The Marlborough Downs Challenge is an ultramarathon across the Marlborough Downs in Wiltshire, England. The race is nearly all on footpaths. It starts and finishes in Marlborough and the course goes as far as Devizes. The distance is 53km (33miles). The race is organised by Marlborough Running Club. A 32km (20miles) event is organised on the same day. A number of walkers participate in the events.
The 2019 event took place on 11 May and was the 17th running of the event.[1]
The winners of some recent races are given below.
| Year | First Man | Time | Men | First Woman | Time | Women | Finishers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Allen Smalls | 4:58:11 | 29 | Katherine Reed | 5:44:18 | 5 | 34 | |
| 2000 | ? | ? | ||||||
| 2001 | Cancelled | Cancelled | ||||||
| 2002 | Mike Bradley | 4:45:14 | 33 | Ramona Thevenet-Smith | 5:48:38 | 7 | 40 | |
| 2003 | Brian Cole | 4:52:32 | 38? | Isobel Partridge & Siri Terjesen | 5:31:45 | 20? | 58 | |
| 2004 | Andy Eccles | 4:08:34 | 54? | Susan Sleath | 5:07:06 | 24? | 78 | |
| 2005 | Brian Cole | 4:06:46 | 62? | Susan Sleath | 4:57:41 | 21? | 83 | |
| 2006 | Brian Cole | 4:11:44 | 49? | Susan Bruce | 5:00:53 | 14? | 63 | |
| 2010 | Allen Smalls | 3:51:33 | 103 | Kate Bailey | 4:20:13 | 28 | 131[2] |