We are now only a few weeks away from the Montane Spine Race 2024, where we will see an insane feat of endurance and determination by racers taking 268 miles up the Pennine Way. Often seen as Britain’s most brutal endurance race, the Montane Spine Race takes in around 10,732 metres of ascent passing through iconic British sites.
Starting in Edale, the Pennine Way winds through the North of England, finishing in Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders. Participants will spend days pushing their bodies to the limit in a non-stop race.
Who’s racing?
The Roster for the 2024 edition of the race looks to be excellent, with many returning champions alongside some of the world’s best ultrarunners.
Damian Hall
Returning champion Damian Hall is a recognised giant in the ultrarunning space. Part of the Green Runners community, Damian is a strong supporter of finding sustainable ways to run.
He won the Montane Winter Spine Race in January 2023 at 84:36:24. His previous races include The Barkley Marathons, Tor De Geants, Berghaus Dragon’s Back Race, Marathon des Sables and Ultra-Trail Du Mont-Blanc.
Nikky Spinks
Another icon in the ultrarunning world, Nikky Spinks, will come to the Montane Spine Race in 2024. In the early 2000s, Nikky made a name for herself when she set the first Women’s record for the Bob Graham Round, falling in love with rounds all over the UK.
To celebrate her 10-year anniversary of beating breast cancer, in 2016, she broke the women’s record once again for the Bob Graham Round by nearly an hour.
She most recently won first female at the Montane Cheviot Goat (15:11:13); however, her past races include the Barkley Marathons, Le Grand Raid Des Pyrénées, Ultra-Trail Snowdonia, Arc of Attrition and the Tor des Géants.
John Kelly
American athlete John Kelly was already recognised before moving to Britain in 2019. Over lockdown, while many races were suspended, John and Damian Hall quickly set new Pennine Way records consecutively . He has since returned to the US; however, he remains very well known in the UK. He returns to the Spine Race after winning in 2020 (87:53:57).
John Kelly has won the Barkley Marathons twice, an exceptional feat of a race that has beaten many of the world’s best. His other accolades include The Franklins, the Grand Round (The Bob Graham, Paddy Bucky and Charlie Ramsey Round in succession, cycling between the three) and the circuit of 214 Lake District Wainwrights in 5 days 12 hours 14 minutes.
Jack Scott Interview – Be Ruthless Be Strong
Jack Scott
Jack Scott is back after second place in the 2023 Montane Spine Race. He is still relatively new to the sport, but in 2021, he set a winter record time for the 100-mile Lakes, Meres & Waters challenge. Jack has used his love of ultra running to help beat a gambling addiction that was previously controlling his life.
Jack’s previous races include Peak Skyline, Ultra Trail Snowdonia 100k, Exodus Beacons Way 100 miler, Roaches Fell Race and an FKT on the Southern Upland Way.
Kim Collison
Kim Collison is an exceptional athlete and endurance running coach. In 2020, he broke Mark Hartell’s longstanding Lakes 24-hour Record. He also holds the Winter Bob Graham and Solo/Unsupported Bob Graham records.
In 2014, with victory at the Lakeland 50, he was the British Trail Running Champion and went on to achieve a number of ultra records on the trails, including Hardmoors 55, Lakeland Trails 110km, Lakes in a Day and Arc of Attrition.
In July 2020, he broke the Lakeland 24-hour fell record with 78 tops in 23 hours and 45 minutes. April 2021 saw him achieve the record for the Paddy Buckley round in Wales in 16:20:40
Simon Roberts
Simon Roberts most recently won the Cheviot Goat Winter Ultra in 13:04:06. An exceptional runner, Simon has won the Montane Dragons Back Race 2021 and the Montane Spine Challenger North 2022. He also represented his home country, Wales, at the World Mountain Running Nations Cup 2021 in Chiavenna, Italy.
He has also participated in many other races, including Race Across Snowdonia, Lakes Sky Ultra, Scafell Sky Race, Snowdon Skyrace and the Lakeland 50.
Simon Roberts Discusses his Exceptional Win at Montane Cheviot Goat
Claire Bannwarth
Claire Bannwarth of France has made a name for herself worldwide in the ultrarunning sphere, with many impressive accolades. In 2023, she won first place in the Tahoe 200 and the Kodiak Ultra Marathons.
Her other races include the Hardrock 100, the UTMB, Ultra-Trail Snowdonia, Transgrancanaria, Swiss Canyon Trail, Eiger Ultra-Trail by UTMB, Tor des Geants and Swiss Peaks 360.
