grateful to all of them as always, together with our course marking team, staff and sponsors.
Next up for us is the South Downs Way 50 in just under four weeks time.
