Records tumbled yet again at this years South Downs Way 100 in what was arguably the most competitive 100 mile race ever to take place on UK soil.
This race figured not only as the sixth stop on the World Trail Majors Circuit, but this year also as the British Trail Running Championships - Ultra Distance.
In 2025, we finally saw Mark Perkins' 11 year old course record get lowered to 13:42 by Mark Darbyshire. Lucy Gossage took the womens record to a new best of 16:30. It seemed possible but unlikely that both marks would improve again, given that this was the sixteenth year of the race. But improve they did in what was truly a race for the ages.
In the womens, 24 Hour World Record and 100km European Record Holder Sarah Webster (Precision Hydration/ CurraNZ) was taking on a long distance trail race for the first time. We knew that the potential for something special was high, but there was still an element of the unknown. Robyn Cassidy (Montane) - Lakeland 100 and Dragons Back Champion was coming from the other end of the spectrum, moving away from rugged mountain trails to the rolling runnable hills. Meanwhile Maryline Nakache (CimAlp) - 2026 Marathon des Sables champion travelled over from France and Nicole Bitter (Altra), previous Javelina Jundred Champion came in from the US. Behind those four were a cast of many other potential podium protagonists.
As expected Sarah went out hardest, with Maryline running in hot pursuit and Robyn never far behind. Unfortunately Nicole was forced out early on with an injury.
World 24hr Champion Sarah is known for a laser focus when she runs and it's one of the most impressive sides to her incredible approach. With that steely determination she set about systematically dismantling the records of years gone by and completely dominating the race. In fact, for most of the first half she was right on pace with Mark Darbyshire's course record. For a woman who has covered 278km in 24hrs, the pace wasn't daunting, it was comfortable and all the while she was running towards her home trails at the far eastern end of the course. Supported by her Lewes AC clubmates she never relented, increasing her lead all the way to the final stretches. It was just a case of how far under the exisitng record she might go.
The answer was a staggering, 2 hours and 3 minutes. Her time of 14:27 makes her the fastest female finisher at any of our events and in fact, the fastest British 100 mile trail runner of all time. It was a display of complete and total class from a humble, wonderful person. What an honour it was for everyone there to witness.
Sarah Webster
Maryline Nakache
In any other year, Maryline's second place finish in 15:39 would have dominated the headlines. The truth was she took a nasty fall and gashed her knee quite badly and honestly, it wasn't either hot enough or mountainous enough for the past TDS champion to feel truly at home. But class will always shine though and she turned in a sensational performance. Robyn Cassidy also went over 30 minutes inside of the 2025 course record as well as pipping the 16 hour barrier to come home in 15:59.
Robyn Cassidy
These are three of the finest 100 mile performances we have ever seen in women's racing.
The men's race featured incredible depth, which was nearly undermined when two time second place finisher Hugh Tibbs nearly missed the start due to road closures. The 13:03 trail 100 mile runner had already clocked a 6 minute mile and jumped five fences before he even got into the starting pen with just 38 seconds to spare. If this was to have an impact on the race in the latter stages, we would see.
It took a little while to consolidate, with only one hare off of the front in the early stages this year, the front runners stuck close together through the early miles, building into the race and with all the likely leading contenders featuring.
2025 British 100km champion Henry Hart seemed the most keen to run from the front, surging on multiple downhill sections, followed through the early miles by Simon Withers and Hugh Tibbs. Conditions were almost perect. That trio hit the first check point separted by less than 20 metres in 2:50 elapsed, a little under course record pace.
Henry, Hugh and Simon
Through 50 miles in under 8 minute mile average pace, we were now into unknown territory with nobody in the history of the event ever coming through hafl way so quickly. Henry led with Hugh sitting just yards behind seemingly marking. Both had crews, but it was Hugh stopping for longer each time to focus on his cooling. At the turn-around point in Washington David Green had moved past Barney Plummer into third and could just about see Hugh in the distance as he entered the out and back.
Henry and Hugh maintained the top two positions through Saddlescombe mile 68 but David Green, second at the SDW50 back in April in 5:51, was on the hunt.
But from here, everyting would change.
Between Ditchling Beacon and Plumpton Plain the front of the race had come back together again. Both Hugh and Henry had pacers, but as they appeared over the Downs a fifth runner had joined their group at the back. All was to play for coming into the final 25 miles and this was the first section the front two had struggled to keep with Mark Darbyshire's 2025 pace. 2026 SDW 50 champion Matt Hammerton was not far behind and looked the freshest of the bunch.
In and out of Housdean Farm, the final drop bag point at mile 77, David passed a fading Henry and a strong Hugh in incredible fashion, taking the lead and forging out a gap. He didn't relent. Closing in on the finish, he never sustained a big lead but it was always just enough to remain out of sight over those closing miles. Henry stopped at Southease at the end of a fantastic run that unravelled fast and we hope to see him back in 2026 to complete the distance.
David pushed on and crossed the line for a new course record in 13:27:13. Matt Hammerton passed Hugh at the Alfriston check point and held on to second in 13:38. Hugh took his third podium in three years in a time of 13:46.
Mens Podium LtoR: Hugh Tibbs, David Green and Matt Hammerton
In the age categories the awards went out as follows:
First FV40 went to Sarah Webster alongside the win. First FV50 went to Vanessa Dolling in 19:04. First FV60 was taken by Ai Seng Paul in 29:35.
First MV40 was second overall Matt Hammerton. First MV50 was Stephen Pope in 18:54. First MV60 went to Frank Wheeler in 24:40 and first MV70 went to Iain Walker in 27:01.
Special mention to Ken Fancett who won gold in the MV75 category in the trail champs, finishing his 49th 100 mile race with us.
There were a lot of issues overnight with falls, bumps and cooling runners as the heat of the race wore off but a finish rate of over 70% amongst a field size of 500+ is still an excellent outcome. 153 of those came home inside 24 hours to earn 100 Mile - One Day buckles.
A huge thanks to our 190 volunteers who made this, and the accompanying 50km, such incredible races. We look forward to following the progress of the leading runners as the World Trail Majors roll on to stop 7 on the circuit at Quebec Mega Trail next month.
