Montane Spine Race
@TheSpineRace
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The MONTANE Spine Race is one of the world’s toughest endurance events.
Joined July 2011
Jack Scott | Winner of the Montane Winter Spine Race 2024. New Course Record: 72:55:05. Simply astonishing. #spinerace #britainsmostbrutal
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John Kelly, @RndmForestRunnr, arrives at Kirk Yetholm, kisses the wall of The Border Hotel, and wins the Montane Spine Race 2020. Massive congratulations to this outstanding athlete. His focus, efficiency and strength have carried him the length of the Pennine Way to victory.
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🏆Claire Bannwarth🏆. 1st Woman in the Montane Winter Spine Race 2023. 5th place overall. #spinelegend #spinerace
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The winner of the Montane Spine Race 2022 is Eoin Keith. Eoin is #SpineRace royalty. This is his 3rd winter win, 2nd overall, and comes only half a year after winning the Summer Event, where he also set a new course record. #doublewhammy . 1/2
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Damian Hall is the winner of the Montane Winter Spine Race 2023. He crossed the line alongside Jack Scott who takes 2nd place having put in a performance that in almost any other year would have secured his own victory. 1/4 #spinerace
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Debbie Martin-Consani is the first woman in the Montane Spine Race 2022. A tremendous, tenacious feat of running from an exceptional athlete. #RunDMC #spinerace
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Hannah Rickman is 2nd woman in the Montane Winter Spine Race 2023. She arrived this morning to massive applause and after touching the wall exclaimed, ‘I’m just so glad you’re all real, I’ve seen so many people this morning who weren’t.’. 1/3 #spinerace
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In the Montane Winter Spine Challenger North, Jovica Spajic of Serbia has reached Greg’s Hut. Jovica says it’s been very cold, snowy and difficult over Cross Fell. John Bamber’s noodles will warm him up again. #spinerace #chilliwack
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Sabrina Verjee arrives at the finish line in Kirk Yetholm as the first woman in the Montane Spine Race 2020. This seals back to back wins for Sabrina who was the overall winner of the Spine Fusion Race in 2019. It's a spectacular achievement by an outstanding athlete. #Spinerace
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David Milton has done it. With a stumble and a smile, he has become the final finisher of the Montane Winter #spinerace 2024. At times we thought the winds on the Cheviots may prove too much but he has shown the strength of character of everyone else who touched the wall. 🧵
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Welcome home 330 Ben Cooley, one of the last two runners on the Montane Spine Race course. It's a different race at the back of the pack, a war of attrition. It takes a rare level of determination to push on through a 7th night on The Penine Way on tired legs. #spinerace
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John Kelly has reached Hut 2, the last stop before the home stretch to Kirk Yetholm. Jasmin Paris' course record is safe this year, but John is on the brink of winning the 2020 race and setting a new men's record. Come on down John. We're ready to party!.📸 Mark Haywood
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Damian Hall has finished 2nd in the Montane Winter #spinerace 2024. His finishing time of 82:25:10 was also faster than Jasmin Paris' 2019 course record and represents the 2nd fastest time in this race's history and an astonishing achievement. 🧵
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Conditions on Jacob’s Ladder this morning are making things interesting for the Montane Winter Spine Racers. #snowgoingback #snowjoke #spinerace
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Claire Bannwarth has successfully defended her Montane Winter #SpineRace title, one of a very select few to have ever done so. Her 2 wins neatly book-end an astonishing year of ultra running. 🧵
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THEY’RE OFF!. The Montane Spine Races 2022 are underway. The competitors in the Montane Spine Challenger are out on the Pennine Way. Follow live at
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If ever a man deserved a pint. #spineracewinner #threetimewinner #fivetimefinisher #satpav #czechmate
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Good Morning Spiners! We’ve started the day with celebratory scenes as Oliver Duncan-King receives his medal, and then offers a ring to his girlfriend, Fiona. *spoiler alert, she said yes, but only if he never does this again. Congratulations to both of you!. #spinerace
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Mel Sykes has arrived in Hardraw as the winner of the Montane Summer Spine Challenger South. She’s arrived with an almighty lead over her closest rival after an extremely tenacious performance throughout a difficult night and day today…. #SpineRace #SummerSpine . 1/3
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The indomitable Debbie Martin Consani arrives in Kirk Yetholm as the 2nd woman in the Montane Spine Race 2020. Congratulations from everyone at HQ. Debbie has smiled her way through an incredibly grueling race and bagged herself a well-deserved podium. #RunDMC.#SpineRace
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Massive congratulations to Jasmin Paris MBE!. A quick break in our coverage of the Montane Summer Spine Races to congratulate #spinelegend @JasminKParis who has received an MBE for services to Fell and Long Distance Running…
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Wilfred Bell is the final finisher of the Montane Winter Spine Challenge North. He had attempted this race last year but had to withdraw at Greenhead, so is overjoyed to make it to Kirk Yetholm. #spinerace.🧵
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‘It’s like a dream come true only I couldn’t even have dreamt it.’. Joe O’Leary has won the Montane Winter Spine Challenger North in emphatic fashion taking over 16hrs off the existing course record. Massive congratulations from the Montane Spine Race team. 🧵
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Damian Hall, current leader of the Montane Winter Spine Race packed in 2 teas and a vegan lasagne during a brief pit stop in Alston but is aiming to make the most of the daylight and pressed on for the next checkpoint. 1/3 #spinerace
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Elaine Bisson has reached Kirk Yetholm as the 2nd woman in the Montane Spine Race 2022. Elaine has held a position high in the field from day one. Consistent, determined and courageous running. Congratulations from the Montane Spine Race.
