Holly, Queen of the Dragons + More Welsh Racing: This Week's Trail Tally

Dragon’s Back Race image © No Limits Photos

Chasing Trails: Week 37

After the excitement of international racing last week, the action has moved to Wales this week, with multiple events taking place across Snowdonia National Park and beyond. The iconic Dragon’s Back Race had us following trackers all week as Holly Wootten and David Parrish put on amazing performances to win the multi-day adventure. Elsewhere, we had runners shine at the Yr Wyddfa Snowdon Ultra and at the Snowdonia Sea 2 Sky, but also some great success at the Ultra Tour Monte Rosa. Plus, we celebrate Harrier PRO Team results from the weekend.

- Kate Parker, Director - Founder

Holly Wootten & David Parrish Dominate 10th Dragon’s Back Race

This year marked the tenth anniversary of an iconic race across the “Dragon’s Back of Wales” - the 380 km crossing completed by runners over six days. Taking off on day 1 at Conwy Castle, the Dragon’s Back Race starts in Northern Snowdonia, with a route across the Carneddau, Glyderau, and Yr Wyddfa. It then moves through the gnarly Moelwynion and Rhinogydd, the Cambrian Mountains, Elan Valley, the Brecon Beacons National Park, and finally the South Wales Valleys, for a triumphant finish at Cardiff Castle. Each day is an ultra (with the shortest distance at 50 km) and, cumulatively, there is 16,400 m of ascent. One of the toughest challenges in mountain ultra running, contending with changing weather conditions and some very varied terrain, too.

Holly Wootten was the absolute star of this edition, winning the women’s race and finishing second overall in a total time of 50:46:16. She was followed in second place by Jodie Gauld (61:02:09 and eighth overall) and in third by Lianne Van Dijk (62:09:03 and tenth overall). Holly also broke the women’s course record previously set by Lisa Watson in 2022. 

David Parrish won the men’s race in 48:40:14, followed by Ed Brewer (52:25:14) and Ieuan Belshaw (57:53:24). Second-placed Ed was also one of this year’s youngest competitors, aged only 23.

Holly Wootten and David Parrish at the start of the final day © No Limits Photos

Yr Wyddfa Snowdon Ultra

More inspiring performances took place in Eryri as the GB Ultras Yr Wyddfa Snowdon Ultra 50 and 100-mile races set off last weekend. Runners took on 102 miles with 5,788 m of elevation in the main event, leaving Betws-y-Coed to travel over the Snowdonia Slate Trail, the Nant Gwynant Valley, Sygun Copper Mine, and more. Congratulations to the women’s winner Carol Morgan, whose 25:20:00 finish time placed her third overall. She was followed by Emily Lydon in second place (32:33:31) and Samantha Baker in third (35:23:13). 

The men’s race was won by Harry Firth (24:38:56), who arrived hand in hand with second-placed Thomas Nelson (chip time 24:39:06). Jerome Cooper completed the podium in 27:00:52).

In the 50-mile race, Jodie Smith was victorious in 11:41:51, followed by Caroline Hardie (12:18:52) and Sara Winter (12:39:24). In the men’s race, the podium was made up of: Raitis Rorbahs (9:43:24), Pawel Pietak (9:50:05), and Nicholas Weston Smith (9:55:30). 

Carol Morgan Winner of Yr Wyddfa Snowdon Ultra 100 © Yr Wyddfa Snowdon Ultra

Harry Firth Winner of Yr Wyddfa Snowdon Ultra 100 © Yr Wyddfa Snowdon Ultra

From Sea 2 Sky, Ultra Tour Monte Rosa, and Team Successes

Elsewhere in Wales, RunTrough Trails organised the Snowdonia Sea 2 Sky, a 54km run from Barmouth beach to the summit of Cadair Idris and back. In the challenging ultra, which took on 1,650 m of elevation to reach gorgeous views of the Welsh coastline, Ra Twilley took the win in 4:46:15 in the men’s race, followed by Josh Bakker-Dyos (4:59:44) and Sergio Torija (5:04:42). The women’s race saw Sarah Brown take the win in 5:27:57, which also placed her eighth overall. Margaret Beever (5:41:45) and Anastasiia Doroshenko (6:18:58) completed the podium.

The 23km race, also starting at Barmouth beach for a shorter loop with 735 m of elevation, crowned Matthew Cooper winner in 2:02:48. The men’s podium was completed by Ben Green (2:06:05) and Claudiu Banzea (2:08:34). The women’s race was won by Naomi Eaton in 2:22:46 (sixth overall), followed closely by Ausra Pilitauskaite (2:24:41, 7th overall) and Kerri Williams (2:33:06).

We’d also like to say a huge congratulations to Natalie Taylor, who won the 110-mile Ultra Tour Monte Rosa stage race in the Swiss and Italian Alps. Natalie covered 11,600 m of elevation in four days, for a total running time of 27:19:15, emerging victorious for the second time (she had won here in 2022 as well). A brilliant performance for the Ultra X 110 Wales winner earlier this year, who also has wins at South Downs 100k and Chester Ultra 100 Miles, and a second place at Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB 100 Miles this year alone.

Natalie Taylor at Ultra Tour Monte Rosa © Ultra Tour Monte Rosa

And finally, congratulations to Harrier PRO Team Athletes Kallum Pritchard, who won the inaugural Boondock Events Bradenham Blast Trail Half Marathon, and Sam Skinner, who was second in the Surrey Trek and Run Shere 42 over the weekend.

Kallum Pritchard at Bradenham Blast Trail Half Marathon

Sam Skinner at Shere 42k