Thrills and Spills at Helvellyn Weekend.
Bigger than ever, last weekend saw Lake District Sky Trails deliver three incredible SkyRaces on a single day for the first time, in round three of the 2025 Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series.
Epic views and exposed drops are a staple feature of the Helvellyn races ©Joel Jameson
The longest race, the Rab Helvellyn Sky Ultra (HSU) was also part of the SkyUltra® Series, while the St. Sunday Sky Race was a counter in the U23 Series. Together with the super technical Pinnacle Ridge Extreme, all three races were part of the ITRA national series and the Dutch & Belgian Skyrunning Club Championships – and so it was a busy day on the trails around Patterdale this Saturday!
Despite rumours of stormy weather, it was plain sailing on the day for Race Director Charlie Sproson and no bad-weather courses were deployed. Conditions were far from straightforward for the competitors however, as athletes battled humid conditions and slippery rock from the start. Incredibly, this didn’t stop the front runners from delivering some record-breaking performances in some of the races. Read on to find out how the action played out over some of the most technical trails and ridgelines the Lake District has to offer.
Where else can you race along Striding Edge?! ©Joel Jameson
Helvellyn Sky Ultra
First to toe the start line were competitors in the Helvellyn Sky Ultra (HSU), a tough 57km/3,700m+ course which involves sustained technical running over the Helvellyn Edges, Cofa Pike, Hart Crag, Dove Crag, Red Screes and High Street. Revisit the race route on our Strava account HERE.
The weather was muggy and claggy from the get-go, which meant a greasy, sweat-fest awaited all competitors after the first climb up out of Patterdale. As usual, the race had attracted a strong male and female field, with lots of big names in contention for the podium (see our event preview HERE) but it was Rob (Sinco) Sinclair who delivered the goods on race day. Sinclair described the course as ‘tough, but good tough’ and enjoyed the mix of terrain, which was different from the last time he raced here in 2019. Sinclair led from the start, dropping the other lead runners early on.
This was the first time Sinclair has raced a long course for some time and he says it took him a while to find his feet in the second half as cramps and climb fatigue set in “I don’t know whether it was just the heat but I really struggled after coming through Ambleside. The climb up Kirkstone felt endless and sapping.” As an experienced athlete however, he fuelled through the low and pushed on for a record-breaking finish. “These races are ace; a good mix of the stuff I enjoy and I know the first half of this course pretty well,” said Sinclair.
Scotsman Rob Sinclair executed a dominant performance at Helvellyn Sky Ultra ©Joel Jameson
Around 30 mins behind Sinclair, second male over the line was newcomer Alex Hamlet. Hamlet is new to both ultrarunning and skyrunning, with this being his first SkyRace! “It was very humid and the pace was really fast up the first climb” he says. “We did get a few views in and everything went to plan in my race. So I’m looking forward to doing more SkyRaces in future” he added.
Newcomer to Skyrunning Alex Hamlet claimed a solid second place in the Ultra ©Joel Jameson
The last spot on the podium fell to Guildford-based runner Rogan Martin, who also took first in the 40-44 age cat. Martin, who was joint 1st in the recent Scafell Sky Ultra, held on to second position until Ambleside, where he came through the checkpoint just seconds ahead of Hamlet but in the second half dropped to third, finishing 8 minutes behind Hamlet. “It was a tough day and I was cramping from Ambleside” said Martin at the finish “but this is my third counter in the series, so it’s time for a celebratory beer!” he said.
Rogan Martin navigates a loose section of the Ultra ©Joel Jameson
There was considerable depth of field in the men’s HSU this year, with several sponsored athletes finishing further back in the pack such as Montane athlete Howard Dracup, Scarpa athlete Tim Piggott and Rab athlete Ben James. Keen dot-watchers may have also noticed a last-minute entry from well-known Irish ultrarunner Paul Tierney, who finished in 10th position in 08:18. These results reveal the high standard of racing out there on Saturday! First 45-49 across the line was Polish athlete Adam Armata in 08:35 (16th overall), first 50-54 was Daniel Taylor in 10:48 and first 55+ was Darren Allan in 10:02.
An ultra route that has a bit of everything, including stepping stones! ©Joel Jameson
The female course record was also smashed in the women’s race as Holly Wootton put in her fastest performance to date (setting a new CR of 07:54:12). Incredibly, Wootton has won this event four times previously and so knew how to execute this one perfectly! “Today is the first time I felt it didn’t go wrong” she said at the finish line. “My plan this time was to look after myself better and I didn’t bonk, so I’d say it went well. It was humid and we were in the clag a lot, so it was actually nice when the rain came, which broke that a bit. The rocks were really slick, so we had to be a bit more cautious on the descents” she added.