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Perhaps the most treasured finish of all is that of Geoff Partridge. Geoff was forced to withdraw from the 2023 Winter Spine Race & rushed to hospital following a suspected heart murmur. One year later, he set the record straight. Congratulations from the Montane Spine Race team
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🥈Mel Sykes finishes 2nd into Hardraw, at this year's Montane Spine Challenger South. Having won last year's Summer Challenger South race, Mel is no stranger to the Pennine Way. Despite plans of running a steady pace;
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The Montane Winter Spine Race 2023 has begun. Our biggest field and one of our strongest ever. A field of past winners, repeat finishers, nervous first timers, and every one a hero. Stick with us for updates throughout and track live at . #spinerace
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Congratulations to 534 G Brian Hutchinson and 513 Tim Bradley as they cross the finish line together in the Montane Winter Spine Challenger North. They conquered the Cheviots overnight and chose to stick together as a team to the infamous Border Hotel in Kirk Yetholm.
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Winner John Kelly chats with this year's 2nd placed runner and all-round Spine legend, Eoin Keith at the finish line. Just two superheroes casual chatting about running the length of the Pennine Way.
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Montane Winter Spine Race leader Damian Hall has arrived at Middleton and posed for an obligatory tea photo. He’s looking fresh for a man who last slept over 36 hours ago. Will he sleep? How long for? How will that effect the standings? Stick with us to find out. #spinerace 1/2
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This is how it feels. Winner of the Montane Summer Spine Race 2021. New Montane Summer Spine Race Course Record Holder. Eoin Keith. MASSIVE Congratulations from everyone at The Spine Race. #spinerace
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Massive congratulations to Roberto, and to all our runners. The backmarkers don’t lose in a race like this. They just take longer to win. The Montane Winter Spine Races 2023 have come to a close. #spinerace
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Simon Gfeller and Wouter Huitzing have finished the Montane Spine Race!.They take joint 3rd position after agreeing to touch the wall together. #bettertogether #spinerace
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Eoin Keith reaches the wall of the Border Hotel and grabs 2nd place in the Montane Spine Race for the 2nd year running. At the finish he joked that last year he was '1st in his gender but this year he'll call himself 1st non-superhuman' #Congratulations
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Ultrarunning legend Nicky Spinks and repeat Spine legend Elaine Bisson teamed up in Alston and have ran together ever since to become our next finishers of the 2024 Montane Winter Spine Race. #spinerace.🧵
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Montane Spine Race 2020 Winner, John Kelly has kissed the wall. #johnlegend #spinerace. Photos by Mick Kenyon
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Roberto Semprini made it. Let’s open with that because we know you’re worried, just as we were. Within the last mile he stopped. And we scrambled. Phil and Will jumped in the landrover, calls went to HQ, and all wheels were in motion. It couldn’t be. He couldn’t be done. 1/4
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Nikki Arthur is the winning female athlete in the Montane Winter Spine Challenger North and clinched 3rd place on the overall podium. She took over TWENTY HOURS off the current course record, finishing in 52:17:19. Massive Congratulations from the Montane #spinerace team. 🧵
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Claire Bannwarth remains 1st female in the #spinerace and is matching Jasmin Paris’ CR pace. Jack Scott is 1st male/open and around 26 miles - a marathon - ahead of that CR pace 👀.Damian Hall, Konrad Rawlik & Doug Zinis are also ahead of the record. This could be an EPIC finish.
