South Downs Way 100 Mile Relay Race ( Eastbourne to Winchester)

Our team of six included only two who had any experience of running the South Downs. Due to a last minute injury to Eddy OĠGara, it looked as though I might have to run. Fortunately for the team, Dave Roots, a veteran of this event came riding over the hill like the proverbial cavalry and not only filled the sixth spot but supplied the transport, leaving me to navigate and worry.

In order to be on the start line at Beachy Head by 07.00, we met and left and Southampton at 0430.
It was a beautiful calm sunny morning, more in keeping with sitting in a deckchair than running a hundred miles over chalk tracks and some very testing terrain. We made good time, arriving just before the 06.30 group left and in plenty of time to register and hear the pre race briefing.
Fifty seven teams were involved this year and the starting times are dictated by the estimated time for the course that each team submits. The maximum time allowed is fourteen hours. Teams start from Beachy Head in batches of up to ten, The first left at 0600 hrs and the last group at 0900 hrs.
The route is divided into eighteen legs. Change over points are usually dictated by the terrain. The shortest leg is approximately three and a half miles, while the longest is eight miles. Each runner must run three non consecutive legs. At the end of the day, it should even itself out to between 14/17 miles with the terrain playing its part. However, on this occasion, due to last minute changes the shortest was 12.5 miles while the longest was over eighteen.
The views are spectacular and the course passes through places with names like Bo- Peep, Firle Beacon, Saddlecombe, Pycombe, Devils Dyke, Ditchling Beacon, the Jack and Jill Windmills, Harting Down and Butser Hill. The route goes from sea level, crossing the Rivers Ouse (Newhaven), Adur (Shoreham) and the Arun (Arundel) to Firle Beacon 219m ( 710ft), Ditchling Beacon 248m ( 806ft), Truleigh Hill 213m ( 692ft), Bignor Hill 225m(731ft ), Lynch Down 249m (809ft) and to the highest point at Dunction Hill 255m(828ft). To say that this is an undulating course would be a vast understatement.
Dave Roots took the first leg and when he finished he was quite dehydrated and this was only at 07.30. Gradually the stagger starts to unwind and you meet teams that started before you and later in the day are passed by the faster ones. We only had one hiccup and that was one of the short legs when Howard handed over to Keith and the rest of were daydreaming somewhere else and missed it. Unfortunately; the road rarely runs parallel with the track and due to a bottle neck and heavy support traffic we arrived eighteen minutes late at the next changeover. Apart from this, no one got lost and all ran extremely well.
The finish is just outside Winchester at the Chilcomb Sports Ground, by which time the stagger was unwinding rapidly and there were several hundred people enjoying the evening sunshine while downing a few well deserved pints.
The team finished in thirteen hours and twenty four minutes and were placed 34th out of 57. This was an extremely satisfying result considering so many had not experienced the Downs before. Even a hardened runner like Ian admitted to being well and truly knackered. Especially when his Garmin told him the eight mile leg that he had just completed was nearer nine. The gratifying thing is that everyone has indicated that they would like to run again next year.
Once again congratulations to Billy Issacs, Tom Hearn, Howard Long, Ian Richardson, Keith Hollis and Dave Roots.
John Cork

Some photos of the day here: Photos

Please Note:
Any mistakes with names/times/positions etc then please e-mail me boardsbikes@yahoo.co.uk