Hundred Hills 50km 2025 Race Preview

The first race of the 2025 season is upon us. Kicking off at 0900 on Saturday 15th March is the third edition of the Hundred Hills 50km. With approximately 4000ft of climb and a 9 hour cut off, the race has quickly become an early season show down, showing us who is in shape headed into the spring and summer race seasons. As well as a perfect way for many to build up to our 50 mile and 100 mile events to come, or simply to tackle their first ultra.

As in 2024 the field has been capped for around 425 starters. Beginning at the magnificent Stonor Park, runners head out on the first loop through the villages of Ibstone, Fingest and then Skirmett, two of which have fully stocked check points, before returning to Stonor at half way. The second loop takes them over to the Hambleden Valley, then on to Bix, the final check point before the final kick for home back to Stonor.

The course is unchanged from its previous two editions. Big news is that we have now partnered with Precision Hydration. So not only will runners find Tailwind and Gu out on course, alongside a raft of real food of course, but also a full offering of PH Chews, Electrolyte and Gels to fuel then to success.

You can follow the race live via the tracking page which will be available just prior to race start through the link here.

Let's have a look at the likely leading contenders for the top spots. The womens field is deep with lots of potential winners. The mens field is packed full and should be a very close race.

WOMEN

Julia Davis: Julia is a 50/50 as to whether she will start, as she is just returning to full fitness but if she does, she will be the woman to beat. Our Centurion Coach is still the South Downs Way 50 record holder and recently represented Team GB over 100km again in India in the World Championships in December where she came home in 14th place. The 2:39 marathoner has also won a national vest and competed for GB on the trails at the World Champs, last time out in 2023.

Julia Davis

Amy Sarkies: A past Wendover Woods 50 and Autumn 100 champion, Amy has also represented GB at 100km, in 2022. In 2023 she won Hardmoors 55 and has twice podiumed at Lakeland 50.

Rebecca Ash: Seventh here last year. Previous winner of Robin Hood 100 and top three at Wendover Woods 50.

Karla Borland: Third place at the ACP 100km in 2023, also third at Country To Capital a couple of months ago. Previous winner of the Weald Challenge and Brecon Beacons 50km.

Camilla Mitchell: Has consistently finished in the top 5 at lots of ultras over the past few years including Race to the Stones (second), Ultra X Spring Trail Series (first) and the Amersham Ultra (first).

Amy Sole: Grand Slam 50 mile champion in 2023, Amy finished on the podium at the NDW50 and in the top ten of all four. Second place at the Arc 50 in 2022. Previous winner of the Black RAT.

Nicole Frisby: 2:58 at London in 2024. Winner of Wendover Woods Night 50km in 2023, with several other shorter ultra race wins to her name.

Rachel Dench: Fourth at the SDW50 in 2023, also won the Maverick X Series Chilterns 50km that year around a similar area to this. Lots of top ten finishes at races of all distances going back to 2014, always consistent and including a podium at Chiltern Wonderland 50 along the way.

 

MEN

Kallum Pritchard: Kallum keeps getting faster and faster. Last year he was second to Mark Darbyshire (a late non-starter this time), five minutes back. Since then he has go on to win the Thames Path 100, Manchester to Liverpool 50 in 5:39 and recently set a new course record of 4:45 at Country to Capital. An Ed Catmur course record that had stood since 2014.

Kallum Pritchard

Joseph Turner: Jo is a Team GB 100km runner with a PB of 6:35 over the distance, he represtented Team GB in India in December. But he's handy on the trail too with wins at Wendover Woods Night 50km, Maverick's Jurassic Ultra 50km and Ultra X's summer trail series 50km scattered in amongst some international level road and track running.

Jose Rodriguez: Winner of the NDW50 in 2023 just ahead of Patrick (below) in what was a course record time. Fourth at the SDW100 in 2022 and ran 144km in 12 hours in 2024. 

Patrick Wightman: Set a new North Downs Way 50 Course Record last year, coming home in 6:31. He's finished that race three times, improving to second in 2023 before finally cracking it last year.

In the Hunt for Top Ten: Nick Berry (winner Serpent Trail 100km/ Beacons Ultra), Will Burrard Lucas (2:37 marathon), James Whetman (Winner Serpent Trail 100km, fifth here last year), Mark Shannon (eighth here last year), Mark Potts (second Spine Challenger South in January, 12th here last year), Stuart Farmer (Second at the 2022 South Downs Way 50)