Saturday 16th May 2026 marks the fifteenth edition of the North Downs Way 50. Our original race back in August 2011.
Follow this years event live on the tracking page here and via our instagram feed here from 0745 on race day. There is a 13 hour cut off for completing the course.
The course replicates the opening 50 miles of the North Downs Way 100, starting at the Trail Head for the North Downs Way National Trail in Farnham, passing through flatter ground across to Guildford, before cresting St. Martha's hill the first notable climb on the course. Runners then have a long very fast section on to Denbies Vineyard, where the oncoming hills loom over the Stepping Stones aid station at roughly the half way mark. A climb up the steep west side of Box Hill then ensues, with a second up Colley Hill before the Reigate Hill Check Point at the 50km Mark. Runners then have an undulating 19 miles through Caterham View Point and Botley Hill to finish in the fields behind the village of Knockholt Pound right on the border of Greater London.
Course records are stout, both were broken in 2025. The mens was lowered by Hugh Tibbs to 6:22. The womens broken by Fi Pascall who came home in 7:07.
Let's have a look at the likely leading contenders for the top positions this year.
WOMEN
Hannah Rickman - Inov8/ Centurion Ultra Team (ITRA Ranking: 656): Part of our Ultra Team and one of the most talented and lovely people you will find on the trail. Hannah was our 2024 Autumn 100 champion in a time of 16:46. Previous winner of the Northern Traverse. Second at Lakes Traverse (100km), Hannah was second at the highly competive Lakeland 50 too - all over the last 24 months. Prior to that she has won the Ultra Trail Drakensberg 100 miler and finished second at the Spine Race (Winter).
Hannah Rickman
Abigail Woolaston - Salomon (ITRA Ranking: 642): A Salomon athlete, Abi has specialised at shorter and more technical races, but has excelled on the road too (she run sub 3 at London last month) and has ultra experience up to 100km (Hardmoors 60) in her past too.
Antonina Dmitruk (ITRA Ranking: 609): Sixth at Malaysia Ultra Trail by UTMB 50km and 9th at ChiangMai Thailand By UTMB - Marathon distance.
Ashleigh Harvie (ITRA Ranking: 601): Winner of the Ultra X Morocco 110km in 2023 and Ultra X Jordan 220km in 2025.
Katie Brook (ITRA Ranking: 556): Fourth at the 7 Valleys Ultra in 2025, third at the Maverick Series South Downs 50km in 2024 and a winner at the Maverick Series Chilterns 50km in the same year.
Bonnie Rye (ITRA Ranking: 542): Bonnie was second at the 2025 Autumn 100 in 19:32. That followed a podium at the Thames Path 100 in 2024.
Bonnie Rye
Kasia Kamienia (ITRA Ranking: 539): Kasia finished second at our inaugural Winter Downs 100 in 2024. She finished 9th at the South Downs Way 50 in April and this is leg two for her on her quest for the 2026 50 Mile Grand Slam.
MEN
Jose Rodriguez (ITRA Ranking: 727): A supestar in recent years, winner here in 2023 in 6:33 (a CR at the time), he went on to win the Thames Path 100 last year in 14:52 last year.
Jose Rodriguez
Richard Loader (ITRA Ranking: 720): Winner of the Chiltern Ridge 50km just a few weeks ago. His ultra experience is limited and this looks like it will be his longest race to date but has real pace, recording a 2:32 marathon in 2025.
Simon Jones (ITRA Ranking: 694): Winner of Punk Panthers Green Gateway 34 miler in January and then finished fifth at Hardmoors 55 in March. Recorded a string of podiums at events around the 50km level over 2021-2023.
Richard Strong (ITRA Ranking: 691): Strong results in events around the South Downs National Park and one international outing at Transgavarres in Spain too where he placed 30th but scored very highly on the rankings.
Barry Bryant (ITRA Ranking: 676): Barry was fifth at the Thames Path 100 in 2023, which followed a string of years winning the Green Man Ultra. This looks to be his first ultra in a few years.
Barry Bryant (centre)
Dominic Jones (ITRA Ranking: 667): Second at the Autumn 100 in 2024 in a time of 15:43, he went on to finish an amazing 11th at Spartathlon last year. Two time finisher here in years past.
Paul Russhard (ITRA Ranking: 649): One of the most decorated Centurion runners of the last decade - he has 5 finishes at this event already. Paul was our 2022 Chiltern Wonderland champion, finally earning the trophy he deserved after finishing in the top ten and on the podium at so many events down the years - including a second here in 7:01 - his best time on this course to date. 9th at Hundred Hills 50km already back in March so he is in good shape.
Paul Russhard
Jonny Hind (No Ranking): 2:31 at Valencia Marathon.
A huge thanks in advance to all of our volunteers who will make this edition possible. See you on the trails!
