PAST WINNERS – CLASS A
1967 – present
Class A is the “Blue Riband” event of the Downsman. To win this class a team hikes the whole distance together, approximately 55 miles, in the fastest time. It is an extreme test of skill, fitness & endurance.
From 1967 until 2014, Class A consisted of a team of four (with three walking each section) hiking from Buriton to Eastbourne, approximately 80 miles. Until 2000, all team members had to be under 20. This was raised to 25 until 2006, after which no age restrictions have applied. In 2015, the start was moved to Bignor, reducing the distance to 55 miles. However, the number in the team was reduced from 4 to 3 and all team members then had to hike the entire route together. From 2019, teams may comprise of 3 or 4 people.
CURRENT RECORD
14 hours 58 minutes set in 2018 by West Sussex Caving Team
RECORD UNDER PRE-2015 RULES
13 hours 44 minutes set in 2007 by Thrust Scout Fellowship
TABLE OF PAST WINNERS
| Year | Team Name | Team Members | Time | |||
| 2019 | Mid Sussex Network | Robert Wilson | Sam Mitchell | William Tampion-Lacey | Richard Bliss | 15:08 |
| 2018 | West Sussex Caving Team | Dan Kent | Dylan Longdon | Alistair Smith | 14:58 | |
| 2017 | Mid Sussex Network | Sam Mitchell | Richard Bliss | Robert Wooller | 17:28 | |
| 2016 | 1st & 10th Haywards Heath Leaders | Chris Searle | Charlotte Polhill | Richard Peers | 16:38 | |
| 2015 | No winner | |||||
| 2014 | No winner | |||||
| 2013 | No winner | |||||
| 2012 | Battle Hursecarls | Matthew Lock | Jonathan Platten | David Honeysett | Aaron Millar | 23:15 |
| 2011 | Tullis ESU | Max Waters | Chris Somers | Matt Shaw | Charlie Jones | 23:18 |
| 2010 | Europa ESU | Ben Kent | Alistair Smith | Nick Fincham | Michael McGearty | 20:18 |
| 2009 | Larrikin | David McDougall | Robert Banyard | Stephen Slater | Daniel Pitt | 22:08 |
| 2008 | Larrikin | Edward Casey | James Head | Niall Gorton | David McDougall | 22:02 |
| 2007 | Thrust | Allan Clarke | Louise Collings | Dan Stuart | Derrick Foster | 13:44 |
| 2006 | No winner | |||||
| 2005 | Larrikin ESU | Andrew Casey | Timothy Casey | James Banyard | Domonic Godfrey | 21:08 |
| 2004 | No winner | |||||
| 2003 | No winner | |||||
| 2002 | New Anzac VSU | G Merchant | A Ruck | L Shepherd | D Woodall | 21:13 |
| 2001 | Not contested | |||||
| 2000 | No winner | |||||
| 1999 | No winner | |||||
| 1998 | 4th Uckfield Explorer VSU | M Riley | A Paisey | A Dean | D Jackson | 20:06 |
| 1997 | 4th Uckfield Explorer VSU | M Sherlock | A Paisey | A Dean | D Jackson | 20:29 |
| 1996 | No winner | |||||
| 1995 | 4th Uckfield Explorer Unit | N Conway | R Davis | D MacFarlane | S Wright | 18:29 |
| 1994 | 29th Brighton VSU | D Goodall | Jonathan Howard | D Parfitt | Morgan Roberts | 17:24 |
| 1993 | 29th Brighton VSU | Dominic Harrex | Jonathan Howard | Ian Reeve | Morgan Roberts | 18:52 |
| 1992 | 2nd Steyning VSU | Hannah White | Robert Sawyer | Glyn Pullen | Neal Taylor | 22:10 |
| 1991 | 1st Lewes VSU | Owen Shaw | Roderick Warren | Peter Sanders | Simon Walker | 17:43 |
| 1990 | Harveys VSU | Richard Peers | Trevor Oakes | T Baker | Jamie Howson | 21:00 |
| 1989 | 1st Lewes VSU | N Blake | N Duc | P Salvage | R Sanders | 16:01 |
| 1988 | 1st Lewes VSU | N Blake | G Campbell | S Fuller | R Sanders | 17:46 |
| 1987 | 1st Lewes VSU | G Campbell | W Lane | R Sanders | P Willis | 17:21 |
| 1986 | 4th Uckfield Explorer Unit | D Munn | A Gibbard | J Pearson | I Pert | 18:20 |
| 1985 | 1st Lewes VSU | J Botting | R Chapman | S Funnell | W Lane | 16:12 |
| 1984 | Christ’s Hospital VSU | A Steane | M Rolph | T Darling | N Bucknall | 15:47 |
| 1983 | Christ’s Hospital VSU | A Green | S Pritchard | A Steane | ? Teale | 17:17 |
| 1982 | Christ’s Hospital VSU | E Adams | M Anderson | T Parsons | A Steane | 20:03 |
| 1981 | Christ’s Hospital VSU | I Anderson | M Bricknell | M Cullingford | A Henneberg | 15:02 |
| 1980 | Harveys VSU | Cameron Bell | Anthony Radmall | Simon Russell | Richard Sullivan | 15:39 |
| 1979 | Christ’s Hospital VSU | I Anderson | J Hill | M Bryant | N Maidment | 19:42 |
| 1978 | 1st Rustington Venture Scouts | G Burridge | S Lawrence | J Monger | D Pearson | 19:32 |
| 1977 | Crawley West Venture Scouts | Martin Flegg | Keith Ford | Keith Prior | Peter Smith | 23:03 |
| 1976 | Downsway Unit | W Ducharme | R Oglieve | D Leeves | J Potter | 15:18 |
| 1975 | Uckfield Venture Scouts | C Diplock | D Olive | S Barrow | J Witherden | 16:02 |
| 1974 | Downsway Unit 14th Brighton VSU | C Atkins | C Corpe | K Charman | Barry Morris | |
| 1973 | 14th Brighton Venture Scouts | C Atkins | K Charman | Barry Morris | Steve Valder | |
| 1972 | 14th Brighton Venture Scouts | C Atkins | K Charman | Barry Morris | Steve Valder | 19:16 |
| 1971 | West Side Venture Scouts | Clive Lipscombe | Richard Walden | John Fisher | Edward Allingham | 18:10 |
| 1970 | West Side Venture Scouts | S Hill | Clive Lipscombe | D Smith | K Murphy | 20:32 |
| 1969 | 1st Petersfield Venture Scouts | A Smallbone | D Gosling | K Wiggins | P Wheatley | 21:14 |
| 1968 | 1st Henfield Venture Scouts | K Lyons | T Lyons | B Skilton | D Saunders | |
| 1967 | 11/56th Brighton Senior Scouts | R Browning | D Harris | M Paine | P Witcomb | 01:02:50 |
Downsman Hike 