South Down Way 50km 2025 Womens Preview

The 2025 South Downs Way 100 and 50km are right around the corner and the inaugural edition of the 50km has attracted a stellar field for this first outing. As part of the World Trail Majors - Short Series, we've got both international and domestic atheltes vying to take home maximum points and be in the running for the overall standings.

In the build up race Weekend we will be previewing the leading contenders for the top spots in four separate posts. We have already previewed the womens and mens SDW100 fields, below is our SDW50km Womens Preview.

You can see full details of the Elite SDW50km Mens Field here.

You can see full details of the Elite SDW100 Womens Field here.

You can see full details of the Elite SDW100 Mens Field here.

Stay tuned to the website and our YouTube channel in the lead up for race day for links to the live broadcast, tracking and results:

Imogen Ainsworth (ITRA Rank: 707): US based British athlete with a fine pedigree of results at extremely competitive races in the recent past. She finished fourth at the Black Canyon 60km in February before going on to seventh at Lake Sonoma 50 in April. In 2024 she finished second at the Leadville Silver Rush 50. She is no stranger to the South Downs either having won a Maverick event held a little further east - back in 2021. She's also won other events including Jemez Mountain 50km and Monument Valley 50km.

Imogen Ainsworth (Photo: @somerrunner - Somer Kresiman)

Georgie Bruinvels: Georgie is a former winner of the Manchester Marathon in 2:37, which remains her PB. In 2024 she ran bests of 2:44 for the marathon in Pisa (third), 76:08 at Fleet Half Marathon for the win, 35:48 at the Richmond 10km for the win and 58 minutes for 10 miles at the Dorking 10 where she also took top spot. She's not just a road runner however, having finished 23rd at Parliament Hill in the British Athletics Cross Country Champs. This past winter she won the Surrey Cross Country County Championships.

Sophie Biggs (ITRA Rank: 620): In 2022 Sophie won the Chiltern Wonderland 50 and finished third at the North Downs Way 50. In 2023 she won several events ranging between 50km and 50 mile on trail. She also placed sixth at the inaugural Hundred Hills 50km which she then improved upon to finish in second at the 2024 edition. This year she finished fifth at the Arc 50 in January and second at the North Downs Ridge 50km in February.

Sophie Biggs

Holly Stables (ITRA Rank: 615): Previous GB international over the marathon distance, Holly turned her hand to the longer stuff around ten years ago and has had quite the career since. She has won a raft of races including the 2021 Autumn 100 in 16:51, UltraVasan 90km, North Downs Way 50 where she held the course record for almost ten years and the Cotswold Way Century . Internationally she has finished seventh at Comrades and at CCC proving she can do it on the trails, on the road and in the mountains. In 2024 she finished second at the Arc 50 before winning Wendover Woods 50 last November. Holly is recently off of the back of a successful finish at The Speed Project, where she ran from LA to Las Vegas Solo - a distance of 300 miles.

Holly Stables

Anna Buckingham (ITRA Rank: 605): Anna comes in with great form having finished second at the South Downs Way 50 in April. The Centurion Coach and former Spine winner has a really broad range of strings to her bow, having done well at mountain races like MIUT where she finished eighth and UTS50km where she won her age category in 2023, as well as at flatter races and on the road.

Anna Buckingham

Imo Boddy (ITRA Rank: 543): Imo Boddy comes into the 50k with possibly the greatest range, with a 2nd at the British 50k Champs this May, as well as the record for the super long distance National Three Peaks, climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon whilst running the distances between.

Imo Boddy (Photo: @Tommy_leeming_)