Chiltern Wonderland 50 2023 Race Preview

Another glorious weekend awaits with the eighth annual Chiltern Wonderland 50 upon us. 250 runners will descend on Goring on Thames to see if they can complete this stunning trail 50 mile loop and it's circa 6000ft of climbing to make it back inside the 13 hour cut off.

Below is a quick look at the likely leading contenders. Live tracking will be available as always from 0830 on Saturday 16th September via the link here (will be updated to the CW50 table just before race day).

WOMEN

Sam Amend: Needs no introduction. Twice Track 100 winner with two British 100 mile records set with a best of 14:10 for 100 miles. Other Centurion wins include NDW50, TP100 and WW50. Has represented GB at all ultra distances on the road and track 50km, 100km and 24hr.

Sophie Biggs: Last years champion finished in 7:55 for her debut Centurion win, after a third place at the NDW50 earlier in the year. Sophie was sixth at the Hundred Hills 50km back in March and has since gone on to a win at Maverick X Ultra - Peak District and a third at the Serpent Trail 50km.

Amy Sole: Amy leads our 2023 Grand Slam 50 mile standings with an eighth, a fifth and a third at the previous three 50s so far this year. Second at the Arc 50 in 2022 as well, she is incredibly consistent over this distance on trail.

Laura Mcgill: Laura was third here in 2022 and finished sixth at the South Downs Way 50 earlier this year. 

Tamsin Neale: Fourth here last year, she then went on to finish sixth at the 2022 Autumn 100. This year she kicked off with a fifth place at our Hundred Hills 50km.

Stacey Sangster: Second at the 2022 South Downs Way 50 and later fourth at the Wendover Woods 50. 

Emily Newton: 10 ultras already in 2023 alone, including 3 wins and 8 podiums. 7:24 for 50 miles at Manchester to Liverpool 50 mile a stand out time.

MEN

Gatsby Fitzgerland: Our 50 mile Grand Slam leader has come home sixth, third and fourth in this years' preceeding 50 milers with us. Incredible consistency. 

Allan Clarke: Third at SDW100 in June, which followed a fifth at the Lakes Traverse 100km earlier in the spring.

Ciaran Mcaneny: 16:17 at our Track 100 earlier this year and previously ran 80km in 6 hours on the track as his qualifier for that event.

Ash Varley: Ash has been getting faster year on year, with 2022's results including a 7:05 for seventh at the SDW50 and then top tens at the TP100 and SDW100. Previously second place at the NDW100 back in 2020. He was also top ten at Wendover Woods 50 this past July.

Rob Feline: Fifth at the NDW50 earlier this year. Winner of the Fox Ultra and Weald Challenge Ultra in 2021.

Tom Hedges: Going for a third finish here, was a way back in 2022 but started this year with a strong fifth at Hundred Hills 50km.