My Event Ratings

Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Faultless.......but seriously tough
In full: Had my ar*e handed to me on a plate by this event, oddly finding it much tougher this year than last despite the lack of mud. Various things I can put that down to, but as an organised race this is about as good as it gets. Close parking, nice relaxed atmosphere, short loo queues, easy number pickup, amazing value at £20, loads of feeding stations, well spaced and lots of cheery and enthusiastic marshalls. Great medal, rapid results service, loads of home made goodies at the end. Top, top organisation. The course is spectacular, with wonderful views on a clear day, a mix of terrain - fields, lots of tricky rutted tracks, wooded sections, short tarmac sections and some gates. It is also seriously hard, and was more so on a warm breezy day. The hills you'll encounter here are immense, and there are lots of them - one of the hardest races out there in my view - but do it, it's a great event for a great cause, and finishing will leave you glowing for several days. well done Worthing and District Rotary clubs - top, top job.
Date of review: May 9, 2013

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		100%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Just sensational. That's all.
In full: Fabulous, fabulous event. Had some 'personal challenges' to overome during the later part of the race due to doing Brighton the week before but everything about this event rocks. I'm not a big road race fan, prefer trails, but everyone should do this once. Sixth time for me and first for a couple of years, but the organisation is absoultely faultless. This year, perhaps due to the combined good weather, Olympic feelgood factor, Mo's appearance and finally the events in Boston the crowds were unbelievable and really made this event. It was like a 26.2 mile long street party and for the first time I found it genuinely uplifting. As regards some of the niggles - I was in blue/pen 4 and it wasn't really too congested - I easily maintained a sub 9 min mile pace from the start. I did trip on a bottle but should've been looking where I was going (VLM should look into the collapsible Iconiq water pouches - they're brilliant). A few idiots will always veer across, but you need to be alert to them. Truly a day to remember, thank you VLM and supporting Londoners - you should be very, very proud.
Date of review: April 30, 2013

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Well done BM Team, volunteers and brilliant corwds of supporters, truly great event
In full: Excellent event which improves year on year and a great alternative (and preferable in my view) to London. Crowds this year were sensational - big, noisy and hugely supportive. The City has really taken to this event and it shows. Couple of worries I'd point out
-the route out to Ovingdean seemed to be unnecessarily narrowed. For us mid-pack plodders, this meant it was a bit too crowded in the 5-8 mile section. A further increase in numbers would be a problem
-the red start pen wasn't big enough for the numbers - we were bunched on the grass (mud !)at the start (although the following pen was held back until we'd gone - top marks for that)
-would have preferred number to be posted out
That said, will definitely do this again (already entered for next year at the ExPo) and hats off to the organising team, the army of volunteers, the cavalcade of motors, the crowds and locals for making this a truly memorable event that now runs like clockwork.
Date of review: April 15, 2013

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Tough.....
In full: Perfect weather for the race this year after the mud-fest of last year. Another great job by Steyning AC - lovely (but hard as nails) route, friendly marshalls, plenty of feed/water stations, easy check in and perfect finish, with a full English breakfast quickly served. Good facilities at the School for the start/finish too. There was a slight issue with some early starters taking a wrong turning, Steyning AC generously offered anyone affected free entry next year. I hope no-one takes them up on the offer - races like this aren't all about times, but enjoying the whole thing. Had a mediocre run myself including a tumble, but well done Steyning for staging another excellent event. See you next year.
Date of review: March 4, 2013

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Highly recommended
In full: Did the inaugural race 2 years ago, missed last year. Nothing has changed - this remains one of the best organised races I've taken part in, and one of the most interesting, scenic routes.

You name it, it works - start/finish location (just of main A31), parking, number collection, bag drop, refreshments, course marshalling (magnificent), post-race refreshments, massage etc, brass band to welcome you back etc. Chip timing also included for the very modest entry fee whoch included a nice memento T shirt.

