2026 Race to the King: Winners Warriors, and What It Means’

The 2026 Race to the King delivered a thrilling day of racing across the South Downs, with runners taking on five different distances throughout the day, from the full 100km down to the new 30km Monarch’s Loop, all starting and finishing at West Dean Gardens in West Sussex.

100km

Declan O’Callaghan Claims Race to the King 100K Victory as Estefania Sets New Women’s Course Record

Pre-race favourite Declan O’Callaghan lived up to expectations to take the men’s title in an impressive 9:30:35, while Spain’s Estefania Unzu Rippol produced a standout performance to finish third overall and set a new women’s course record of 10:03:04.

Men’s Race

The race got off to an exciting start, with Estefania Unzu Rippol taking control from the front and leading the entire field through the opening 24km. Behind her, O’Callaghan remained firmly in the lead group throughout the early stages, closely tracking the race as it unfolded. By the halfway point he had moved into the lead, reaching 50km in 4:14 and looking increasingly comfortable as the race entered its second half.

O’Callaghan had been highlighted as one of the athletes to watch ahead of the event following a remarkable run of form. Earlier this year he set a course record at the Bath 50K, covering the distance in just four hours, and arrived at Race to the King with a marathon personal best of 2:49.

Despite this being his first attempt at the 100km distance, he showed composure throughout the race. He steadily extended his advantage over the chasing pack before crossing the finish line in 9:30:35, comfortably clear of the rest of the field.

Speaking after the race, O’Callaghan described the victory as something of a redemption story. Although he had previously attempted Race to the Stones 100km, his effort ended at 50km. This time, he not only completed the full distance but also claimed victory. He praised the Race to the King course and atmosphere, revealing that his only significant challenge came in the final quarter of the race when knee pain began to affect him from around the 75km mark onwards.

Another athlete featured on the pre-race Ones to Watch list, Rory Macdonald, delivered an impressively consistent performance to claim second place in 9:47:42. He maintained a strong position and even pacing throughout the day, gradually moving through the field as others began to fade.

Third place in the men’s race went to Mubarak Sheikh, who crossed the line in 10:04:12.

Women’s Race

Estefania’s performance was one of the standout stories of the race. The Spanish athlete, who holds the Spanish 100km record and boasts an impressive ultrarunning résumé, led the entire field through the opening 24 kilometres and set a strong early pace from the front.

Although she later slipped into second and then third overall as O’Callaghan and Macdonald moved ahead, she continued to run strongly. Crossing the line in 10:03:04, she not only secured victory in the women’s race but also smashed the women’s course record by more than 25 minutes.

While she had not featured on the event’s pre-race Ones to Watch list, her result underlined the pedigree she brought to the start line and demonstrated exactly why she is regarded as one of Europe’s strongest ultra-distance runners.

Aurime Dovydaityte completed an excellent run to finish second female in 12:39, while Jane Archer claimed third place in 12:45, less than 10 minutes behind.

50km Coastal

Sergio Torija Dominates Coastal 50K at Race to the King

The Race to the King Coastal 50km delivered another day of fast racing on the South Downs, with runners taking on the event’s flattest route from West Dean Gardens. With just 460 metres of elevation across the entire course, the Coastal 50km offered athletes the perfect opportunity to test their speed over the ultra-marathon distance.

Men’s Race

Victory went to Sergio Torija, who delivered an excellent performance to win in 3:39:06.

Maintaining an impressive average pace of 4:23 per kilometre, Torija established himself at the front of the field and never looked back. His relentless pace allowed him to build a significant advantage over the chasing pack, eventually crossing the finish line 13 minutes ahead of second place.

Second place went to Rowan Nuezca-Tibbs, who finished in 3:52:00 after a strong and consistent run across the South Downs. Despite Torija’s commanding display at the front, Nuezca-Tibbs remained comfortably within the podium positions throughout the race.

Third place went to Andras Dako, one of the athletes featured on the pre-race Ones to Watch list. Dako was using Race to the King as a key stepping stone ahead of Race to the Stones 100km next month.

The Coastal 50km has special significance for Dako. It was here that he completed his first-ever ultramarathon, making this his second attempt at the route and a return to the race that introduced him to ultra running. His podium finish provided valuable race fitness and confidence as preparations continue for his next big challenge.

Women’s Race

One of the standout performances of the day came from Rosie Reed, who crossed the line in 3:57:40 to finish third overall and claim victory in the women’s race. She had a blisteringly fast start before slowing slightly in the latter half of the race.

Breaking the four-hour barrier on a 50km trail course is an exceptional achievement, and Reed’s run saw her not only secure the women’s title but also place among the leading athletes overall.

Second place went to another athlete highlighted on the Ones to Watch list, Priya Gopaldas. An experienced ultrarunner with an impressive endurance-running background, she entered the race after hearing that a friend had signed up and quickly proved she belonged among the leading contenders.

Gopaldas crossed the finish line in 4:19:00, staying consistent through the first 36km before the elevation hit in the final third of the course. She managed the tougher climbs well to hold her position in the field.

Third place in the women’s race was taken by Ashleigh Bush, who battled through the 50km in 4:29:01 to claim her podium spot.

50km Castle

Oli Milne Takes Castle Route Crown After Late Battle for Victory

The 50K Castle Route delivered some of the most competitive racing of the weekend, with runners tackling a significantly tougher course than the Coastal Route. Featuring more than 1,000 metres of elevation gain, the Castle Route demanded both speed and climbing strength from those hoping to challenge for the podium.

Men’s Race

Pre-race Ones to Watch athlete Oli Milne emerged victorious after a perfectly executed race, crossing the finish line in 4:33:50.

Earlier this year Milne finished with a strong 15^th place finish at the South Downs Way 50. Race to the King was intended as a quality training session within a larger 100 mile training block, but by the end of the day he had achieved far more than that.

