Chris Cope wins Montane Summer Spine race

25/06/2024 13:56

Gruelling event in the North of England kicks off our UK-wide endurance racing round-up

Chris Cope beat more than 100 racers to claim victory in the Montane Summer Spine race – a 268-mile event that started in Edale, Derbyshire, on June 15.

Cope crossed the finish line in Kirk Yetholm with a time of 79:10:14 to round off what was a dominant performance from start to finish.

The Montane Summer Spine returned for 2024 with its largest ever field of participations for the main event, all hoping to emulate last year's winner, Dave Phillips, in claiming the coveted crown.

As runners lined up at the start line in Edale, they were faced with the prospect of travelling 268 miles within 156 hours across the Pennine Way, overcoming gruelling terrain, sleep deprivation, and battling through bad weather.

The course required runners to traverse three national parks, 287 gates, 249 timber stiles, 183 stone stiles, and 204 bridges, which together equated to the equivalent of 1.5 Everests of ascent, and all while battling knee-deep bogs, blazing sun, biting wind, torrential rain and even hail.

The race started with a frontrunning trio of Jon Shield, Cope, and Sam Moppett pulling ahead of the rest of the pack despite changeable weather conditions, while Irene Kinnegan took an early lead in the women's race, tracking faster than Anna Troup's course record pace which was set in 2022, with Rachel Price behind in second.

Unfortunately for Shield and Moppett, they were forced to retire on day two, propelling Cope into a race of his own – now ahead of the newly-second-placed Bjarte Wetteland.

Wetteland would end up facing the same fate as that of Shield and Moppett in being forced to retire, which pushed Jacob Hayes in second place, ahead of Kinnegim in third, who continued to dominate the women's race as weather conditions began to pick up and offer some respite.

As Cope continued to pull away from the chasing field, he opted to take a breather after 35 hours of racing, freshening up at Low Way. It proved to be a wise decision, as he decided to manage his effort and energy levels with over half of the famously unforgiving course still to be conquered.

Over the next couple of days, both Cope and Kinnegim continued to assert their dominance over the rest of the contenders, although their fates would later travel in opposite directions.

It was jubilation for Cope as he rounded off his relentless race by sprinting across the finish line in Kirk Yetholm in the sixth fastest time the course has ever seen. His win was all the more impressive given he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 14.

He said: "That was good, I am happy with that. To finish first is brilliant and it has been lovely right from the storms on day one, the biblical rain coming down, to end it beautifully, and just so well looked after from start to finish."

As Cope headed off to enjoy his win , Kinnegim continued to battle towards the finish line. It would prove to end in heartbreak for her however, as upon reaching Checkpoint 5 in Bellingham, she was advised to withdraw after speaking with the medical team. After leading the women's race since day one, her withdrawal catapulted Sue Straw into first place, with Rachel Price a close second and Linn Davies Sahlström third.

While victory was already claimed by Cope, the race continued for second place, with Jacob Hayes positioned to claim the runner-up spot, ahead of John Boothman in third. There were no stings in the tail for either athlete, however, as Hayes claimed second place with a time of 100:31:54, over 10 hours ahead of Boothman.

With Kinnegim now out of the event, it was delight for Straw, as she successfully held off both Price and Sahlström to claim victory in the women's race in 122:43:49.

Men: 1 C Cope (GBR) 79:10:14; 2 J Hayes (GBR) 100:31:54; 3 J Boothman (GBR) 110:42:24

Women: 1 S Straw (GBR) 122:43:49; 2 R Price (GBR) 134:39:37; 3 L Davies Sahlstrom (SWE) 138:01:27

Summer Spine Sprint

Men: S Earle 8:21:49; 2 L Hinshelwood 8:29:48; 3 P Johnston 8:29:48

Women: 1 M Browne 8:30:29 (course rec); 2 L Broughton 9:31:2; 3 D Martin-Consani 10:10:38

RUN FOR ALL LEEDS 10km, West Yorkshire, June 23

Timothy Kibet Koskei  won from fellow Kenyan Josephat Gisimo in 28:51, a time just 10 seconds outside his road best, to make it two wins in successive weeks in the colours of Race Nation, after running 28:54 in Bamburgh the previous Sunday.