Very well marked and marshalled course (almost no mile markers but who cares) with a wide variety of terrain including roads, footpaths, fields, woodland paths, sand and a few stiles and gates. Course is generally dry and road shoes were fine. Quite hilly in parts - one big climb (St Marthas) and several longish drags, but lots of long downhill bits to recover. Not a PB course but a challenging day out on the North Downs. Course is very narrow in parts but as long as numbers don't increase too much this isn't a problem. I didn't come across anyone who was getting stressed about being held up.

Huge well done to Farnham and Weyside Rotary for putting on this top event.
Date of review: September 17, 2012

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		60%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Nice low key event, but hard as nails
In full: Second attempt at this for me after DNF last year with a torn calf. Managed to finish this year but much slower than expected as really struggled with the heat. I'm local so know the route well (although it didn't stop me taking a detour at Rodmell, missing a footpath), it's lovely, although several very long & hard climbs in both directions, but more so on the way back on this out and back route (beware). Nice informal start, refreshments available, only two aid stations (you must carry water), both 'minimalist' but fine. Souvenir T-shirt included, so an absolute bargain at £10 entry. Will come back next year and hope to cope a bit better - many thanks to all at HHH for a nice day out.
Date of review: July 23, 2012

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Great event
In full: Well the dodgy monsoon weather held off for the day, and the fast-draining South Downs were mostly dry despite the amount of rain in the week and the views were stunning. Third time doing this race (full marathon) for me and all the hills were still in the same places, and just as steep. Superb organisation, great marshalls, well spaced drink stations, lovely chilled out start area at the college (with good refreshments available) and a good finish area. Goody bag was well filled and tech tee was provided this year. Massive course PB for me so obviously very happy but regardless of that this is a fabulous event dominated by the toughness and beauty of the course. Well done to all at 2:09 for putting this top event together. See you next year.
Date of review: June 9, 2012

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Well organised South Downs Mudfest
In full: After the Stinger in March I didn't think we'd get another South Downs mudfest. Wrong ! This (full marathon - 27m+ in fact) was almost as bad, heavy rain much of the week and on the day turning the Downland tracks into slippery, mud covered tracks. Very cold and raining at the start, conditions did gradually improve but still huge thanks to the army of Rotary Club volunteers who made this event work. Several hours on top of Devils Dyke or Chanctonbury handing out cups of water and biscuits to bedraggled nutters can't be much fun ! I didnt think the atmosphere was quite as good as similar races, but that might have been down to the conditions. Some killer hills as you'd expect, made much harder by the weather. Some good (home made - yum) snacks at the end but hot drinks would have been welcome on such a cold day. The few distance markers were generally hopeless ('half way' being worryingly at 15 miles !), but otherwise a nice local event, well put together by a dedicated band of volunteers. Easy parking and start/finish arrangements, and very cheap to enter at £20 including chip timing. Thanks to all involved.
Date of review: May 6, 2012

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Top, top event
In full: Fabulously well organised event in near-perfect weather.

BM team did themselves proud again with a brilliantly organised event.
-good atmosphere at the Preston Park start, and even the loo queues were reasonable
-rapid results service through the BM app
-excellent marshalling of the start pens (unusual !)
-well spaced and varied feed stations
-hundreds of cheery marshals
-good crowd control with more barriers this year (still a few idiots who like o play chicken with runners, but no way the organiser can legislate for that)
-good finish area, quick return of baggage and easier exit from the area this year

Well done to all concerned - impressive stuff and thanks for a good day out
Date of review: April 15, 2012

Date of review: April 16, 2012

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: Top, top event
In full: Fabulously well organised event in near-perfect weather.

BM team did themselves proud again with a brilliantly organised event.
-good atmosphere at the Preston Park start, and even the loo queues were reasonable
-rapid results service through the BM app
-excellent marshalling of the start pens (unusual !)
-well spaced and varied feed stations
-hundreds of cheery marshals
-good crowd control with more barriers this year (still a few idiots who like o play chicken with runners, but no way the organiser can legislate for that)
-good finish area, quick return of baggage and easier exit from the area this year

Well done to all concerned - impressive stuff and thanks for a good day out
Date of review: April 15, 2012

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