The route of the Downland challenge may not be as wild as some of the other races in the Vasque Series, but there is certainly some stunning scenery to take in during the 33 miles of the race, not to mention the history. The route follows the Saxon Wansdyke for 5 miles over the Marlborough Downs, passes through the ancient stone circles at Avebury as well as the Iron Age Oldbury hillfort above Cherhill.
110 runners set off on the 33 mile race from the grounds of Marlborough College in bright sunshine, heading out along muddy tracks and paths into West Woods. In previous years, these have been a carpet of of bluebells, but this year’s warm spring meant that they were long since gone.
Keith Davies of Havant set an early fast lead , closely followed by a chasing group of Allen Smalls, Andy Macaskill, Richard Thorn and Andy Davies. Over the Downs, with a strong head wind and bad weather threatening, they steadily pulled away from the rest of the field.
Dropping off the Downs, the race route followed the Kennet and Avon Canal for three fast, flat and gruelling miles into Devizes, before climbing up over the steep muddy slopes of Roundway Down. Allen and Andy pulled away from the following group on the climb up over Morgan’s Hill, to overhaul Keith on the climb over Cherhill Downs.
With the race entered its final stages, through the Avebury rings, and up over Fyefield Down, Allen and Andy stayed together all the way the finish. They completed the 33 mile route to come equal first in a very fast time of 4:06. Richard Thorn of Bath AC was seven minutes behind them, the first V40, followed soon afterwards by Keith Davies.
The first lady was Sue Sleath of Havant, who finished in 4:56, and the first over 50 runner was Graham Hawkins of Durseley in a time of 5:05.
The race was very well organised and well supported by checkpoint and road-crossing marshals. A great route, all of it off road, through some beautiful country. All this and free food and tea to follow. If you want a race in a new and interesting part of the country next year, I cannot recommend this one enough!
Tim Laney (5th overall)
