The 2026 South Downs Way 100 is upon us and we are delighted to welcome another incredible bunch of people to the race. As part of the World Trail Majors Series and this year acting as the British Trail Running Championships - Ultra Distance, the event has attracted some of the best in domestic as well as international competition and will make for some great spectating for all.
In the build up to South Downs Way 100 & 50km Race Weekend we will be previewing the leading contenders for the top spots in four separate posts. This post focuses on the Elite Mens field for the SDW100. The full entrants list can be found here.
Stay tuned to our instagram channel, the homepage of the website and the podcast for more content pre, during and post race.
Last year, Mark Darbyshire shattered the old course record of Mark Perkins and came home in 13:42 to set a new bar. Will we see that bar raised again?
Hugh Tibbs (ITRA Rank: 814): Has to come in as the favourite after some astonishing results in the last year. He has finished second here in both of the last two editions, posting a 14:13 in 2025. Won the Arc of Attrition in January in a just off course record time before finishing third at the ACP/ British 100km Champs in 6:37. In October he set a new 100 mile trail reecord on British soil of 13:03 at the Autumn 100. And he is our North Downs Way 50 course record holder.
Hugh Tibbs
Simon Withers (ITRA Rank: 823): Fourteenth here in 2024, fifth here last year which helped him to a 9th in the World Trail Majors overall standings for 2025. After a spectacular Arc of Attrition in January where he finished second, only minutes behind Hugh, will be looking for better this time. Previous winner of the North Coast 110 mile, North Downs Ridge 50km and many more.
Simon Withers chasing Mark Darbyshire in 2025
Henry Hart (ITRA Rank: NA): Pre-Race Interview available here. Henry won the British 100km Championships in 6:37 in 2025. In 2026 he has already represented Team GB in the 50km World Champs and finished fifth in 2:48. And he is a 2:18 marathoner to boot.
Henry Hart
Joseph Turner (ITRA Rank: 786): Joe is an international 100km runner with a PB of 6:35 over the distance. He represented Team GB in India in December 2024. He has a 12:52 100 mile best from Barcelona 24hr (split) in 2023. Course record holder for our Chiltern Wonderland 50 and our Hundred Hills 50km - both races he won last year alongside of Wendover Woods 50 too.
Joseph Turner
Matt Hammerton (ITRA Rank: 771): Matt blazed home in 5:47 to win the South Downs Way 50 back in April. The second fastest time ever, slower only than a Tom Evans course record. He finished fourth here in 2024 in 15:04. A previous podium finisher at UTS 50km, Wendover Woods 50 and past course record holder at our WW Night 50km.
Matt Hammerton (left) and David Green
David Green (ITRA Rank: 769): Second behind Matt at the SDW50 in April in a time of 5:51. Third all time fastest. David also took another second place, behind Hugh Tibbs this time, at the 2025 Autumn 100 where he ran 14:15. He was fifth at the Arc 50 in 2025 also.
Barney Plummer (ITRA Rank: 789): Barney won the 2025 13 Valleys Ultra. He was 13th at the British Trail Running Champs Middle Distance at the Lakes 50km back in April.
Dan Weller (ITRA Rank: 769): Sixth at the Arc 50 in 2025, he finished second behind Joseph Turner at the Wendover Woods 50 in November. He is a past champion of Hundred Hills 50km, Spine Challenger South Winter and the Lakes Traverse.
Tim Bradley (ITRA Rank: 700): Our 2023 SDW100 Champion in incredibly hot conditions. Tim is also a past winner at the other end of the temperature spectrum at the Spine Challenger North Winter. He was 28th at TransGranCanaria in March of this year.
Alistair Courtney (ITRA Rank: 736): In 2024 Alistair came out of nowhere to finish third at the Hundred Hills 50km against a classy field, before completely dominating the 50 mile Grand Slam. He won three of the four events that year, losing out only at the NDW50 to a course record. He capped the year off with the Wendover Woods 50 in a time which not only won him the race but saw him take the seemingly untouchable Grand Slam record of our very own Jon Ellis by 11 minutes. He finished 16th at the SDW100 last year before a 4th place at the NDW100. He will be hungrier than ever to nail this one.
Alistair Courtney
In the Hunt for Top Ten:
Rupert Allison (Spine Challenger South Summer & Lakes in a Day Winner)
Pete Windross (2021 SDW100 Champion)
Joe Beaton (2024 Glasgow to Edinburgh Ultra Winner - 56 miles in 6:25)
Pierre Meslet (Centurion Coach. 2 x Top 10 at MDS)
Matt Gallagher (2026 TP100 Winner)
Guido Pastore (2026 TP100 - third)
Harry Pickering (2025 Winter Downs 100 Winner).
Martin Reed (2025 Autumn 100 - third).