A focused Holly Wootten en route to victory in the Ultra ©Joel Jameson
Behind Wootton, it was a close race between second place finisher and visiting Belgian athlete Tahnee Daman (who finished in 09:21), and Rachel Seckl, who crossed the line behind her to take third in 09:43. It was actually Seckl who led the chasing pair throughout the course, with Seckl coming into the penultimate checkpoint at Haweswater 39 seconds ahead of her challenger. But Daman pulled out a strong finish over High Street, at the same time as the wheels came off for Seckl, who hung in there to cross the line a full 22 minutes behind her challenger.
Becky Wightman negotiates the technical Red Screes descent ©Joel Jameson
First age category winner over the line was 50-54 athlete Ann Andries of Belgium in 10:16 (7th overall), followed by first 45-49 Becky Wightman in 12:12 (11th overall). Full provisional results can be viewed HERE.
Pinnacle Ridge Extreme
The second race to set off from Patterdale was the aptly-named Pinnacle Ridge Extreme, with runners beginning their gradually traversing climb towards Sticks Pass at 08:00. This 27km route packs a hefty punch with 2,700m of climbing around the Helvellyn Massif, with plenty of graded scrambling over infamous ridges and technical descents. Revisit the route on our Strava account HERE.
“It’s a mad route; it was good fun and I really enjoyed it” said winner Bethan Logan at the finish. Logan, hailing from South Wales recently won the Copper SkyTrail and has a love of climbing, so was excited for an ‘adventure’ over this hands-on course. She set a strong pace from the start and maintained her lead throughout, crossing the line in 05:05. Behind Logan was local athlete and running guide, Rosie Watson. “I had no idea where everyone was and I started really steady, holding back due to previous injury - but my legs felt better than expected. I know the route and love the hard scrambling, which makes this such a unique race - so I just really enjoyed it,” said Watson. Behind her in the clag was fellow Lakeland runner and friend Lauren Munro-Bennett, who took the final spot on the women’s podium in 05:39.
Winner Bethan Logan traverses the exposed Pinnace Ridge ©Tanya Raab
First 40-44 was Cat Wain-Hobson in 4th place overall, who finished in 05:58. Not far behind her was first 50-54 winner, Anna Szafranska in 7th place overall (06:22). Next over the line was first 50-54, Lucy Gilchrist in 06:43 (8th overall).
Lauren Munro-Bennett gets hands-on climbing Pinnacle Ridge ©Tanya Raab
The men’s race was won in a late entry from Ambleside AC runner Tom Simpson who nonchalantly took a friend’s place at short notice and set a new course record of 03:38:15. More used to Lakeland fell racing, Simpson knew much of the route well but he still discovered a few new lines over technical parts of the course. Simpson enjoyed the scrambling sections, which he admits are very different from your standard fell race! With this being his first SkyRace, he didn’t recognise any faces on the start line, so set off fast to try and build a solid lead – an approach that clearly worked, as he spent all of the race out front, taking the win in a rapid 03:38. Behind him were familiar faces Ed Brewer and Jeremy Swainson, a closely matched pair who have raced head-to-head several times. Brewer and Swainson were 1st and 2nd respectively, in the Snowdon SkyRace last month and going into this race, Brewer was sitting in 2nd in the Overall Series ranking.
Local Tom Simpson embraces his inner Alpinist ascending Pinnacle Ridge! ©Tanya Raab
Brewer admitted feeling resigned to ‘not seeing Tom Simpson again’ from early on in the day. Instead, he stuck with Swainson for much of the race and described the course as ‘awesome’. By now Brewer knows how to race against Swainson and he waited for the final climb to pull away. “I knew I couldn’t wait until the final descent. I had to go for it on the last climb and buy myself some wiggle room for the descent. I’m really chuffed with 2nd place” said Brewer at the finish.
Swainson on the other hand, said that he found the race really enjoyable and chatty. “I found it hard but relaxing until that last climb when Ed decided to just drop me!” he laughed. “I pretty much limped in after that but I’m super happy with third”.
In the end, Brewer crossed the line in 04:11 and Swainson in 04:29 to complete the men’s podium. With both of these athletes targeting the Overall Series, there is still much to play for.
First 40-44 was Michael Furrer in 04:42 (7th overall), while the first 45-49 was Richard Bannister in a time of 04:53 (10th overall). 50-54 winner was Ian Young in 05:55 and first 55+ was Bryan Morris in 06:14. Full provisional results can be viewed HERE.