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He's made it! Eoin Keith arrives in Kirk Yetholm in typically high spirits. He clinches 1st male - 2nd overall in the Montane Spine Race 2019. He's hugged Eugeni and requested pistachio ice cream. You can eat what you like when you've run the Pennine Way.
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Tim Palfreman chose to ramp up the drama on the last night of the race. As we waited on the village green, it became apparent that his dot had turned around. With a single mile left to cover, after 267-miles of effort, Tim had turned around a started back towards Edale. 1/4
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A very rare picture of our current Montane Spine Race leader, John Kelly @RndmForestRunnr .John has already been over Pen-Y-Ghent and is having a quick power nap in Horton. #spinerace
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There can be few more tactically astute, resilient and self-sufficient athletes in the ultra-running world, skills honed over years of adventure racing. Massive congratulations from everyone at the Montane Spine Race. 2/2. #spinerace
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Huw Davies has finished the Montane Spine Race 2020 as 5th man (6th overall). Huw's a relatively young man in a scene where experienced older hands often dominate, but his mixture of grit, discipline and positivity make him a force to be reckoned with. #huwdaman #huwshouldbeproud
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Andrew Heaney #353 carried out a ‘good samaritan’ act along the Pennine Way just north of the M62 crossing, with a lost and cold member of the public which delayed his race progress. A 1hr time credit will be issued to his finish time. #spiritofthespine.
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A couple of sleeping Montane Winter Spine Challenger South runners spotted in a bus stop this morning by Ryan Kenny of #spinesafety Team 7. Nobody ever said the #SpineRace was glamorous…
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Conditions at the start line are suitably spine-y. Our teams are ready at registration. Check for stories on our Instagram profile throughout. It’s almost Spine time. #spinerace
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Konrad Rawlik has claimed 3rd place, arriving in Kirk Yetholm in a time of 85:47:12. Konrad was at the front of the pack from the beginning, among the star-studded cast of athletes. Overcoming pain in his battered feet and vicious weather; he stoically continued forward. 🧵
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They keep coming. A procession of shattered Montane Winter Spine Race athletes is crawling it’s way through our finish line. Touching the wall is overwhelming and we hope all our remaining runners get to do it. Just look at their faces…. 1/5 #spinerace
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If there is such a thing as a perfect performance in endurance sport, then this just might be it. 10 hours, 17 minutes, and 18 seconds faster than a seemingly unbeatable record. The #SpineFamily is in awe.
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For those doing the maths, if @JasminKParis has no problems she'll not only win, but take the course record. She needs to cross the Cheviots and arrive before roughly 7am tomorrow. There'll be a lot of clock watching at Kirk Yetholm and beyond today. #britainsmostbrutal
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Claire Bannwarth takes 1st woman at the Montane Winter Spine Race 2023!. Claire pulled ahead of the other women in the field steadily throughout the early stages of the race and for a time, ran Doug Zinis and Joe O'Leary very close for their places on the podium. 1/2 #spinerace
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Congratulations to 3rd place woman Edwina Sutton in the Montane Winter Spine Race. She's run a cracking race and one she said has been emotional. From the highs of taking on Cross Fell, to the lows of sleeping in the snow, she's been through the whole spectrum of emotions.
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The first three women over the line of the Montane Summer Spine Sprint started together, ran together, and crossed the line hand in hand. Massive congratulations to Sue Straw, Lynn Murphy, and Sara Abbott. #bettertogether #spinesprint #spinerace
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It'll take a while for this pair to begin to process their experience. They arrived hollowed by exhaustion and the constant pressure of the cut-offs just over their shoulders. After pushing back the pain for so long, it takes a while to even start to feel relieved. 1/3
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The winners may be finishing their journeys, but most Spiners are in a line stretching back to before CP3 and they’re fighting time. #AwesomeAlan has fallen behind the lantern rouge icon on the tracker. He, like the rest of the runners, will keep fighting. Wish them luck.
Awesome Alan TV courtesy of @TheSpineRace , our hero is following the Swale now before breaking North to Tan Hill. A relentless quest of determination. You just know he drinks tea.
