Maverick Adidas Terrex X-Series South Downs Ultra is an impressively long name for a rather long race. The concluding event in this year's X-Series of tough trail runs, with options that suit all abilities and every level of off-road expertise, took place on Saturday 29th October from the 3,500-acre National Trust Slindon Estate, near Arundel in West Sussex.

This is South Downs National Park at its best with miles of hilly countryside and over 25 miles of public footpaths and bridleways within Slindon Estate itself, including Slindon Woods,  where the four races that comprise the X-Series South Downs programme start and finish.

A total of 536 runners collected the coveted X-Series finishers' medals and enjoyed a complimentary Days Alcohol Free Beer at the finish, particularly refreshing on a warm day. 

The Ultra race is a single loop of 51K with an elevation gain of 1,161m and an eight-and-a-half hour time limit from the 09:00am start. There were 152 finishers in 8:14:47 as just one runner went under four hours at the front. The South Downs Ultra route can be viewed here

Lewis Ryan (3:51:01) was that bullet-proof individual, finishing nine minutes ahead of the first M40 master Gary Marshall (4:00:23). The first woman was Charlotte Britain (4:44:15) who was pushed all the way by W50 master Charlotte Cutler (4:44:28). 

The Long race was held over 45K/1,025m elevation with 51 finishers in 7:59:58. Lee Bayton (3:45:12) was a comfortable winner from Luke Wilson (4:00:12) and the top two females were Adriana Krawczyk (4:35:27) and Ashley Cooke (4:49:50).

'Middle' is the title of the 23K/409m elevation half marathon type event that attracted the largest field, with 212 finishing in less than four hours. There was a close finish between Tim Taylor (1:42:59) and Josh Crichton (1:43:24) as Lucy Rochford (1:49:48) and Alana OÕKirwan (1:52:00) led the women.     

Where there's a Long there has to be a Short and that's the name of the 12K/218m elevation race that is the perfect introduction to trail running with Maverick Race. There were 121 finishers in 2:29:47 in this one and sub-60-minute times for Ed Plager (53:45) and M40 Daniel Moll-Morgan (54:38) at the front. Elissa O'Brien (1:06:21) was sixth overall to take the women's race ahead of Isabelle Lee (1:10:05).

Event information and results via runABC South race listing here

Plan your future Maverick Races here

Image of previous event courtesy Jake Baggaley for Maverick Races' South Downs gallery