Pinnacle Ridge Extreme men’s podium (L to R): Jeremy Swainson, Tom Simpson & Ed Brewer ©Phil Davies
St. Sunday Sky Race
At 10am, the third edition of the St. Sunday Sky Race (previously the St. Sunday Mountain Race) got underway. This newly certified 29km/2,050m+ SkyRace offers competitors some fast and furious racing against a spectacular Lakeland backdrop. Revisit the race route in full on our Strava account HERE. This year performances were fast and furious indeed, as both course records fell despite the muggy conditions!
This event is pure Lakeland skyrunning! ©Joel Jameson
Hotly tipped for the win, Dundee-based Kris Jones showed what he could do over this runnable, shorter course. Even by the top of the first climb, he had started to pull away and continued to build his lead throughout the race. “It’s lovely course” said Jones, when asked about the route. “There are some technical bits but it’s also really quite runnable” he said. Jones now has a busy season ahead, with his next big race being the OCC in August and then the Trail World Champs in September. After also winning Copper SkyTrail last year, we hope to see him back at more SkyRaces later in the national series.
Kris Jones sets a new course record at St. Sunday Sky Race ©Phil Davies
Jones not only took the win in a strong international field on Saturday but he also managed to set a new course record of 03:06:23. Behind him, seven of the top ten finishers in the men’s race were visiting athletes, targeting the Dutch & Belgian Skyrunning Club Championships. Second place fell to Lucas Nieuweboer of the Netherlands in 03:34, and in third place was fellow Dutch athlete Stijn de Looijer in 03:40.
First 40-44 was also a Belgian runner this year, Maarten Paulissen (7th overall) in 03:50. Winner of the 45-49 was Edward Box in 04:24 (11th overall) and first 50-54 was Alex Elferink in 04:48. A special note to 55+ category winner Darren Jones, who impressively snuck into the top 10 at 9th overall, finishing in a stellar 04:18.
The pattern of female finishers was very similar to in the PRE race, where four of the top ten finishers were also top Belgian or Dutch athletes. Nevertheless, the number 1 spot was taken by Rab athlete Sara Willhoit, who set a speedy new course record of 03:38:26. Willhoit ran the first climb in a mixed group, which later started to thin, leaving the GB Mountain Runner to battle it out against similar paced runners in the men’s race. “I got dropped by some of the guys descending Red Screes but gathered myself and worked back after that. It was really helpful being around others with so much cloud around, as that made it easier to see the way” she says. Willhoit is another athlete who, through breaks in the low cloud, discovered some new hills this weekend; “the race opened up a whole new area for me [around Haweswater and High Street] and I look forward to running there again” she says. Willhoit will now be focusing on the World Trail Championships, after qualifying at Scafell Sky Race back in May.
Rab athlete Sara Willhoit set an incredible new course record at this year’s St. Sunday Sky Race ©Joel Jameson
“There’s no skyrunning in Belgium, so this race was great” said Belgian athlete, Elke Markey, who finished in second place an hour behind Willhoit (04:38). “The weather was great in a way; not too hot. I was really surprised to come second. I only found out where I was placed when someone called out to me on the course - but the third woman was right behind me, so I just had to really run!” she said. That third runner was Swiss athlete Reggie Lenz, who crossed the line just a couple of minutes behind Markey in 04:40 to complete the female podium.
First 40-44 over the line was Christina Dimitrov, 10th overall in 05:42 and the next female runner (11th place was first 50-54 Sonia Trickey in 06:03. The winner of the 45-49 age category was Katharine Bibby in 06:05 and first 55+ was Nicola Kitchin in 07:10. Full provisional results can be viewed HERE.
The Lakeland fells await the Skyrunner® National Series for another year… ©Joel Jameson
What Next?
All runners in each race will now receive points towards their ranking in the 2025 Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series (and U23/SkyUltra® Series’ where relevant). Series ranking charts will be updated HERE later this week, so if you were racing this weekend, do check back soon to see where you stack up against the competition!
Find out your current ranking in the Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series later this week.
Next up in the 2025 Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series are the wild and rugged Seven Sisters races on 20th September, in Donegal, Ireland:
Seven Sisters Skyline (SkyUltra® Series race): 55km & 4,000m+
Seven Sisters Sky Challenge (U23 Series & Irish Championships race): 30km & 2,1000m+
Entries are still open HERE, so it’s not too late to be part of this year’s Skyrunner® National Series! For full details see the event website HERE.
In the meantime, be sure to follow Skyrunning UK on Facebook HERE, Instagram HERE, or why not join the Facebook Group HERE or the Strava Club HERE.
