Montane Spine Races

Rory Harris Battles Snowstorms to Win Montane Spine Winter Challenger South

Press Release / 16.01.2023

The weather forecast was for 70 mph winds, snow blizzards and a wind chill of -11 degrees. And that’s exactly what the competitors got. 24 hours into the race and nearly 40% of competitors had DNF’d proving this is one of the most brutal races in Britain. In an intensely challenging race, Rory Harris took the overall win in a time of 26:25:30 in this year’s 108-mile Montane Spine Winter Challenger South starting from Edale and finishing in Hawes. 

Rory explains, “It was a tough day and night on the trail. I’m just relieved to get through it. The real damage was done coming off Pen-y-ghent. I battled through headwinds, blizzards and experienced a complete whiteout. At one point I couldn’t see my feet.” 

Brothers Rupert and Joshua Lee put up a good fight finishing in joint second place in a time of 30:28:36. Working together, their race strategy was to go for the win but conceded there was no way they could keep pace with Rory. They commented, “We had rainstorms, hailstorms and snowstorms. We’ve had it all! Huge congratulations to Rory. There was no way we could keep his pace. He ran a great race”.

Finishing in supreme style, the first woman to cross the line was Sarah Hodgson. Running a fantastic race, she put out a solid and consistent performance with a time of 33:26:44. Second woman to finish was last year’s Sprint defending champion and course record holder Alice Kershaw in 37:40:50. Catherine Hill completes the winners list as the third place woman in a time of 48:07:45.  

Jon Shield takes two hours off the course record in a gruelling Montane Winter Spine Sprint

Jon Shield took 2 hours off the course record in the 46-mile Montane Winter Spine Sprint from Edale to Hebden Bridge. Battling the demanding conditions, Jon bounced back from a couple of bad falls to hold a punishing pace throughout, finishing in a time of 8:10:22. 

Talking about the race, Jon explained “It was a good day out. It rained and hailed out there. The winds were savage and underfoot was atrocious. I should have brought a wetsuit and my arm bands!” 

Hamish Waring was placed 2nd with Andrew Morley following up in 3rd. All three runners finished inside the previous course record which is incredible given the awful weather they battled through.

In a remarkable race for the women, Louise Venables broke the defending champion Alice Kershaw’s course record by over half an hour finishing in 11.39.21. Julie Taylor and Victoria Connelly came in joint second. 

Louise was surprised at her achievement. “I’d not planned for the podium. My aim was just to finish the race in one piece so it’s absolutely amazing I’ve won and beaten the course record. The wind was horrendous. Every time the wind blew I was getting pushed across the moors”.

Spine Race continues

We currently have Damian Hall and Kim Collinson setting a blistering pace in the full Spine race and are currently ahead of John Kelly’s male course record as they make their way up to Middleton-in-Teeside. Tim Bradley currently leads the Challenger North. The Challenger South and MRT Challenge race concludes this evening.  

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