Picture perfect race day conditions greeted runners to the second edition of the South Downs Way 50km. Established alongside the 100 mile race as part of the World Trail Majors - Short Series Circuit, this is the perfect event for those stepping up in distance on the trails, but also for world class competition to throw down in what is one of the fastest 50km trail races worldwide.
This year's field attracted a mixture of the best in the world in the trails and mountains, up against road marathon and ultra specialists. The course is the perfect meeting point of those two contrasting worlds due to it's hard-packed chalky trails and rolling hills. In 2025 Robbie Simpson (Adidas Terrex) blew the mens field away, running 3:13 for the inaugural win. The Commonwealth Games Marathon Bronze Medalist is also one of the world's best mountain and trail runners, and he really showed how fast this course could be for someone with that varied set of skills.
The women's race saw Rebecca Bunting (Hoka), a 2:41 marathoner, taking on Vanessa Caba Machado (Sports Shoes) who had taken eighth at TransGranCanaria Marathon back in March. Also running were SDW100 2025 third place finisher Nicole Funnell, previous Chiltern Wonderland 50 Champion Amy White, back after a long gap in her ultrarunning career, and recent Thames Path 100 champion Karla Borland.
Nicole Funnell
It was Rebecca who took the race by the horns right from the gun, led the initial loop around Matterley Bowl and immediately gapped the competition. Nicole settled into second with Vanessa and Amy settling into third and fourth close together. The leading margin just grew and grew as Rebecca's raw pace fit so well with the fast and runnable trails of this part of the South Downs.
In fact, the Hoka athlete's splits were the fastest over every section of the course and as she closed in on the finish it became clear we were going to see a new course record by quite a margin. Rebecca crossed the line for 3:49:37 taking the crown and maximum points in the World Trail Majors rankings, a full 15 minutes under Imogen Ainsworth's 4:04 winning time from 2025.
Rebecca Bunting
Second place went to Nicole Funnell who, like Rebecca, held her position all day and crossed the line in a time of 4:09:51. Vanessa Caba Machado faded in the final stages with both Amy White and Karla Borland passing her. Amy held on for a superb return to the sport, taking third in 4:28:28.
Womens Podium LtR: Amy White, Rebecca Bunting, Nicole Funnell
The men's race went out in a similar fashion. Antonio Martinez Perez (Asics), the 2023 SkyRunning World Champion and winner of the TransGranCanaria Marathon this March was out looking for his second win on the World Trail Majors circuit. If he could secure top points here he would put himself top of the overall rankings.
Like last year, the pace was electrifying. The Spanish professional athlete held sub 6 minute miles (sub 3:45/km) for the first 10km around the rolling hills of Matterley Bowl. Behind him Peter Le Grice, who finished second last year, ran with Italian Riccardo Borgialli (Sport Project/ VCO) and Spaniard Fran Anguita (Kailas Fuga) both close on his heels.
Antonio had finished top ten at Zegama just a few weeks ago and quickly showed here that he can translate that level of performance to the faster, rolling trails of the South Downs Way. Riccardo was running strong too, but Fran had come straight from a 13th place finish at the European Trail Champs representing Spain and it was clear that recovery was not quite complete. He had pushed Antonio all the way at TransGranCanaria in March, coming home second, but it looked like that could be out of reach on this day. Peter too struggled to find his legs after racing the weekend before and pushing Robbie Simpson for the first two-thirds in 2025.
Antonio closed down on the finish in a truly astonishing display of speed, flirting with the course record all the way up the final climb. As he appeared at the top of Butser Hill, everyone at the finish could see he was going to be within a minute or so one way or the other. In the end, it was under as he set a new benchmark of 3:12:36. His marathon split was 2:41. Second place went to Riccardo (3:22:33) and Fran did indeed hold on for a gritty third in 3:28:47 despite suffering in the final 10km.
Antonio Martinez Perez
The age category awards yielded some incredible performances and one for all-time amongst them.
The womens V40 award went to Rebecca, the race winner. The FV50 award went to evegreen Sophie Biggs in 4:35:51, who continues to churn out incredible performances time and time again. First FV60 was taken by Elaine Battson (one of our SDW100 - 1000 mile buckle holders) in 6:20, just over 30 seconds ahead of Jane McCartney in the same age cat.
First MV40 went to Dean Porter in 4:06. First MV50 to Andrew Spooner in 4:41. First MV60 to Kevin Murray in 5:16. First MV70 to Keith Stanley in 7:55.
John Fanshawe
And for the first time ever, in 136 events, we had a Vet 80 finisher. John Fanshawe crossed the line in 7:09, continuing to break records and win races seemingly every time he steps up to race.
Final Finisher Helen Newman
Huge celebrations went on all the way to the 9 hour cut off at our QECP finish line, as every runner who had beaten the cut-off at the last checkpoint also made it to the finish in time. Excitingly Helen Morgan and Helen Newman finished with just under a minute to spare.
A huge thank you to all of the volunteers, on-course marshals, marking, and sweeper teams for making this event possible alongside the 100 miler.
