Dragon's Back Race

Over the Black Mountains to Reach the Final Camp

Press Release / 11.09.2021

After day five of the 2021 Montane Dragon’s Back Race, there are under 100 runners left in the full race. The event ventured into new territory on the fifth, and now penultimate, day. In a change from previous editions of the race, this year runners had to complete 70km and 3,200m of climbing, including a challenging traverse from the Black Mountain to the Brecon Beacons.  For the first time in this year’s event, navigational skills were really tested as the cloud closed in, bringing more rain with it, along with windy conditions. Another 10 athletes failed to complete the day by the cut-off deadline of 10:00pm and there are now only 92 left in the full race.

The top two runners, Simon Roberts and Russell Bentley,ran together for most of the day.  Simon was slightly faster (7:52:30 and 40:08:38 overall) and now leads Russell (7:55:24 / 41:30:13) by almost 82 minutes going into the final day. Matt O’Keefe (9:32:33 / 45:32:35) sits third, over five hours ahead of the next athlete.  Seven competitors remain in the women’s race, which is still led by Katie Mills (11:25:43 / 53:11:15), who is now seventh overall.  Still in second, Elaine Bisson (12:26:13 / 58:00:14) slightly extended her lead over Cat Slater (12:47:13 / 60:38:51).

Katie Mills was the fastest woman on the day, despite missing a checkpoint and having to go back to find it.  She comments: “It was brutal today. I am pleased the Brecon Beacons were at the end, but my feet have been really hurting today. It was also a bit annoying to miss CP2 and have to go back. It was while chatting with someone else and then we realised we had missed it. So I have done 76km today. It has been a long day.”

The runners are now very weary, but still have 63km and 1300m of ascent ahead of them on day six before they finally reach Cardiff Castle. The cut-off times remain challenging and any athlete who misses one by even a second will be out of the race.  The fastest competitors may not be worried about that, but further back in the field, there are plenty of runners who will have an anxious last night in camp.

 The title of ‘Dragon Slayer’ is tantalisingly close, but it’s no foregone conclusion. To read a selection of the runners’ reflections on the day, and their thoughts ahead of the final push to Cardiff, visit Day 5: Wet, windy and brutal – but we’re nearly there — Montane Dragon's Back Race® (dragonsbackrace.com).

Start – Towy Bridge Inn, Rhandirmwyn

Finish – Llynbedw Farm, Talybon-on-Usk

Distance covered – 70km

Height climbed – 3,200m

Key features – travers from The Black Mountain to the Brecon Beacons

Number of runners still in the full race after day four-102

Number of runners who didn’t complete the full day -10

Number of runners still in the full race after day five - 92