History of the Three Forts Challenge
Entry Statistics, Course Records and Previous Winners
1970 was a boom time for marathon running. The New York Marathon had started with circuits of Central Park and in 1976 it first took to the city‘s streets. Former Olympic champion, Chris Brasher, had yet to have his idea to hold a marathon in London. The London Marathon eventually started in 1981.
1977 saw the start of The Three Forts Marathon. It had been devised by Southdown Orienteers as a 26 mile cross-country. The course followed a figure of eight loop starting and finishing at Portslade. It took in the Iron-age hill forts of Chanctonbury Ring, Cissbury Ring and Devil‘s Dyke. The event was a success and subsequently the Southdown 10 race was held on the same day. The events were always in the heat of mid-June. Although successful, by 1986 the numbers entering began to match the number of marshals required to guide the runners. The event then stopped.
1988 - With the loss of the event, the current Race Director, Mike Airey, having run the course each year between 1982 and 1986, was inspired to keep it on the calendar for dedicated runners who knew the course. As a member of Portslade Hedgehoppers, he gathered a group of twelve runners to run the full marathon course for no other reason than it being known as 'the tough one‘ with its 3,450 feet of climb. It also included some of the best sections of the South Downs Way. Club members volunteered to staff the aid-stations and the event took off again. This time it was low key and un-marshalled. It only made money to help fund St John Ambulance and Raynet who provided First Aid and Radio cover for the event. Other clubs heard that the Three Forts was being raced again and asked to join in. The clubs were encouraged to be responsible for one of the aid-stations and year on year the event quietly grew. 80 to100 runners 'in the know‘ were able to race the course each year.
2003 - After sixteen years the event could have ended. It had gradually become more difficult to get sufficient staff to cover the all the aid-stations. Mike then linked up with the Rotary Clubs of Worthing, Storrington and Steyning & Henfield who wanted to organise a similar event.
2004 was the first year that the 3FM was raced over a new course. The event now had the aim of raising money for charity. The route was hastily re-arranged to start and finish at Worthing. It still took in the three highest points, but insufficient planning resulted in the course being 29 miles long! During the next couple of years minor adjustments to the route were made to bring it closer to the marathon distance of 26.2 miles. The current course is 27 miles which still allows the highest points to be included. Most runners agree it is worth 'going the extra mile‘ to take part in this marathon. In 2006 The Team Challenge was introduced. Recent additions have been the half marathon and the name change to the Three Forts Challenge as participants can choose the particular challenge they wish to take. There are also two walks. Those not wanting to run but still wishing to raise money for Rotary or their own charity can take part in a five mile walk to Cissbury or a ten mile walk to Cissbury and Chanctonbury.
2010 – This year is set to be better than ever. The event has grown, there were around 500 runners in 2008, under the guidance of Rotary and enabled them to donate thousands of pounds to St. Barnabas Hospice and Chestnut Tree House, a children‘s hospice near Worthing. The current main charity is the Shoreham Lifeboat Appeal which is to fund the building of a new boathouse.
The event is set to run and run!
Entry Statistics, Previous Winners and Record Times
Entrants
| Event | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
| Marathon | 265 | 249 | 198 | |
| Half Marathon | 287 | 269 | 213 |
Course Records
Men
| Marathon | Tim Short | 2:55:09 | 2008 |
| Half Marathon | James Walker | 1:22:42 | 2006 |
Women
| Marathon | Lisa Berry | 3:45:08 | 2007 |
| Half Marathon | Meera Siva | 1:22:42 | 2006 |
Previous Winners
| Event | Men | Women | Vet Men | Vet Women | |
| 2009 | Marathon | Philip Morris | Lucy Gettins | Cedric Clemerson | Jannion Ireland |
| Marathon Team | |||||
| Half Marathon | Leighton Aspell | Jo Clarke | Colin Hannant | Linda Venis | |
| Half Marathon Team | Serpentine RC | ||||
| 2008 | Marathon | Tim Short | Elizabeth Walls | Stuart Mills | Lucy Gettins |
| Marathon Team | Serpentine RC | ||||
| Half Marathon | Bill Gristwood | Meera Siva | Bill Gristwood | Joanne Lennon | |
| Half Marathon Team | Worthing Harriers | ||||
| 2007 | Marathon | Stuart Mills | Lisa Berry | Lybeck Tarrod | |
| Half Marathon | Robert Jackson | Alexandra Richardson | Brain Friend | ||
| Half Marathon Team | Not awarded | ||||
| 2006 | Marathon | James Jarvis | Lisa Hussey | Steve Powell | |
| Half Marathon | James Walker | Beth Handyside | Brian Friend | ||
| Half Marathon Team | Tracks Worthing | ||||