Here we are back with the fifteenth edition of the Thames Path 100 - our 100 mile season opener and it kicks off at usual from the waterfront in Richmond Upon Thames, at 0900 on Saturday 2nd May. A sell out starting field of a little over 300 are expected on the flattest point to point 100 mile course, anywhere.
The race has traditionally seen a wide range of conditions but a dry spell leading into it will leave the ground hard packed and fast. We will see what things bring next week of course, if it does rain heavily, it is the final third of the race that becomes the muddiest and presents the greatest challenge to runners, especially those who went off quick!
Our mens and womens fields are full of past champions and podium finishers at our events and beyond. Let's have a look at the likely leading contenders for this outing.
There are additional awards presented at this one race. Our Ed Catmur Awards for fastest newcomers - first-time 100 mile finishers in both the mens and womens races. A past champion of this, his favourite race, Ed lost his life whilst out running in the North Pennines and the awards are named in his honour. Once again, Ed's parents Richard and Ginny Catmur will be at the event volunteering - and there at the finish to hand out these awards.
WOMEN
Karla Borland (ITRA 630): Fourth at the SDW100 last year in the most competitive field of all time at that event. That followed her win at the Hundred Hills 50km last March. The Northern Ireland international was third at the British 100km Champs in 2023. She opted not to start SDW50 to recover a niggle in time for this event.
Karla Borland
Veronika Gill (ITRA 623): Veronika had an amazing 2025 with improvements and consistency standing her out. Third at the NDW50, Second at the CW50 and then a win at the Wendover Woods 50 in November saw her finish the year with a bang. She dropped at 55km into the SDW50 last week to prevent a niggle from getting worse ahead of TP100, which runs past where she lives and has been her main focus year to date.
Veronika Gill
Zoe Smith (ITRA 598): Zoe finished second behind Veronika at last years Wendover Woods 50, having led for much of the first 50km in what was an incredible race. She also picked up the win at the North Chiltern 50km in October last year, and was fourth at the North Downs Way 50 in 2025.
Jana de Waal (ITRA 558): Jana was eighth at the SDW100 last year in 20:09. Earlier this year she was seventh at the Arc 50 by UTMB.
Camilla Mitchell (ITRA 553): In 2025, Camilla was second behind Zoe (above) at the North Chilterns 50km and fifth at Hundred Hills 50km with us. Previously a podium finisher at Race to the Stones in 2023.
Flic Archer (ITRA 547): Finished our 50 Mile Grand Slam last year in second place, capturing three top ten finishes along the way.
Laura Ricci (ITRA 546): US runner with a raft of top ten finishes across a range of distances in recent years. Stand out results include second at the No Business 100 mile, first at the Midstate Massive 100 and third at Hallucination 100, Woodstock Running Festival.
MEN
Peter Windross (ITRA 754): Pete has a total of 7 finishes here, winning the race back in 2018 in 15:49. He has 28 liftetime 100 mile finishes with us and has featured on the top step of the podium, podium and inside the top ten many many times. In 2025 he was little off the incredible pace he set in 2024 with a fourth here and then a 14:48 SDW100 for third that summer. So we will see if he is back to his best once again.
Pete Windross
Francesco Sgarlata (ITRA 735): Races predominantly in Italy achieving solid results in races with deep competition. 25th at Western States in 2025. He was third at the Big Rock Morenic 100 mile in Italy late last year.
Guido Pastore (ITRA 715): Racing mainly in Slovenia and Italy, with top 5 runs at Tuscany Crossing 50km and Ultra Trail Vivapa Valley 110km in Slovenia both recent highlights.
Matteo Moiana (ITRA 702): Fourth, one place behind Francesco at the Big Rock Morenic 100 last year. Again, places highly in deep Italian trail and ultra fields.
Matt Gallagher (ITRA 685): One of the most consistent TP100 runners we've seen. Last year he was fourth in 16:24. In 2023 he was fourth in 15:23. In 2021 he was seventh in 16:21. Along the way he has also picked up fourth and fifth at the NDW100 plus a sixth at the Autumn 100.
Matt Gallagher
Will Collie (ITRA 669): Won day one of the two day version of Race to the Stones last year which gave him the stand out ITRA score. Third at Ultra X Spring Trails 100km.
Andrew Churchull (ITRA 668): Ninth here last year in 17:21. Previous podium finisher at Winter Downs 200. In 2025 he also picked up top ten finishes at the NDW100 and Wendover Woods 50.
Oliver Delve (ITRA 642): Top 20 at the SDW100 last year in 17:32. 19:50 at the 2024 Autumn 100.
James Bennett (ITRA 624): One of the most prolific ultra runners in the UK. James is well over 100 x 100 milers into his career and whilst that does impact some of his times, he also produces some really solid results. Last October he was fifth at Autumn 100 in 16:58 and won the Leeds to Liverpool Canal Race last summer.
LEGENDS
Sitting in the legends corner for this race.
Jan Payne - Jan is attempting to become the first ever FV70 finisher of one of our 100 milers - this will be our 66th. She volunteered at the Wallingford check point in 2025 and has previously finished this race as an FV60.
Jan Payne
Jon Steele - the Founder and Race Director for the Hardmoors Series of events, some of the longest standing UK ultras and much loved by the community it is great to have Jon racing with us again.
As always, you can follow the race live via the website here from 0900 on Saturday 2nd May.
