Hugh Chatfield and Robyn Cassidy Win ‘World’s Toughest Mountain Race’
"The gruelling course requires participants to push themselves to their very limit in order to succeed, with the performances witnessed this year a true inspiration.”
The Montane Dragon’s Back Race 2023 has seen Hugh Chatfield and Robyn Cassidy claim glory, after blistering temperatures reached as high as 30 degrees to provide participants with one of the toughest races the event has seen.
Chatfield finished with a time of 47 hours 38 minutes to claim first place overall, ahead of Jakub Wolski in second place with a time of 51 hours 11 minutes.
Robyn Cassidy, a volunteer at last year’s race, was just behind in third place, crossing the line in 54 hours 25 minutes to claim third place overall and first-placed female. Alyssa Clark finished just under 5 hours behind in 59 hours 15 minutes to claim second-placed female, in what was an emotional moment for her after recording a DNF back in the 2019 event.
The event, considered by some to be the toughest mountain race in the world, is a legendary six-day race that sees athletes cover 380km of distance with 17,400m of accents across Wales. The race starts at Conwy Castle in Northern Eryri (Snowdonia) before approaching Crib Goch, the Cambrian Mountains and Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), and eventually finishing at Cardiff Castle.
The route is inspired by the 1992 race which saw the inaugural Dragons take on the Welsh trackless and remote mountainous terrain.
Robyn Cassidy, a volunteer at last year’s race, was just behind in third place, crossing the line in 54 hours 25 minutes to claim third place overall and first-placed female. Alyssa Clark finished just under 5 hours behind in 59 hours 15 minutes to claim second-placed female, in what was an emotional moment for her after recording a DNF back in the 2019 event.
The event, considered by some to be the toughest mountain race in the world, is a legendary six-day race that sees athletes cover 380km of distance with 17,400m of accents across Wales. The race starts at Conwy Castle in Northern Eryri (Snowdonia) before approaching Crib Goch, the Cambrian Mountains and Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), and eventually finishing at Cardiff Castle.
The route is inspired by the 1992 race which saw the inaugural Dragons take on the Welsh trackless and remote mountainous terrain.
Speaking on his win, Hugh Chatfield commented: “It feels amazing, and thanks to everyone for the support. The highlights were making friends in the mountains and eating that much food with no guilt! I came to recce the course a few weeks ago and it was completely different experience weather wise. Kudos to Jacob (runner-up) because he’s never seen these mountains before.”
Female winner and third place overall, Robyn Cassidy, said: “’There are no words that describe this at the moment. It’s been the hardest, most emotional week with the most amazing people and amazing runners. The team are incredible, and the volunteers just make it one big family – there is nothing else that compares!”
In addition to the main event, this year saw the introduction of a newer, shorter event titled ‘The Hatchling’, which gives participants the option to run a part of the race route each day to give more aspirant runners the opportunity to experience the unique event. Those who conquer half of the route are recognised as a ‘Montane Dragon’s Back Race Lite’.
Montane’s Marketing Director, Matthew Hickman, said: “The Montane Dragon’s Back Race is one of Montane’s most iconic events, which understandably has been branded by some as ‘the world’s toughest mountain race’. The gruelling course requires participants to push themselves to their very limit in order to succeed, with the performances witnessed this year a true inspiration.”
The event follows on from James Nobles making history in 2022 when he became the first former volunteer to win the race, and Lisa Watson became the first competitor to win two editions of the race since it was reinstated in 2012, following on from her first success in 2019.
Full details of the Montane Dragon’s Back Race can be found here: https://montane.com/blogs/blog/dragons-back-race-2023-review
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