The two had run together before Koskei broke away to win by 50 metres or so. Ilkley's Jack Cummings ran most of the race in isolation before finishing a well beaten third with 30:24, some 22 seconds inside his previous best.

Further back, the women's s section was taken by City of Leeds' Heather Townsend in 33:41, as Kelly Jones was second with 34:24.

Deeper in the field, the best age group performance came from Treena Johnson, the British half-marathon and marathon W60 record-holder who ran 38:53.

Overall: 1 T Koskei (KEN) 28:51; 2 J Gisimo (KEN) 29:03; 3 J Cummings (Ilk) 30:24; 4 D Garbut (Durh) 31:16; 5 J Harrod (W'bury) 31:30; 6 E Hobbs (Ilk) 31:36; 7 B McCawley (Leeds) 31:44; 8 M Valero (Valley St) 32:03; 9 B Burton (Roth) 32:05; 10 P Hathaway (Tad) 32:25

M40: 1 P Tedd (Leeds) 33:45

M50: 1 J Walton (leeds) 33:20; 2 A Grinall (St Ther) 34:51

Women: 1 H Townsend (Leeds) 33:41; 2 K Jones 34:24; 3 G Malir (Leeds) 34:37; 4 S Hunter (Ak) 35:55; 5 K Brown (Lon H) 36:07; 6 K Ballantyne-Chalmers (Leeds) 36:47

W60: 1 T Johnson (Dews) 38:53

EXBURY GARDENS 10km, Hampshire, June 23

Overall: 1 J Copeland (SC Vets, M40) 32:02

M55: 1 J Bassinder (Poole) 36:43

Women: 1 H Martin (Poole, W45) 38:03

LEAMINGTON SPA HALF-MARATHON, Warwickshire, June 23

Overall: 1 B Kruze (Strat, M40) 71:40

Women: 1 S Barton (Higham) 86:11

PRESTWOLD 10km, Leicestershire, June 23

Overall: 1 M Scarsbrook (Badgers) 31;43; 2 M Hussein (R'hoggs) 32:14

M40: 1 P Featherstone (W End) 33:37

M50: 1 M Hulbert (Wigston) 36:39

M60: 1 A Green (Hunc) 38:15

Women: 1 C Frankland (W End) 37:04

W55: 1 N Nealon (Hunc) 43:07

RANELAGH 10km, inc Surrey Champs, Richmond, Surrey, June 23

Georgie Bruinvels added the 10km title to her Surrey cross-country victory as the South of the Thames champion continued her 2024 unbeaten streak.

Overall: 1 S Friend 32:14

M40: 1 J Hutchins (Wok) 32:47

M55: 1 S Ramek (26.2RRC) 38:10

M60: 1 S Corfield (Soc) 38:39

M65: 1 D Ogden (S Lon) 38:58

Women: 1 G Bruinvels (AFD, W35) 35:50

W40: 1 L Bailey (Strag) 36:29

W54: 1 A Smith (S Lon) 43:05

W60: 1 S Harrison (G&G) 44:08

STONE ST MICHAELS 10km, Staffordshire, June 23

Overall: 1 L Gratton (Ruce) 30:48; 2 B McIntosh (Vale R) 32:33

M65: 1 M Eustace (C&S) 37:17

Women: 1 G Stanfield (Trenth) 37:15

W45: 1 D Sherwin (Stoke) 37:31

W60: 1 C Higgs (Trenth) 44:35

TRENT PARK TRIFFIC 10km TRAIL, Enfield, June 23

The day after winning the 5000m in the National League East for Shaftesbury, Tom Butler was back in action with a multi-terrain win.

