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 weather conditions which were forecast to be unforgiving, to say the least.

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.

 Chris Cope Photo:Will Roberts

The race started with a frontrunning trio of Jon Shield, Chris Cope, and Sam Moppett pulling ahead of the rest of the pack despite changeable weather conditions, while Irene Kinnegan took an early commanding 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 both forced to retire on day two, propelling Cope into a race of his own - now dramatically  ahead of the newly-second-placed Bjarte Wetteland. Cope didn’t rest on his laurels, opting to press on while he was feeling good.

Speaking of his unfortunate withdrawal, Team Montane Athlete, Shields, said: “I’m obviously devastated as I had plenty of pace which felt comfortable leading into CP1 with Chris, who I was very much enjoying chatting with. Of course, I’ll be back to the Spine races as I feel I have missed an opportunity - I was in great shape, but this is racing. It would have been nice to have battled it out with Chris for longer, who put in an amazing effort in very poor conditions.”

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 Irene 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 intense racing, freshening up at Low Way. It proved to be a wise decision, as Cope 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 with a beaming grin, recording a time of 79:10:14, 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.

Speaking at the finish line, Cope 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.”

Image: Chris Cope crossing the finish line. Photo:: Will Roberts

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 now 3rd.

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, who took third place after recording a time of 110:42:24.

With Kinnegim now out of the event, it was delight for Sue Straw, as she successfully held off both Rachel Price and Linn Davies Sahlström to claim victory in the women’s race, recording a time of 122:43:49. It capped off an amazing performance by Straw and adds an illustrious chapter to her Montane Summer Spine story, building on her joint-first place result in the Montane Summer Spine Sprint in her first appearance back in 2021, before she followed that up by returning and completing the Montane Summer Spine Challenger South the following year and the Montane Summer Spine race last year.

Both Price and Davies Sahlström continued to push on towards Kirk Yetholm, and it was Rachel Price  who claimed second place with a time of 134:39:37, ahead of Linn Davies Sahlstrom who crossed the finish line in 138:01:27.

Amongst the runners of this year’s race was Raj Mahapatra, Chair of the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society, official charity partner of the race, looking to raise funds to help transform diagnosis and care of people living with the condition.

Montane Summer Spine 2024. Photo:: Will Roberts

While the Montane Summer Spine race is undoubtedly the headline race of the event, there is more to the Montane Summer Spine, with another five races taking place over the course of the week.

The event commenced with the start of the Montane Summer Spine Challenger South under bright blue skies on the morning of Sunday 15^th June. The race covers the 108-mile southern section of the full Summer Spine course, and it proved to be a race to remember for Rupert Allison, who smashed the previous course record held by Montane Athlete, Jon Shield, claiming victory with a time of 22:31:02, in what was, remarkably, his third Spine Race record in a row. Over on the women’s race, it was joy for Ursula Sullivan, who claimed first-placed female with a time of 31:05:00. The Montane Summer Spine MRT Challenge South, which is exclusively open to active members of the Mountain Rescue teams, was won by Brett Mahoney and Hannah Bawdon, respectively.

Next out of the blocks was the Montane Summer Spine Sprint, as more than 100 athletes lined up at the start line under grey skies and pouring rain. After 46 miles under treacherous conditions, Stephen Earle emerged triumphant, crossing the finish line at Hebden Bridge in a time of 8:21:49, ahead of Liam Hinshelwood and Paul Johnston who crossed the finish line together to claim joint second place, just under eight minutes behind Earle. Just behind them was Molly Browne, who blitzed the female field to set a new female course record and take home the first-placed female position and fourth place overall, over an hour ahead of female runner-up Lizzie Broughton. Renowned runner and friend of Montane, Debbie Martin-Consani, claimed third place.

The Montane Summer Spine Challenger North began to round off the list races. More than 70 runners set off from Hardraw towards Scotland, embarking upon a 160-mile course which covered the north section of the full Summer Spine course. Just over 44 hours and 52 minutes later, Joe Horne crossed the finish line, claiming victory ahead of runner-up Sam Harrison, while Emma Hopkinson claimed third place overall and first place female, a huge 14 hours ahead of female runner-up, Fern Parker. Meanwhile, the Montane Summer Spine MRT Challenge North saw Tom Adams take the win with a time of 46:50:45, ahead of runner-up overall and female winner, Fiona Horsfield, who arrived in Kirk Yetholm with a time of 50:24:02.

Speaking at the conclusion of what was the seventh and largest Montane Summer Spine event to date, Montane’s Marketing Director, Matthew Hickman, commented: “The Montane Summer Spine is renowned for being one of the toughest and most unforgiving races around, often referred to as ‘Britain’s Most Brutal’ endurance race. The conditions we have seen this year have only reinforced that tag, although it didn’t deter what was our record field of runners this year.

Chris put in an absolutely amazing performance to rightfully claim his win, and I’d like to extend a huge congratulations to him, alongside all of our other winners and runners, from everyone at Montane.”

Montane Summer Spine Race Director, Phil Hayday-Brown said: “This years Summer Spine has had its challenged, but has ended up being another amazing race, with records broken and lots of memories made. I want to say a big thank you to the Spine family. Without our army of volunteers working hard we couldn’t do what we do, and the runners wouldn’t be here showing us the amazing things people can achieve.”

Montane Summer Spine 2024 final results

Male

1. Chris Cope, GB - 79:10:14
2. Jacob Hayes, GB - 100:31:54
3. John Boothman, GB - 110:42:24

Female

1. Sue Straw, GB – 122:43:49
2. Rachel Price, GB  - 134:39:37
3. Linn Davies Sahlstrom, Sweden - 138:01:27

Montane Summer Spine Sprint 2024 final results

Male

1. Stephen Earle, GB - 08:21:49
2. Liam Hinshelwood, GB - 08:29:48
3. Paul Johnston, GB - 08:29:48

Female

1. Molly Browne, GB - 08:30:29 (Course Record)
2. Lizzie Broughton, GB - 09:31:2
3. Debbie Martin-Consani, GB - 10:10:38

Montane Summer Spine Challenger South 2024 final results

Male

1. Rupert Allison, GB - 22:31:02 (Course Record)
2. James White, GB - 25:11:58
3. Jack Cooper, GB - 26:54:34

Female

1. Ursula Sullivan, GB - 31:05:00
2. Mel Sykes, GB - 33:16:02
3. Marie-Lou Alemany, GB - 34:32:29

Montane Summer Spine MRT Challenge South 2024 final results

Male

1. Brett Mahoney, GB - 28:38:40
2. Xavier Chaduc, France - 42:03:35
3. Matt Phillips, GB - 47:27:17

Female

1. Hannah Bawdon, GB - 46:22:37
2. Delyth Brushett, GB - 54:54:15
3. Jenny Hall, GB - 56:30:04

Montane Summer Spine Challenger North 2024 final results

Male

1. Joe Horne, GB - 44:52:01
2. Sam Harrison, GB - 46:27:33
3. Edward Hopewell, GB - 56:16:17

Female

1. Emma Hopkinson, GB - 50:24:02
2. Fern Parker, GB - 64:43:51
3. Lucy Pringle, GB - 66:30:23

Montane Summer Spine MRT Challenge North 2024 final results

Male

1. Tom Adams, GB - 46:50:45
2. Dan Maltby, GB – 75:06:58
3. N/A

Female

1. Fiona Horsfield - 50:24:02
2. Clëo Bishop-Bolt, GB – 84:58:09
3. Gabby Withrington, GB – 84:58:43

More information on the Montane Summer Spine race can be found here: https://montane.com/pages/summer-spine-race.