A brief History of the event...
IN THE BEGINNING, A SHORT HISTORY - At 8:OOam on
February 28th 1981, what seemed like a huge crowd of 182 walkers set off on the first Seven Sisters
Marathon. At 11:00am 68 runners followed, and within a short time all vanished into the fog clutching
their route descriptions, with many of the runners going astray in the first few miles!
By 1984 the number of entries had increased to 2500, and it was obvious that they would
continue to grow beyond a manageable number - so a limit was introduced in 1985, which remained at 2000 for
several years. This was subsequently reduced to 1500, which was considered a reasonable number for safety and
comfort.
Many improvements have taken place over the years - they have dispensed with the route
description and marked and marshalled the course, and in 1986 slightly lengthened it to the full 26 miles. In
1988 at the request of conservationists they reluctantly agreed to move the date from February to October.
The Marathon has raised and given thousands of pounds to charities, and made generous donations
to the voluntary organisations connected with it.
The event was originally organised by the Sussex Group of the Long Distance Walkers Association
- for walkers, but with runners welcome, and not losing sight of this, they have always made sure the field has
balanced evenly, by not allowing more runners than walkers.
October 27 2001 was a sad day as this 21st event was to be the last of the Seven Sisters
Marathons organised by Les Smith. It was thought that that would be the end but fortunately the event
was saved and organised by Nicola Williams and Hugh Graham. It was re-named and, since 2001, is
now known as the Beachy Head Marathon. The field then comprised a maximum of 1750 runners,
joggers and walkers.
The 24 October 2009 was another sad day as Nicola & Hugh retired from the organisation
having done a sterling job for the eight years.
Eastbourne Council took over and continue the running of the event and 2010 was the the
30th edition (same as London Marathon) and a complete cook-up as far as the results were concerned. 2011
sorted that out. This year (2020) and last couple of years everything seems to be great with full
results published before the end of the day... thank you all.
SUB 3 HOUR ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE 1986 (Present Course)
| Peter Huck |
2:40:09 |
Barrow in Furness Striders |
2020
|
| James Turner |
2:44:33 |
Brighton & Hove City AC |
2021 |
| Mike Bradley |
2.45 |
Chesham Harriers |
1991
|
| James Wright |
2:45:32 |
Scrutton Bland |
2021 |
| Tim Short |
2.47 |
? |
2007 |
| Sarah Rowell |
2.49 |
Dartford Harriers |
1986 |
| Andy Coley-Maud |
2:49:02 |
Clapham Chasers |
2018 |
| Todd Leckie |
2:49:23 |
Bodyworks XTC |
2018 |
| Sam Humpfrey |
2:50:37 |
Victoria Park Harriers |
2016 |
| Jan Swenson |
2.51 |
Arena 80 |
1993 |
| Malcolm MacBride |
2.52 |
Herne Hill Harriers |
1988 |
| Ben Warren |
2:52:50 |
? |
2021 |
| Sam Lambourne |
2.53 |
Jog Shop Joggers |
1986 |
| Damon Rodwell |
2.53 |
Hardley Runners |
1995 |
| Stephen Moore |
2.53 |
Hertford & Ware A.C. |
1995 |
| Ian Stoneman |
2.53 |
South West Road Runners |
1996 |
| Terry Tullett |
2.54 |
Jog Shop Joggers |
1986 |
| Will Green |
2:54:32 |
Lewes AC |
2020 |
| Eric Williams |
2.55 |
Stockport Harriers |
1991 |
| Stephan Wenk |
2.55.38 |
Maidstone Harriers |
2014 |
| Jeff Pyrah |
2.55.44 |
Hastings AC |
2013 |
| Jeff Pyrah |
2.55.59 |
Hastings AC |
2014 |
| Matthew Lynas |
2.55 |
Thames Hare and Hounds |
1996 |
| Sean O'Neill |
2.56 |
Gold Starr Eastbourne |
1987 |
| Kelvin Turner |
2.56 |
Gold Starr Eastbourne |
1987 |
| John Hudspith |
2.56 |
Serpentine R.C. |
1994 |
| Jeff Pyrah |
2:56:05 |
Hastings AC |
2016 |
| Todd Leckie |
2:56:49 |
Bodyworks XTC |
2017 |
| Mark Pickard |
2.57 |
L. D. W. A. |
1986 |
| Paul Turner |
2.57 |
Bolton United Harriers |
1993 |
| Kevin Willis |
2.57 |
Cheltenham & County Harriers |
1994 |
| Stuart Mills |
2.57 |
Uni of Brighton |
2007 |
| James Turner |
2:57:47 |
Brighton & Hove City AC |
2020 |
| Gordon Armstrong |
2.58 |
Lewes A. C. |
1988 |
| Barry Hards |
2.58 |
Stubbington Green Runners |
1990 |
| Danny Wood |
2.58 |
Uni of Brighton |
2001 |
| Stuart Mills |
2.58 |
Uni of Brighton |
2004 |
| Stephen Bach |
2.59 |
Lozells Harriers |
1986 |
| Mike Smith |
2.59 |
Jog Shop Joggers |
1990 |
| Graham Cunliffe |
2.59 |
Clayton Le Moors Harriers |
1991 |
| Andrew Carruthers |
2.59 |
Crawley A.C. |
1992 |
| Tom Glare |
2.59 |
Woodstock Harriers |
1995 |
| Stuart Mills |
2.59 |
Uni of Brighton |
2002 |
| Stuart Mills |
2.59 |
Uni of Brighton |
2005 |
| Milan Watson |
2:59:38 |
Brighton Pheonix |
2018 |
Leading runners times since 1986
Thanks to Andy Milroy for updating the information.