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For an idea of what conditions are like on Cross Fell at the moment, here's a selfie from spine legend Pavel @Palonc who is behind the scenes this year. #winterwonderland #PolarBear
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A very happy looking Eoin Keith is currently taking a leisurely pit stop at CP5 in Bellingham. #spinerace
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Massive congratulations to @AnnaTroup4 who just set a new women's record time for running the length of the @pennine_way. It's been a storming summer for Anna who also took the win and set a new course record at the Montane Summer Spine Race in June. #spinelegend #supertrouper
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Jasmin Paris is approaching the finish line of the 2019 Montane Spine Race. #makinghistory
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They’re here! Dougie Zinis and James Leavesley arrive in Kirk Yetholm together having run side by side since Tan Hill, half a race ago. Both are fantastic athletes and characters and they've lit up checkpoints as they've traveled up the course. Congratulations!.1/2.#spinerace
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🔴EPISODE 6 - Winner of the Montane Spine Race 2019 and new course record!.#spinerace #spinefamily #jasminparis #furtherfaster. (Tomorrow in the daily highlights we will head back throughout the field to pick up more athlete stories).
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The leader of the @MONTANEuk Spine Race is fast approaching the finish line. @inov_8 athlete, @JasminKParis is closing in on Kirk Yetholm. She didn't stop to pause at hut 2, pushing on to the end. #historyinthemaking #britainsmostbrutal
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Damian Hall - @Ultra_Damo - has retired from the Montane Spine Race. He is safe and well and with our team, but the tea-fuelled, 2-time finisher of this race will not continue to Kirk Yetholm. #SpineRace.1/3
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He’s away! Eoin Keith is being shuttled back onto the Pennine Way. He’ll shortly head into the Cheviot Hills to cover the final stretch to the finish line alone. Doug Zinis and James Leavesley are about to arrive at CP5 to find that Eoin Keith has left. #spinerace #gameon
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WE’RE OFF! The Montane Summer Spine Challenger south has begun. The runners have just left Edale with 108 miles of Pennine Way to cover before 20:00 on Monday. Wish them luck!. Live tracking at .#spinerace
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Josh Wade #600 has arrived in Hawes as the clear winner of the Montane Spine Challenger 2022. Josh has been extremely strong throughout, opening up a commanding lead early on and holding it comfortably for the win. #CONGRATULATIONS #wadetogojosh #spinechallenger #spinerace
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At the front of the Montane Winter Spine Race are @Ultra_Damo, @CollisonKim, @EugeniRosello and Jack Scott, pictured here near Black Hill. #spinerace
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Tim Pigott wins the Montane Summer Spine Challenger and breaks the course record set by Mark Denby in 2017!. Tim maintained a blistering pace through the night and took almost an hour off the course record. Massive Congratulations from the whole Spine Race team!. #spinerace
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It really, really is. With windchill, it's currently around -14c up on Cross Fell. It will have been even colder overnight. Here's Greg's Hut pictured yesterday morning before the snow.
@runroblarun @TheSpineRace It’s cold.
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After a small sleep and a big eat, @JasminKParis leaves CP5 to head for Kirk Yetholm. The last leg of the race has begun for her. Now, here in Bellingham, we await Eugeni Roselló Solé who is around 3km away.
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Jack Scott is in 2nd place in the Montane Winter Spine Race and has made it up to Bellingham. Jack is mentally sharp and moved well into the checkpoint. He has refuelled and reset his kit. It remains to be seen in what order he and Damian Hall will leave the checkpoint. 1/2
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There are SIX #SpineRace winners out in Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee taking on the #BarkleyMarathons. Jasmin Paris, Pavel Paloncy, Eoin Keith, Damian Hall, Tom Hollins and John Kelly, the last finisher of the #BM100. Good luck #SpineLegends.