The battle for first place remained finely balanced throughout much of the race. Milne and Abdulla Al Thani reached several checkpoints together, setting up an intriguing second-half showdown as they headed deeper into the South Downs.

For much of the day the pair appeared inseparable, but Milne gradually edged ahead over the closing kilometres. He crossed the line in 4:33:50, with Al Thani following just three minutes later in 4:36:02.

Third place went to Lewes Bridson, who finished in 4:43:41. Not featured on the pre-race Ones to Watch list, Bridson quietly produced a very strong performance, finishing only 10 minutes behind the winner and securing the final podium position. Just behind him was fellow Ones to Watch athlete Matt Cleaver, who finished fourth.

Women’s Race

While the men’s race remained close throughout, the women’s competition was defined by one standout performance.

Megan Huggins, who was added to the Ones to Watch list shortly before the race after a series of impressive trail and ultra-running results, delivered a commanding display from start to finish.

Crossing the line in 5:01:43, Huggins not only secured victory in the women’s race but also finished ninth overall. Her winning margin of 40 minutes highlighted the strength of her performance and confirmed the potential that had earned her a late place on the watch list.

Behind Huggins, the battle for the remaining podium positions remained much closer. Jessica Morris claimed second place in 5:41:44, while Alice Saltmarsh completed the podium in 5:46:39.

With just five minutes separating second and third place, the fight for the final podium places remained alive right through to the finish.

80km

Ellie Sanders Leads Historic First-Ever 80K Race to the King

Race to the King introduced a brand-new challenge for 2026 with the addition of an 80km route, creating an exciting new test for runners looking to bridge the gap between the 50km and 100km distances.

Men’s Race

The first male athlete home was Josh Williams, whose finishing time of 9:11:10 secured victory in the men’s race and third place overall.

Williams ran a consistent race across the demanding course, managing the transition from the flatter early kilometres to the more technical and undulating latter stages to claim the inaugural men’s title.

He was joined on the podium by James Binstead, who finished second male in 9:33:21, and Colin Seale, who completed the top three in 9:42:26.

Women’s Race

The race for the inaugural women’s 80km title was far from straightforward.

Emma Parker reached the halfway checkpoint first, passing through at 2:40pm. Ellie Sanders arrived 10 minutes later, leaving herself work to do over the demanding second half of the course.

However, as the route entered its more challenging closing stages and the elevation began to mount, Sanders steadily closed the gap. The additional climbing in the final 30km appeared to play to her strengths, and she produced a superb second-half performance to move past Parker and take control of the race.

Crossing the finish line in 8:54:53, Sanders claimed overall victory by seven minutes and became the first-ever winner of Race to the King’s new 80km distance.

Parker held on strongly to finish second overall in 9:02:02, while Samia Ezzamel rounded out the women’s podium with a strong run of 9:34:30.

As the first-ever running of the 80km route, the new distance proved to be an exciting addition to the event programme, delivering exactly the challenge organisers had hoped for.

30km

New Monarch’s Loop Delivers Close Racing in Race to the King’s Shortest Distance

Another new addition to the Race to the King line-up made a successful debut this weekend, with runners taking on the first Monarch’s Loop – a challenging 30km course featuring nearly 600 metres of elevation gain.

As the only distance on the Race to the King programme not to qualify as an ultramarathon, the Monarch’s Loop attracted a competitive field looking to test themselves on a shorter but still demanding route through the South Downs.

The result was exciting racing throughout the field, with battles for podium positions unfolding right to the finish line.

Dominant Victory at the Front

The men’s race was won by Charles Ford, who crossed the line in 2:19:10 after leading from the very start.

Setting out strong from the opening kilometres, Ford quickly established himself at the front of the field and always kept control of the race. Despite the challenging terrain and strong competition behind him, he maintained his advantage throughout and secured a convincing victory.

While the winner enjoyed a relatively comfortable run to the finish, the battle behind him was anything but settled.

Tight Contest for the Remaining Podium Places

Much of the drama in the men’s race centred on the fight for second and third positions, where David O’Dwyer, Jacksy Dodgson and Scott Topham spent much of the race locked together.

As the runners approached the closing stages, Scott Topham appeared to have secured second place. However, a costly navigational error saw him go off course, dropping him down the standings.

That opened the door for David O’Dwyer, who seized the opportunity to claim second place in 2:24:26.

Behind him, Jaxy Dodgson crossed the line in 2:25:44 to secure third place, less than two minutes behind O’Dwyer and completing a tightly contested men’s podium.

Topham ultimately finished fourth in 2:28:54, narrowly missing out on a podium finish.

Oldfield Times Her Race to Perfection

The women’s race provided another compelling storyline, with the lead changing hands deep into the final kilometres.

Megan Teague set the pace from the outset and controlled the women’s race for the majority of the course. Running well through the opening sections, she remained at the head of the field until around the 26km mark.

However, as the race entered its closing stages, Kayleigh Oldfield began to close the gap. Having started conservatively and maintained a steady rhythm throughout the course, Oldfield was able to capitalise as Teague began to struggle. She moved into the lead with just a few kilometres remaining and continued to push all the way to the finish line.

Crossing the line in 2:39:44, Oldfield secured seventh place overall and victory in the women’s race. Despite losing the lead late on, Megan Teague held on to secure second place in the women’s race.

Her finishing time of 2:43:05 earned her eighth place overall and capped a performance that saw her lead the women’s field for the vast majority of the day.

Third place female went to Sophie Barton, who completed the course in 2:51:25 to round out the podium.

Super Early Bird registrations for the 2027 Race to the King are now open. Be sure to enter now to secure your spot on the start line next year at the best price. Be quick, they won’t hang around for long.