|
Beachy Head Marathon (was the Seven Sisters
Marathon)
|
|
Eastbourne, Sussex, England - Trail - circular loop
course
|
| Date |
Male |
Name and Country |
Female |
Name and Country |
|
Due to extensive
overnight flooding across the course a change was made which meant two laps of the
half-marathon course for 2021
|
| 23-Oct-21 |
02:44:33 |
James Turner |
03:05:48 |
Jemima Farley |
| 24-Oct-20 |
02:40:09 |
Peter Hulk |
03:24:23 |
Emma Davis |
|
26-Oct-19
|
03:05:55 |
Luke Delderfield |
03:24:22 |
Rebecca Bunting |
|
27-Oct-18
|
02:49:02
|
Andy Coley-Maud |
03:16:42 |
Rebecca Bunting |
| 28-Oct-17 |
02:56:49 |
Todd Leckie |
03:27:09 |
Alexie Williams |
| 29-Oct-16 |
02:50:37 |
Sam Humpfrey |
03:30:20 |
Sarah Swann |
|
24-Oct-15
|
03:08:06
|
Stuart Mills |
03:23:44
|
Sarah Swinhoe |
| 25-Oct-14 |
02:55:38 |
Stephan Wenk |
03:32:42 |
Jo Singer |
| 26-Oct-13 |
02:55:44 |
Jeff Pryah |
03:30:33 |
Andrea Green |
| 27-Oct-12 |
03:09
|
Rob Harley |
03:31
|
Susie Casebourne |
| 22-Oct-11 |
03:02 |
Steve Nimmo |
03:36 |
Susie Casebourne |
| 23-Oct-10 |
03:02 |
Stuart Mills ENG |
03:31 |
Emma Richards |
| 24-Oct-09 |
03:03 |
Stuart Mills ENG |
03:27 |
Sam Alvarez |
| 25-Oct-08 |
03:02 |
Stuart Mills ENG |
03:41 |
Jacqueline Hartwell ENG |
| 27-Oct-07 |
02:47 |
Tim Short ENG |
03:29 |
Annabelle Stearns ENG |
| 28-Oct-06 |
03:00 |
Matt Giles ENG |
03:47 |
Lisa Barry ENG |
| 29-Oct-05 |
02:59 |
Stuart Mills ENG |
03:36 |
Sue Sleath ENG |
|
An additional hill, just after you cross the A259 at
Exceat, was added making the course slightly longer.
|
| 23-Oct-04 |
02:58 |
Stuart Mills ENG |
03:34 |
Sue Sleath ENG |
| 25-Oct-03 |
03:07 |
Stuart Mills ENG |
03:31 |
Julia Armstrong ENG |
| 26-Oct-02 |
02:59 |
Stuart Mills ENG |
03:53 |
Julie Drake ENG |
|
Change of name to Beachy Head Marathon from October
2002
|
| 27-Oct-01 |
02:58 |
Danny Woods ENG |
03:27 |
Lindsey McLaren |
| 28-Oct-00 |
03:03 |
Danny Woods ENG |
03:53 |
Tracey Owen ENG |
| 30-Oct-99 |
02:59 |
Brian Willis ENG |
03:39 |
Jane Boulton ENG |
| 31-Oct-98 |
03:04 |
Mike Bradley ENG |
03:44 |
Louise Forrest ENG |
| 01-Nov-97 |
02:52 |
Mike Bradley ENG |
03:25 |
Libby Jones ENG |
| 02-Nov-96 |
02:53 |
Ian Stoneman ENG |
03:29 |
Libby Jones ENG |
| 28-Oct-95 |
02:53 |
Damon Rodwell ENG |
03:36 |
Jane Boulton ENG |
| 29-Oct-94 |
02:56 |
John Hudspith ENG |
03:35 |
Libby Jones ENG |
| 30-Oct-93 |
02:51 |
Jan Swenson |
03:28 |
Hilary Walker ENG |
| 31-Oct-92 |
02:59 |
Kevin Willis ENG |
03:29 |
Clare Weyman ENG |
| 26-Oct-91 |
02:45 |
Mike Bradley ENG |
03:35 |
Libby Griffin ENG |
| 27-Oct-90 |
02:57 |
Damon Rodwell ENG |
03:28 |
Clare Weyman ENG |
| 28-Oct-89 |
02:57 |
Mike Bradley ENG |
03:26 |
Sarah Coope ENG |
| 29-Oct-88 |
02:52 |
Malcolm MacBride ENG |
03:34 |
Vivienne Hill ENG |
| 28-Feb-87 |
02:56 |
Sean O'Neill ENG |
03:30 |
Clare Weyman ENG |
| |
|
Kelvin Turner ENG |
|
|
| 22-Feb-86 |
02:53 |
Sam Lambourne ENG |
02:49 |
Sarah Rowell ENG |
|
Course lengthened from February 1986
|
| 23-Feb-85 |
02:48 |
Derek Stevens ENG |
03:20 |
Jacky Smith ENG |
| 25-Feb-84 |
02:51 |
Sam Lambourne ENG |
02:55 |
Sarah Rowell ENG |
| 19-Feb-83 |
02:55 |
Derek Stevens ENG |
03:13 |
Sarah Rowell ENG |
| 20-Feb-82 |
03:00 |
Mark Pickard ENG |
03:52 |
Sarah Rowell ENG |
| 28-Feb-81 |
03:28 |
Andrew Harmer ENG |
04:09 |
Ros Paul ENG |
|