THE BEST DAY OF THE YEAR (in the words of Peccles)

100 Miles broken up into 18 legs ranging from 3.5 – 8.5 miles.  One mini bus, 6 runners, a baton, 1 driver and 1 navigator.  The object – get from Beachy Head in Eastbourne to Winchester in the quickest time possible.

We have two teams taking part in 2025 on Saturday June 7th and we wish them both our best wishes for a magical, safe day ahead.

There will be more information coming soon for 2026 but if you are interested in taking part, please schedule the date in your diaries for:

Saturday June 6th 2026

And if you really can’t wait for the info to arrive on this page, please head over to http://www.southdownsrelay.com

If you don’t fancy running then you can take part in a number of other ways;

1.  We always need marshals to man our Hailsham Harriers changeover point at Exceat.  This is the end of leg one and the start of leg two and is a big responsibility for us as a club as its the first changeover of the day for all the runners (75 teams which take part).
2. Driver – No team can be complete without a driver. This is the most crucial part of the team and always requires someone who can maintain a cool head, with safety on the roads first and foremost.  Once spending the day driving the team from leg to leg, its time for the long journey home from Winchester to Eastbourne, and ultimately where the driver becomes the hero of the day.
3. Navigator/Timekeeper: Another important person on the team to keep track of timings, batons and the start/end locations of 18 legs.  The navigator also takes charge of the music list, keeps an eye on the team, and is the chief team motivator, counsellor, and supporter.

Please note: As with most race entries, for each running member competing there is a small entry fee of £60 which helps to cover the cost of entry fee, mini bus hire, petrol etc.