North Downs Way 50 2025 Preview

More warm dry weather of late and a week out, a great looking forecast awaits those taking on the fourteenth North Downs Way 50. 

The mens course record was lowered by Patrick Wightman to 6:31:48 and after a DNF at SDW50 last month he is back and raring to go after it again. 

The womens course record has stood for almost a decade, with Holly Stables' 7:11 mark from 2016 still the one to beat. That may be under threat this time. We have 350 runners joining us in Farnham to run the first 50 miles of the North Downs Way, as far as Knockholt Pound, a little village right on the edge of London which has always hosted our finish. The course roughly breaks down into two halves. A screaming fast mostly flat and runnable section over to Box Hill check point in the Stepping Stones Car Park. Before an ascent up the steps and the tougher second half over to the Finish. Let's have a look at who might be contending for top spots this time around.

You can follow the race live here from 0700 on Saturday 17th May.

WOMEN

Fiona Pascall: Fi was our 2022 Wendover Woods champion but has since frankly exploded onto the international scene winning and competing in some of the marquee events. Whilst this is very much a preparation event towards Western States for which she won a Golden Ticket through winning the Chianti Ultra Trail 120km back in March, she will naturally be the one to watch. Other recent wins for Fi include Mozart 100km, Julian Alps 170km, Wildstrubel 100km as well as more recently that Chianti performance - all UTMB events where she beat world class competition. 

Fi Pascall

Jess Gray: A previous winner of this race exactly 10 years ago, Jess has gone on to have a long and successful career in the sport. Stand out results across the years inlude a 16:42 100 mile at the Autumn 100, a win at the South Downs Way 50, two podiums at Lakeland 50 and many others to boot. Her most recent win came at the Grand Tour of Skiddaw in 2023. It is great to see her back here.

Dani Battersby: Third at the South Downs Way 50 in 2022 in 8 hours flat before running home for fourth at the 100 later that year in 18:43.

Claire Kanja: Lots of great performances at our events over the years including second place at the Autumn 100, Wendover Woods 50 and Wendover Woods Night 50km.

In the hunt for top ten: Amelie Karlsson, Kathrin Hartmann, Veronika Gill, Georgia Campbell, Flic Archer, Veronika Gill, Jo Wilson.

MEN

Patrick Wightman: Course record holder going for his fourth finish here. In 2023 he was second to a course record, he then lowered that to 6:31 in 2024. 

Hugh Tibbs: Ran a superb SDW100 last summer in the deepest field we've ever had at that event, coming home second in 14:46. He opened up 2025 with a third place at the Arc of Attrition in January.

James Local: New to ultra running, but a blazing fast marathoner with a 2:29 at London in 2024. Won another North Downs trail event with Maverick in 2024 also.

Benjamin Hall: Last year he finished third here behind Patrick and Alistair Courtney who went on to win the other three 50 mile events in 2024. Not a shabby result! He then ran home second at Chiltern Wonderland 50 and third at Winter Downs 100.

Alex Hammond: Won Hurtwood 50km last December before a 5:16 at country to capital so he comes in with good form.

In the hunt for top ten: James Whetman, Harvey Waller, Mark Potts, Jamie Pond, Sam Larcombe.

-------------------------------------------------------

We look forward to welcoming everyone on Saturday and a huge thanks in advance to our volunteers without whom none of this would be possible.