Junior Tabitha Woodhouse also notched up her second victory in recent days to take the women's event.

Overall: 1 T Butler (SB) 33:24

Women: 1 T Woodhouse (Herts P, U20) 39:01 

WYTHALL & HOLLYWOOD 10km, Warwickshire, June 24

Overall: 1 J Carter (BRAT, M40) 32;47

Women: 1 F Lucas (B'ville) 42:45

BURY FRIDAY 5, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, June 21

Top ranked under-17, Brandon Barber extended his unbeaten run in this Suffolk Friday night series to eight, with his third victory of this year, this time in 25:17.

The Ipswich Harrier is also the under-15 British record-holder over the distance, as Katie King posted her 14th outright women's win of the year.

Overall: 1 B Barber (Ips H, U20) 25:17

M60: 1 C Ridley (Col H) 30:00

Women: 1 K King (St Ed, W35) 30:13

RISE OF THE PHOENIX, Beacon Hill, Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire, June 21

This year's Midland cross-country champion Gemma Steel won the women's section, with a close second overall placing, in this hilly multi-terrain event where the runners were joined by Canicross competitors.

Overall: 1 S Jolly Race Hub, M40) 30:44; 2 G Steel (Charn, W35) 30:48

Women: Steel 30:48 

SPRINGFIELD STRIDERS FRIDAY 5, Pleshey, Essex, June 21

Scott Cousins won by more than a minute in a personal best 24:29, as Sarah Overington made it a Springfield double.

Overall: 1 S Cousins (S'field) 24:29

M60: 1 P Mingay (Col H) 29:00

Women: 1 S Overington (S'field, W35) 30:18

W45: 1 J Bolton (Bill'cay) 32:50

SUMMER SOLSTICE 10km, Long Bennington, Lincolnshire, June 21

Multiple Lincolnshire cross-country champion Matt Bowser notched up his third local 10km win of the year.

Overall: 1 M Bowser (Linc W, M40) 31:32; 2 L Mullen (Skeg) 32:49

M45: 1 J Bailey (Mansf) 33:16

M55: 1 G Southern (Sleaf) 36:15

Women: 1 S Hill (Retf, W50) 43:41

SALE SIZZLER 5km Series, Greater Manchester, Race 1, June 20

Sarah Dufour-Jackson was just outside her best when winning the women's section in 16:56 as, behind, second placed Kirsty Longley improved to third in the W45 rankings for the year with a 17:18 clocking.

Up ahead and in a closer men's race, Josh Birmingham won for Salford in 15:03.

Overall: 1 J Birmingham (Salf) 15:03

M40: 1 T Charles (Chorl) 15:10

M50: 1 A Pickford (Alt) 17:02

M55: 1 D Bennett (Roch) 17:00

M60: 1 R Evans (Alt) 17:56; 2 S Watmough (Warr) 18:07

M65: 1 G Webb (Horw) 19:53

M70: 1 D Gee (Manch) 20:33

Women: 1 S Dufor-Jackson (Vale R) 16:56; 2 K Longley (Liv PS, W45) 17:18

W50: 1 A Chinoy (Sale) 19:35

W55: 1 J Cook (Salf) 20:33; 2 D Broad (Vale R) 20:55

W60: 1 L Sinclair (Stock) 22:50

W65: 1 J Cordingley (Sale) 21:45

W75: 1 A Dinsmore (Stock) 29:50

HAYLING BILLY 5, Hayling Island, Hampshire, June 19

Overall: 1 J O'Hara (Ports) 24:50

Women: 1 R Reed 33;31 

MIDWEEK LEAGUE Harlow 10km, Div 3, Race 3, Hertfordshire, June 19

Overall: 1 S Prosser (Herts P, M40) 36:00

M75: 1 R Bloom (Herts P) 51:41

Div 3 TEAM: 1 Bishops Stortford 342

M40 TEAM: 1 Bishops Stortford 88

Women: 1 T Woodhouse (Herts P, U20) 37:04

Div 3 TEAM: 1 Bishops Stortford 120

W35 TEAM: 1 Bishops Stortford 33

HARROGATE DISTRICT SUMMER LEAGUE, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, June 18

