Flying Up Skiddaw: This Week's Trail Tally

Skiddaw, Ullock Pike, and Dodd. Aerial photo by Simon Ledingham © VisitCumbria.com

Chasing Trails: Week 34

It’s not long to go now before the Team GB & NI runners get to don their team vests and run in the World Trail and Mountain Running Championships. Some of the final selection events were held this weekend in the Lake District, and we’re keeping a close eye on UK Athletics’ news page for final team selections. Until then, we’re celebrating the valiant victors of the Race Across Scotland and the RAT Plague and associated events! Brilliant running across the board!

- Kate Parker, Director - Founder

Kirsty Dickson and Jacob Adkin Fly Up Skiddaw

In the lead-up to the World Trail and Mountain Running Championships, which will be held in the Spanish Pyrenees this September, UK Athletics held a selection event for the Uphill race in the Lake District. Starting at Dodd Wood, runners headed up Skiddaw on a 6.4 km route, climbing 905 m to the summit. A lung and leg-burning competition designed to replicate what international runners will face in Canfranc (6.4 km, 990 m of elevation). 

Kirsty Dickson took a superb victory in the women’s field in a time of 45:49, followed by Eden O’Dea (48:15), Ruth Jones (48:18), and Eve Pannone (49:21) all in close succession. In the men’s race, it was Jacob Adkin who took the win in 37:44, with Finlay Grant (38:54), Matthew Knowles (39:05), and Oscar Subuh-Symons (39:30). The selection criteria document mentions that the top four would be selected to represent Britain, but we’ll await formal confirmation from UK Athletics in the week. 

Kirsty Dickson flying uphill © Chris Richards Instagram

Jacob Adkin at the Uphill Trial © Kate Marriott Instagram

On Sunday, 17th August, the Up-and-Down trial also took place in Whinlatter Forest Park, with the goal of selecting junior and senior runners for the corresponding races at the World Championships. This is a classic mountain race: 14 km with 750 m of climbing and descending for seniors and 7.7 km with 400 m of climbing and descending for juniors.

Results are trickling through: we know Isla Paterson and Thomas Hilton cinched the win in the junior races, but waiting to confirm the full podium positions and the official results for the seniors. 

Conquering the RAT Plague

The Roseland August Trail & Ultra Festival took place this weekend, organised by Mudcrew Events and better known as the RAT. With race names like Bring Out Your Dead and The Plague, it offered some brilliant challenges at different distances, from a 5-mile 24-hour continuous race to the 64-mile main event.

Bring Out Your Dead crowned Connor Peters as winner, after completing 16 laps in 23:52:38 (i.e. 80 miles). Tim Styles was second (14 laps) and Paul Johnson was third (13 laps). The women’s winner was Sally Crabb, fourth overall with 11 laps (55 miles) completed in 23:52:37), followed by Diana Cordingly-Clark (8 laps).

In the Plague, runners faced 64 miles (100 km) and 4,010 m of ascent. It was Sarah Reel who won in a time of 13:43:03, followed by Mel Western (15:05:22) and Helen Knight (15:09:15). In the men’s race, Jamie Stephenson was victorious in 11:15:06, with Sam Hammond (11:31:13) and Ben James (11:48:40) completing the podium.

Photo from the race © Will Harper-Penrose Instagram

Race Across Scotland: The Results!

Last week, we were reporting on the GB Ultras Race Across Scotland, the 215-mile adventure where Iain Bethune and Anna Troup were in the lead. It only took Iain a few more hours to reach the finish line, emerging victorious in 58 hours 18 minutes 49 seconds. He was then followed by Ed Payne in 61:08:11 and Dave Walker-Blair in 63:15:39.

Anna Troup was the ladies’ winner and fourth overall, finishing in 64 hours 38 minutes 55 seconds. She was joined on the podium by Carly Evans (77:02:22) and Helen Francis (77:57:58).

A fantastic achievement, well done to all!

Anna Troup crossing the finish line © Dan Bentley Photo on Instagram