The Heat is ON For Summer Racing: This Week's Trail Tally

Chasing Trails: Week 25 

"Summer running is definitely on 🔥 This weekend had it all: hot conditions, new course records, exciting racing, and the start of a week of dot watching for everyone following along the Spine racers heading north from Edale. Let’s have a quick recap."

- Kate Parker, Director - Founder

Summer Spine Sprint Runners Obliterate Records

Chris Cope, a Nottinghamshire GP who has had diabetes since childhood, was the first to write the big stories this past weekend as the Summer Spine races took off with a bang. Chris won the Sprint South (a 46-mile event with 2017 m of ascent, starting in Edale and finishing in Hebden Bridge) in 6:36:41, over 20 minutes faster than the previous course record. It’s his second win here after making headlines last year when he was the full course winner, 11 hours ahead of second place. He enjoyed “real summer weather” this time around, he says!

Just over an hour behind him, second place was the women’s race winner, Victoria Thompson, who arrived in Hebden Bridge with a big smile, 20 minutes in front of the 2nd man. Never having run on the Spine course before, she shared how much she enjoyed discovering the Peak District, despite twisting an ankle 39 km into the race. She picked herself off and started chasing the male runners: “I had to keep going for all the women out there!” A fantastic performance by Victoria (7:49:44 total time), who also set a new record for the race.

Congratulations go to 2nd place Louise Goddard (9:57:58) and 3rd place Jill Connolly (10:14:16) in the women’s race, and to Sean Merryweather (2nd, 8:09:31) and Kelvin Horwill (3rd, 9:17:48).

© Screenshot from The Spine Race Youtube channel 

Spine Challengers Shine While the Full Race Is on Its Way

This weekend also saw the Summer Spine Challenger South take place, while the full Summer Spine Race runners took off from Edale for their big 268-mile adventure. In the Challenger South, runners cover the first 108 miles of the full Spine course, from Edale in the Peak District to Hardraw in North Yorkshire (climbing 5,451m in the process). There’s also a special edition of the race running in parallel, with Mountain Rescue members taking on the Spine Challenger South – a nod to the amazing volunteers who keep the runners safe at all the winter and summer Spine events. 

Chris Andrade won the Challenger South in 24:19:46, arriving at the finish line wearing two watches (he says he used one for navigation, one for timing!). He was 22 minutes ahead of Spine veteran and multiple finisher Mark Potts (24:41:52), while Dougie Findlay completed the podium in 27:46:14. In the women’s race, Eleanor Watkins put in a great performance to win in just under 35 hours (34:59:48), followed by Ellie Atkins (36:18:42) and Joanne Lloyd (36:44:25). 

The MRT race podiums were: Matthew Kilner (1st, 33:51:35), David Canavan (2nd, 34:02:53) and Andrew Pearson (3rd, 35:30:53) in the men’s race.

The Challenger South MRT women’s race was ongoing as we wrote this newsletter, with two amazing competitors: Helena Skinn and Karen Brownlie. The Challenger North (160 miles, 5,290m of elevation) has also just started, so stay tuned for news on it next week (when we’ll also cover the Sprint North, starting 17th June).

The full Spine Race began on Sunday 15th June with some exciting previous competitors returning, such as double winner Anna Troup (2021, 2022) and 2023 Winter Spine Sprint winner John Shield. We’ll report on their and other runners’ adventures next week! 👀🍿

Lucy Gossage & Mark Darbyshire Win Big at South Downs Way 100

Multiple Iron-distance champion and Winter Spine Race legend Lucy Gossage (3rd in 2024, 1st in 2025) turned her sights to 100-mile racing in the south this weekend, setting a fantastic new course record at the South Downs Way 100 (her 16:30:35 time becoming the new women’s benchmark, bettering Bethan Male’s 2022 time of 16:49:57). Following her 13 minutes later and also under course record time was Julia Davis (16:43:08). Nicole Frisby rounded out the women’s 100-mile podium in a time of 16:58:45.

The men’s race saw Mark Darbyshire take the win and course record in 13:42:54, followed by Hugh Tibbs (2nd, 14:13:02) and Morgan Glazier (14:41:41). A special mention to UK trail running legend Jez Bragg (2010 Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc winner) who was 6th (15:35:01). 

And let’s not forget the 50-mile race: Imogen Ainsworth won the women’s race in 4:04:18 followed by Holly Stables (4:17:57) and Rebecca Cannon (4:22:17). In the men’s race, Robbie Simpson won in 3:13:32, followed by Peter Le Grice (3:23:29) and Eduard Hernandez Teixidor (3:28:36).