As a kid there were few things more exciting than having friends over. For me #bm100 has become the equivalent - showing people my home mountains & having fun all night(s) long. Welcome y'all. We're gonna have a good ole time.🙂(w/ some friendly competition) 😉 #scheduledtweet
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Lloyd Biddell arrived at the Border Hotel after having an extremely tough time up on the Cheviots. Sleep deprivation and exhaustion led him to have vivid hallucinations. Lloyd was convinced he was being chased so used every last bit of strength he had to get home. #spinerace
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The scale of John Kelly's lead now is astounding. He is the only runner north of CP5 in Bellingham and he's way up in the Cheviots. @RndmForestRunnr
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Here's the moment. Anna Troup rounds off an incredible performance at the Montane Summer Spine Race by reaching the wall of the Border Hotel in Kirk Yetholm as the winning woman, the 2nd runner overall, and ANOTHER new Course Record setter. #SUPERTROUPER #spinerace
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They’re off! The runners in the Montane Summer Spine Race have left Edale. They have 268 miles of Pennine Way National Trail ahead of them and 156hrs to cover the distance. Live tracking is available at
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After an astonishing run, @jimmann23 is enjoying a mug of tea he'll never forget after crossing the finish line of the Montane Spine Challenger in first. He says the conditions overnight were not conducive to fast running. Could've fooled us. #britainsmostbrutal.#miraclemann
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Anna Troup has taken 2nd place in the Montane Summer Spine Race 2022. She is also 1st woman and has broken the course record that she set herself in 2021 by just over an hour and a half. #spinerace #supertrouper
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The first woman in the Montane Winter Spine Sprint has arrived at Hebden Bridge and claimed a hard earned win. Louise Venables 779 has also broken the Course Record, taking more than half an hour off the previous time. Massive congratulations from the #spinerace
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Many know Sharon Gayter as the long-time record-holder for Land’s End to John O’Groats. Here in Kirk Yetholm, she is a serial finisher of Britain’s Most Brutal race. Sharon completed the Summer Spine in '22 & '23 but hadn't finished a full Winter Spine until now. #spinerace.🧵
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The fantastic achievements of the Montane Spine Race winner Jasmin Paris are being featured on @BBCBreakfast sports updates this morning plus an interview with Jasmin around 8.30am!.#breakfastofchampions.#spinerace #britainsmostbrutal
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We have our first shock of a race that seems destined to have many. Returning 2020 winner John Kelly, aka @RndmForestRunnr, has retired at Cowling. John is an astounding athlete, but this is not to be his race #SpineLegend #spinerace
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Mark made it!. With 22 minutes to spare, after a spurt of speed in the last few miles, he reached the finish line to applause from the team. Mark Radford brings the Montane Summer Challenger South to a spectacular close. Congratulations Mark. #spinerace
Montane Summer Challenger South . Mark Radford is the final competitor on the course. The race cut-off is 20:00. The tracking system say’s his ETA as 20:01. Please join us all in willing that for forwards!. GPS Tracker: . #spinerace
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Winner of the 2020 MONTANE Spine Challenger, Doug Zinis has arrived in Hawes and collected his hard-earned medal. Here is a very sleep-deprived champion talking through his experience out on the Pennine Way. Massive Congratulations from everyone at the Spine Race. #Zinittowinit
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Bobby Cullen 134, a multiple Spine finisher, is about to start the Montane Winter Spine Race. Last night he finished the Montane Winter Spine Sprint and then dashed back to Edale. Now THAT is dedication. #spinelegend .#spinerace
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Pictured here, are some of the amazing athletes currently at the back of the Montane Spine Race who were pushing to leave Langdon Beck before the cut-off last night. They are now marching towards Alston, crossing High Cup Nick and Cross Fell on the way. #spinerace #winterspine
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Found last night in the Kielder Forest by Montane Spine Race finisher, Michael Burke. Do any of our runners want to own up to this one?.#everyonesaysthat #giveitaweek #spinerace
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MONTANE WINTER SPINE RACES 2023 | LIVE TRACKING. Welcome, dot-watchers! It's almost that time again. The action begins on 14th Jan. Across the 5 races this winter we have over 500 competitors taking to the Pennine Way. LIVE TRACKER ONLINE: 1/3.#spinerace
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Last night saw incredible scenes with the largest crowd we’ve ever experienced in Kirk Yetholm. Ian Stewart & Viv Watson turned the small border town into a scene reminiscent of Chamonix when hundreds of friends, family and fans packed the streets. #spinerace.🧵
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The weather board displaying the forecast for the Montane Spine Challenger. "Northerners tuck your vest in." 😉 #BritainsMostBrutal #itsSpineTime 🌧🌧☔🌬
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Race leaders John Kelly is rapidly approaching CP4 Alston, closely followed by Eugeni Roselló Solé. Here they are making their way down the Corpse Road, coming down from Cross fell a few minutes ago.
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All eyes are on the front but keep your eyes on Claire Bannwarth, there is a battle starting for 3rd place. She is catching Dougie Zinis and Joe o'leary and there is a way to go yet. #spinerace #britainsmostbrutal
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Here are a few images from St Francis in Byrness over the last 12hrs. It’s long been a refuge for #spinerace runners. The caretaker there has also been taking care of our Safety Teams. The #SpineFamily is extremely thankful for their support.
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Soon they'll be recovered enough to start to appreciate the scale of their achievement and hopefully begin to feel some pride. And they should feel proud. David Brocklesby and Graeme Brouder were held against the wheel for 164 hrs 57 mins. And they never stopped. 3/3
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Montane Winter Spine Race. We’re delighted to welcome Rory Campbell and Eoin Keith into Kirk Yetholm. They’ve been running together since Hebden Bridge and it’s safe to say a new friendship has been formed. #spinerace.🧵
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