This Month in UK Ultrarunning – January 2023
January is generally one of the quieter months on the calendar for ultras, but across The Spine Race and The Arc of Attrition, as well as a plenty of other events, there was still much to get excited about.
The Spine Race
A late Christmas gift to dot watchers everywhere, The Montane Winter Spine Race now consists of 5 different events – here, we’ll cover results for 4 of them: the Spine Race, the Spine Challenger North, the Spine Challenger South, and the Spine Sprint. Well renowned for its challenging winter conditions, this year’s race certainly didn’t disappoint, with snow covering much of the Pennine Way and runners having to be thawed out of their shoes at checkpoints.
Spine Sprint
In only the second ever running of the 46-mile event, Jon Shield romped home to victory in 8:10 to claim a new course record. Hamish Waring finished in second in 9:06, followed by Andrew Morley in third in 9:39.
In the women’s race, Louise Venables also set the new course record in 11:39, with Kim Kennedy and Julie Taylor following in second and third, in 12:47 and 13:47 respectively.
Spine Challenger South
In the 108-mile Spine Challenger from Edale to Hawes, Rory Harris gapped the field by 4 hours to cruise home in 26:25. Brothers Rupert and Joshua Lee stuck together for the length of the race to claim a joint second placed finish in 30:28.
On the women’s side of things Sarah Hodgson took a commanding victory in 33:26. Alice Kershaw was second in 37:40, Catherine Hill came in some 10 hours later for third place in 48:07.
Spine Challenger North
Next up was the Spine Challenger North. This 160-mile race picks up where the Challenger South leaves off to cover the remaining distance of the Pennine Way, from Hawes to Kirk Yetholm.
Tim Bradley and G Brian Hutchinson teamed up over the latter chunk of the course for a joint first placed finish in 61:13. Tim had been well clear for most of the first half of the race before taking a long stop at the Bellingham checkpoint after a fall. John Murray was third in 72:16.
The women’s podium was quite tight in Spine-terms with only 6 hours between the top three. Dutch athlete Irene Kinnegim ran a brave race out front to take the win in 72:16. Fiona Lynch followed in 75:59 with Jo Wallace rounding out the podium in 78:05.
Spine Race
The main event of the week, the full 268-mile Spine Race, takes runners north up the length of the Pennine Way from Edale to Kirk Yetholm, across some of the most barren and exposed countryside the UK has to offer. It’s brutal.
There was plenty of drama in the men’s race this year as Damian Hall returned from a DNF at last year’s event to take the win in 84:36 and set a new men’s course record in the process. Second place Jack Scott crossed the line with Hall, but had been given a 48-minute time penalty earlier in the race for unknowingly cutting a corner. Scott was also granted an 8 minute credit for stopping to help a fellow runner in need, meaning in the end he finished just 40 minutes behind Hall in 85:16. Joe O’Leary and Dougie Zinis tied for third place, coming through over 10 hours later in 96:50.
The women’s side was a less close run affair but still had plenty of impressive performances. Over several days, Claire Bannwarth steadily built a huge lead over the rest of the chasing pack, taking the victory in 97:39, which placed her in fifth overall. Hannah Rickman came in close to 24 hours later in 121:23. Edwina Sutton ran a gutsy race to finish third in 125:56.
Arc of Attrition – 100 Mile
Now in its 8th running, The Arc of Attrition has grown in reputation over the past few years and this beautiful yet challenging course on the Cornish coast is now well established as one of the most popular 100 mile races in the UK.
Gavin Dale took the victory in the men’s race with an impressive sub-20 hour finish in 19:56. In a repeat of their performances in December’s Cheviot Goat Ultra, Ellis Bland and Daniel Weller were second and third respectively, in 20:24 and 20:40. Bland got revenge on the Arc after having to retire from the race last year whilst he was part of the leading pack.
It was a very fast year on the women’s side. Emma Stuart set an incredible new course record, making it back to Porthtowan in 21:22, knocking 4 hours off the previous women’s best, and putting her in fourth overall. Robyn Cassidy was 2nd in 23:42, becoming only the second woman ever after Emma to come in under 24 hours, whilst Holly Rush just missed the 24-hour mark, coming third in 24:01. All of the top 5 women came in under the previous course record.
Arc of Attrition – 50 Mile
After winning the 100 in course record time last year, it was no surprise to see Mark Darbyshire finish first in this year’s 50 mile race in 7:39. Sam Downing was second in 8:05 and Luke Roberts third in 8:14.
Fiona Pascall continued an impressive string of recent results with first place here in 8:18. Julia Davis was second in 8:32 and Lizzie Atkins was third in 9:23.
The classic season opener for London-based ultrarunners is a largely flat 43 mile journey from Wendover to Paddington Basin in Central London, with long stretches along the Grand Union Canal.
2020 winner Sage Pearce-Higgins returned to the race to pip brother Alfie Pearce-Higgins to first place in 5:11. Alfie followed in 5:25 with early leader Andrea Fraquelli coming third in 5:36.
Rachel Piper was also returning to the race after coming second in 2022. This time she went one better to take the win in 6:17. She was followed by Rachel Owen in 6:21 and Kelsey Smith who came in third just 31 seconds later.
Hardmoors 30
The first race in the calendar for this well-established Yorkshire series takes runners on a 30 mile loop from Robin Hood’s Bay. Jonathan Weatherill was the winner of the men’s race in 4:47, second was Danny Brunton in 5:09 just ahead of Chris Andrade in 5:10.
On the women’s side of things it was Jackie Wilkie who led the field, completing the loop in 6:07. Jenny Yeo was a few minutes back in 6:16, just edging out third placed Lindsay Haynes, who finished in 6:18.
Peddars Way Ultra 77km
Now in its 10th year, the Peddars Way Ultra takes runners along the Norfolk Coast. Iain Ward came out on top for the men in 6:24. Juliette Watkinson returned to the race to knock 22 minutes off the course record she set last year, finishing in an impressive 6:35, placing in third overall.
Wychavon Way 60km
More than 80 runners lined up for this 63km course which runs the length of Worcestershire. Nicholas Berry took the victory for the men in 5:45 and Holly Edmonds won the women’s race in 6:41.
North Leeds Greenway 54km
The Punk Panther Race Series opener that skirts the edge of Leeds city centre saw James Taylor come first for the men in 5:33. Emily Newton was first lady in 6:05, which was good for second overall.
EnduranceLife Cornwall Marathon
Chris Ayles was first home in 4:19 on this marathon distance course with 1500m of ascent. Emily Dixon was first lady and fifth overall in 4:56.