Overall: 1 T Adams (Ilk, M40) 25:18

M55: 1 M Forrest (R&Z) 29:34

Women: 1 H Tuffs (Nidd, W35) 30:27

W50: 1 N Simpson (R&Z) 33;22

W55: 1 A Spencer (Weth'by) 32:45

NEWBURN RIVER RUN, Newcastle, Tyne & Wear, June 18

Steve Rankin won this multi-terrain event that was listed as being over a six-mile course but which appears to be somewhat shorter.

Megan Stenhouse who was14th in the 2023 English National junior championship took the women' section.

Overall: 1 S Rankin (Sund) 25:37; 2 J Cropwell (Gate) 25:47; 3 W Ewens (Ayr) 25:56; 4 D Johnson 26:07; 5 A Hepple (Gosf) 26:20; 6 L McDonnell (Birt) 26:42

M40: 2 D Dawson (Gate) 27:05

M50: 1 J Cox (Sedge) 30:01

M60: 1 R Tailford (Tyne Br) 31;23

Women: 1 M Stonehouse (R&N) 29:07; 2 R Falloon (Morp) 29:41; 3 K Watson (Blyth) 33;12

CHIPPENHAM LONGEST DAY 10km, Wiltshire, June 18

Overall: 1 H Woods (Swin, U20) 32;22

Women: 1 K Hughes (W'bury, W50) 39:56

GATELEY CHASE THE SUN 10km, Battersea Park, London, June 18

Overall: 1 A Lawrence (Fitch) 32:32

M40: 1 S Woolley (W4H) 33:32

M50: 1 N Hughes (Chilt) 34:46

M80: 1 D Hollenback 51:45

Women: 1 E Trombetta 39:59

HEDDINGTON %km SERIES, Wiltshire, June 18

Overall: 1 B Cole Swin) 15:03

Women: 1 E Carroll (TVH) 17:04

W45: 1 J Rockliffe (T Bath) 18:42

THRUXTON 10km SERIES, Hampshire, June 18

Overall: 1 N Bester (Best A) 32:00

Women: 1 P Tanner 34:45

YORKSHIRE WOLDS 10km, Bugthorpe, East Yorkshire, June 18

Overall: 1 J Firth (Tad) 32;22

M40: 1 J Eaton (Tad) 33:35

M50:  1 D Smithers (Knaves) 36:03

Women: 1 C Mason (York) 36:52

GLENROTHES 10km, Glenrothes, June 23

Overall (all Fife): 1 L Rodgers 31:18; 2 A Gudgin 32:47; 3 L Hutson 33:29

M50: R Clark (PHRC) 37:16

Women: 1 A Cruickshanks (Fife) 39:33; 2 M Blankenstein (Edin, W40) 40:17

DUNECHT DASH 5km, Dunecht, June 22

Overall: 1 D Marshall (Metro) 16:30; 2 K Garden (Metro) 16:35; 3 N Lawson (A'deen, U17) 17:02

M50: M Barker (Metro) 17:46

Women: 1 N Gauld (Metro, W40) 19:09; 2 M Glass Park (Oldmeld, U13) 19:22; 3 C Grigor (DeepO3) 22:01

DAM FLASK RELAYS, Sheffield, June 18

Men (4×3.5M): 1 Hallam 1:11:20 (M Craig 18:04, K Sexton 18:09, J Bartlett 18:00, E Brown 17:07; 2 Hallam B 1:12:37 (T Harrison 18:32, J Birch 18:23, J Hall 18:06, T Power 17:36); 3 H&R 1:15:29; 4 Barns 1:16:335; 5 Steel 1:18:36; 6 H&R B 1:18:43

