Sunday 5th October 2025

The race took place on a mild but slightly overcast autumn 🍂 morning around the scenic downlands north of Lewes in East Sussex. A field of nearly 400 runners tackled the combined 10-mile and 5-mile events with the 10-mile forming race 10 of 12 in the Sussex Grand Prix league.

With a course primarily off-road on chalk tracks, grassland and woodland paths 🪵 there were plenty of undulations to keep the mind focused. The route climbs up to the ridges around Blackcap and Mount Harry before looping back to finish with a super fast downhill – well deserved after the evil Ashcombe Bottom mountain ⛰️

Twenty-one Harriers 🖤♥️braved the challenging course, each securing vital points in the race to become the 2025 SGP champions for the third consecutive year.

First Harrier home saw Chris Doherty 🚀 finish 2nd 🥈overall in a rapido 1:04:55, followed by DG 🛀 in an impressive 1:13:12.  Alice 🐈 took the win 🏆 for the ladies in 1:14:13, just seconds off the ladies course record 🙌 with Bartz 🍻 producing another strong performance to finish in 1:15:01.  Claire Keith 🍒 finished strong in 1:18:25 despite heading into the race not feeling 100%.  KT Reed 🏃🏻‍♀️ produced a course PB in 1:18:52, followed by Woolley 🧶 hot on her heels in 1:21:52, with Sarah Day 🌺 on fire 🔥 as she finished in 1:22:47.  Tom Price 🎨 had a flier in 1:24:54, with Matt Courtnell 🚑 thundering over the line in a mighty 1:26:29.

Tinks 🧚🏻 1:27:00 flew home just in front of Captain Fluffs 🐸 1:28:15, with Graham P(uns) 😂 1:31:30, Abi 🌷 1:34:29 and Steph 🧁 1:36:32 all running super strong performances.

Mansbridge 🏃🏽 1:39:40, Eddie 😈 1:40:42, and Claire Shilling 🪙  1:41:11 all braved the course for the first time, finishing with grins after grit and determination 💪🏼

Team Morris; Kevin 💪🏼 and Jayne 🦸🏻‍♀️ 2:01:36 completed the 10-miles together despite Kev nearly killing Jayne with cows milk in her tea earlier that morning 🐄

Completing our fabulous Harriers line up saw Robbie 🇮🇹 romp home in a magnificent 2:37:36 🙌 ending a wonderful morning on the hills.

Congratulations to Chris 🚀, Alice 🐈, Claire 🍒 and KT 🏃🏻‍♀️ who all placed first🥇 in their age categories and to our HH ladies: Alice, Claire and KT who took home the prize for first🥇 ladies team 🏆

For many of our members this event served as their “capstone” of the season: some were recovering from earlier races (some even ran an ultra marathon just the week before!) and others were targeting this tougher trail for fun, rather than purely time.  Kudos to you all 🙌

Beyond the competition, the event offers a scenic outing, a chance to run with club-mates, and enjoy trails around Lewes that you might otherwise only visit for a hike.  The post-race chat over hot drinks ☕️ and homemade cakes 🎂 finished off a beautiful morning.

The Lewes Downland 10-Mile is a standout event for our HH club calendar. It blends challenge, scenery, competition and club spirit in equal measure. Whether you came to push for a fast time or simply joined in for the experience ahead of the XC season, you leave feeling you’ve earned it.

Well done team 🖤♥️