Autumn 100 2024 Race Report

This was the thirteenth edition of the Autumn 100 and as usual it was an amazing end of regular season 100 mile party.

We had 252 runners start the race, with 19 of those Grand Slam hopefuls aiming to complete miles 300-400 this year. Ken Fancett, aiming to do so for the tenth time. So many returning faces, some going for their fifth or tenth finish to earn their 500 and 1000 mile buckles. But so many first timers also. With the four out and back spurs, it sets up so well for those who are new to the distance, allowing them to break down the overall race into smaller more manageable segments. For the volunteers and staff, it's an opportunity to engage with the whole community on a deeper level as everyone typically sees every runner multiple times and in many ways we all get to live their journeys that much more deeply because of those more regular interactions, than at the point to point events.

The competitive side of this event is also elevated by those out and backs, because the runners literally get to see each other at least four times, taking time splits and staring into the depths of each others souls as they make each 12.5 mile turn around. It leads to some fascinating race management and tactical running. 

The womens race looked on paper like one of the most competitive we've ever had and it did not disappoint. Hannah Rickman looked to be the favourite, having previously won the NDW100, the Northern Traverse and with two Spine race second places under her belt all in recent years. But this race contains a LOT of running and that was somewhat new compared to the much longer events she has excelled at. On the flip side, Amy-Jo Clarke was stepping up in distance for the first time, with wins at races like NDW50 and Hundred Hills she had the running speed. How would that trade off? Behind both of them, Ali Young the most experienced long distance runner in the field with multiple Team GB 24hr vests behind her and incredible success at GUCR, Spartathlon and the like. 

Initially the group went out together, sitting way back from a charging mens field, as is usually the case, with all of the above tightly packed but with them also Ellen Cheetham, also running her debut 100. The group were back in off of Leg One together but it was Hannah who ran out in first place on to the second set of 25 miles, with Ellen second and Amy-Jo in third. Amy-Jo moved just ahead of Ellen during that leg but only 13 minutes separated the three at 50 miles. Hannah made it through in 7:44 which was a 50 mile PB, Amy-Jo in 7:56 and Ellen just a minute back. Those positions then held for the entire remainder of the race, what was remarkable was the conistency in the gap between Hannah and Amy-Jo in particular which hovered between 12 and 16 minutes all the way until the final return from Reading where Hannah finally managed to extend the gap to win in a superb time of 16:46. Amy-Jo Clarke took second in 17:19 and Ellen Cheetham third in 18:26. Some fine running. 

Hannah Rickman

In the mens race, the lead changed hands a whole lot more. Initially it was Steve Hobbs leading through the early stages, with quite a gap over a group of chasing guys including the American Brady Poskin, Daniel Moloney, Dominic Jones and Nikolas Wakefield. 

Out on leg two Steve dropped back and Brady surged into the lead but held only a small gap over Daniel and Dominic. He extended that out over Leg three before making it back to Goring in 11:04. He then ran a fine final leg to finish in 15:20 for his first win with us but simpy adding to a fine running CV of racing in the US. Dominic took second in 15:43 and Daniel third in 16:13. 

Brady Poskin

In the age categories, awards went to:

Amy Jo-Clarke (FV40) also second overall, Ali Young (FV50) in 20:19.

Dominic Jones (MV40) also second overall, Mike Ridsdale (MV50), Dominic Osman-Allu (MV60) and the MV70 award of course went to Ken Fancett.

The Grand Slam is a truly incredible achievement with it being a major challenge just to make four 100 mile start lines healthy inside of the five months over which the series takes place. 19 made it this far but unfortunately one did not finish. Lisa Watson was stopped by the cold out on Leg three but has had a wonderful year overall and will be back in the future for sure. Our congratulations to Andrew Churchill and Jade Griffin for being the fastest to finish in 2024. The final Grand Slam 100 mile table is available here.

Special shout out to Caroline Underwood & Michael Bennett. Caroline was our final female finisher and was back after missing the final 99 mile aid station cut off at the NDW100 earlier this year. It was such a relief to see her finish the right side of the final time limit here. Michael finished with just 3 minutes to spare having worked as hard as possible to make it home in time and give us a really great final finisher moment, in contrast to the Chiltern Wonderland 50 where the heartbreak at the final moment was very real!

A huge thanks to our team of 80 volunteers who made this always - weather and river related - logistically challenging event possible!