Saturday 3rd June – 7am

100 miles, 18 legs.  The route – Eastbourne to Winchester, almost all off road, along the hilly, South Downs Way – It is of course the South Downs Relays 🖤❤️ 

55 teams competed this year with each runner in the team taking on three non-consecutive legs, (on average around six miles each leg), handing over a baton to the next runner, jumping in a mini-bus 🚌before heading off to the next leg in an attempt to beat a challenging cut-off time and race against the clock to finish in Winchester ⏰ 

Starting at the Beachy Head Pub at 7am, our amazing teams this year consisted of The Men’s A Team  – Graham Woolley, Matt Southam, Rob Chrystie, Bartz, Sam Unwin and Ads with Ruffs driving and Graham Pundye Co-Pilot 🚌 In the vets mixed team we saw The Leeks, Charlie Long, Tinks, David Woollard, Martin Bell and Paul Mealing with Darren Gillett driving and Julie Deakin co-pilot 🚌 

Heading off into the morning sun to tackle Leg 1 over the seven sisters were Bartz and Martin heralding the beginning of what was and always is a truly fabulous day 🖤❤️

Everyone knows what it’s like to run, flat out, in a 10k race.  Our runners did that not once but three times over the course of 12+ hours.  There are no marshals on route, no one to pace you, no one to yell encouragement, no race directions, no distance markers, and no water stations.  But what you do have is your own amazing team support 🖤❤️at the beginning and end of each leg, plenty of bantz along the way, beautiful scenery, great camaraderie between clubs, and the experience of a day like no other.

Bartz and Martin arrived into Exceat, after two rapid runs 🚀 to huge cheers as their team mates and fellow Harriers were there to greet them.  

Felicity 🌸 , Julie LC 🐝 , Lisa PH 🧡 Annette 💚 and Steve Delea 🥰did a sterling job marshalling the leg 1/2 changeover at Exceat.  They had the wonderful pleasure of signing in and out teams, ensuring safe road crossings and setting off runners at the start of leg 2.  Hailsham Harriers always man/marshal the leg 1/2 changeover and it is always a fantastic morning.  Who doesn’t like a Hi Viz, a clipboard and a pair of binoculars? 😂 

Waiting in the wings for Bartz saw Graham Woolley take the second changeover and fly up the hill into the forest 🌳 with The Leeks 🐪 hot on his heels.  With a few minutes rest for Bartz and Martin and one leg each in the bag, the teams were off in the bus 🚌 to the leg 3 changeover at Bo Peep, and the race to Winchester was well underway.

Our mighty fabulous teams reached Winchester in a rapid times.  The A team finished in 12:33:09 placing 11 out of 23 with our mixed team 13:20:50 placing 5 out of 22 teams.  In the Cooper cup 🏆(based in estimated times) our mixed team came 27th and our A team 36th.  Both teams worked together, strengthened friendships, supported each other, and most of all had great fun doing it 🤩 

Racing is mostly a selfish activity.  We race to improve our PB’s, win prizes, or add to our medal collections 🏅. In the SDR, you’re running for YOUR team, not yourself.  The day is about sticking together, helping each other and above all, simply doing your best.  That’s the magic of the SDR 🪄 For David, The Leeks, Sam, Darren and Julie this represented their first taste of the SDR and we can safely say they popped their SDR cherries 🍒 

A huge shout out and a BIG thank you to all who put themselves forward to run this year, practised legs, gave up their time, arranged last minute mini buses, chopped and changed teams & legs, marshalled and supported.

Huge thanks to Sam Unwin who stepped in to run at the last minute 💪🏼, to those that came out and supported the team, Lisa G, Paul Brutes and Fluffy – such a boost to see you 🖤❤️

Our hugest thanks go to Martine at Hellingly cubs who in our hour of need lent us their personal 9-seater bus 🚌due to Choice rental company letting us down massively on Friday afternoon.  We will be eternally grateful.  They saved our day 👏🏻 ⭐️ 🤩 

Congratulations to Brighton & Hove AC, winners of the event, to Stubbington Green, winners of the Cooper Cup and to Brighton Phoenix, winners of the ladies team.

Until next year …… 🖤❤️