M40: Sheff RC 1:19:33

M50: Hallam 1:27:51

Women (3×3.5M): 1 Hallam 60:12 (C Potter 20:55, L Heyes 18:37, C Allen 20:40); 2 Hallam B 62:02 (L McNeil 18:46, E Pannone 20:59, C Slack 22:17); 3 Steel 64:22 (S Young Alls 21:47, A Chambers 22:09, A Pearse 20:26); 4 Barns 68:14; 5 Steel (W35) 68:15; 6 H&R 68:37

W45: Totley 1:13:29

W55: Totley 1:24:24

Fell

WEST HIGHLAND WAY, Milngavie to Fort William, June 22

Overall (95M/14,760ft): 1 J McKenna (Tyne B, M40) 14:17:58; 2 R Dunlop (DundR) 14:50:29; 3 P Peciura (W'lands CC) 14:53:08; 4 S Pearce-Higgins (Edin, M40) 16:18:32; 5 A Paterson (Kend) 16:32:45; 6 K Wilson (G'nock) 17:23:31

M50: J Crozier (Lom) 18:44:23

M60: R Stark (Str'ven) 21:25:19

Women: 1 A McGill (Fife, W40) 19:33:02; 2 A Campbell (Gala, W50) 21:16:43; 3 Roberta Fletcher 22:22:30; 4 Marlene Baillie (W50) 22:37:57

DRINNAHILLY, Donard, June 21

Overall (3M/1080ft): 1 T Crudgington (Newc) 21:55; 2 A Crutchley (Newc) 23:43; 3 E McMullan (Newc) 23:55; 4 Paul Brennan 24:20; 5 J Mcatee (Mourne) 24:28; 6 P McDaid (Newc, U20) 24:35

M40: A Tees (BARF) 24:46

M45: L Vallely (Armagh) 24:58

M50: R Bell (Mourne) 27:04

M60: David Blake 29:17

M65: S Murdock (Mourne) 33:28

M70: P McGuckin (Lunch) 34:32

Women: 1 A Gosling (Newc, W40) 27:45; 2 M Hell (N Belf) 28:08; 3 T Cumming (Newc, W40) 28:27; 4 C Edington (Annad) 28:28

W55: D Wilson (Drom) 30:06

W60: P Shields (Newc) 36:50

W65: J McMinn (N Down) 39:39

U20: E Welsh (Newry) 34:53

Multi-terrain

SALTIRE 24-HOUR RACE, Banchory, June 22

Overall (4.2-mile laps, age not declared): 1 Colin Ritchie 23:53:09 (28.6 laps); 2 Scott Adams 23:57:15 (25.4); 3 Maximillian Schneider 23:55:37 (25.2)

Women: 1 Rebecca Bryce 23:14:50 (24); 2 Lynne Herd 23:58:00 (22.4); 3 Leeanne Brown 23:24:43 (20.2)

BLACK ROCK 5, Kinghorn, June 21

Overall: 1 J Crowe (Centr) 22:15; 2 C Milne (Centr) 22:47; 3 A Thompson (Centr) 23:28; 4 J Barrable (Cors) 23:42; 5 J Donald (Dund H) 23:46; 6 A Gudgin (Fife) 24:30

M40: R Houston (Centr) 25:15

M50: S Cairns (HBT) 27:32

M60: Dave Thom 30:41

U20: A Wright (Edin U) 24:44

TEAM: 1 Centr 16; 2 Cors 57; 3 Fife 64

Women: 1 M Millar (Centr) 26:23; 2 C MacDonald (Bella R) 27:55; 2 R Penfold (Edin) 28:36; 4 J Tovey (Cors) 29:27

W50: M Mowbray (HBT) 31:39

W60: J Gudgin (C'gie) 34:40

W70: Sue Kingston 48:00

U20: L Gibson (Falk V) 31:21

TEAM: 1 Edin 274; 2 Centr 284; 3 HBT 334

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