Doyen of the Downs
Euan McGrath and Paul Hailwood were the only fool hardy Stubbies competing in this years Doyen of the Downs.
Let’s put the day in perspective, 300 entered and only 180 turned up due to the expected weather (driving rain & strong winds) and under foot conditions. 170 finished!!!
The Doyen of the Downs is a 30 mile ultra trail race across the South Downs with excess of 6,000ft of vertical climb. Setting off from Arundel castle at 0800hrs as the day broke we headed off for our gruelling 30 miles of mud, hills, mud, woodland, slippy chalk, mud and again just a bit more mud to sap every last bit of energy we could muster.
As we set off the heavens opened with more water to make the mud that bit more taxing. Have you got the picture yet!!!
The route was from Arundel castle heading east and jumping straight onto the Monarch’s Way. We followed this for about 10Km in the pouring rain and strong winds. The rain stopped just as I headed north heading towards Washington and the South Downs Way (SDW).
At Parkfield Farm just south of Washington (you SDW Relay junkies should know where I mean), we headed on to the SDW heading West. That little climb was hard work, but the saving grace was that the ground was firm and you had good grip! It was also the first firm ground we had had for 10 miles!!!
After a short climb on the SDW we headed North down into Storrington where the blue sky emerged and brought a smile to our faces (well that’s how I remember it now). It was then on through Parham Park then north again before heading towards Amberley.
Now for the KILLER CLIMB out of Amberley and back on to the SDW. This was the point that I decided that sometimes walking is quicker than running, and I got my head down walking as fast as I could. As the ground levelled to a sensible gradient and less than 8 miles to go I decided to kick down and get to the summit of Springhead Hill. It was then down hill but straight into the very strong head wind making the descent very hard to the River Arun and along the incredible tough, energy sapping, and traction less grass banks of the Arun, all the way back to Arundel castle to the finish.
If you need a local challenge for 2010, and are fed up of pounding easy marathon miles then this is a must do event.
Euan McGrath finished in 4hrs 17 min 38 sec (12th place) and Paul Hailwood finished in 5hrs 37min 55sec (104th place). Report by Euan McGrath.