2026 Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series commences at Scafell!
Classic Lakeland conditions tested all but the hardiest of Skyrunners this weekend, at the opening event in this year’s Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series.
Smiles and miles of technical skyrunning at the ninth edition of Scafell Sky Race this weekend! ©Nathan Phua
Scafell Sky Race
At 08:00 on Saturday, over 100 hardy skyrunners toed the start line at the ninth edition of the Scafell Sky Race, hosted by Lake District Sky Trails. After a perfectly sunny day on Friday, which saw the Stickle Grind 650 vertical race take place, conditions changed overnight to closely resemble last year: occasional light rain, but low ‘clag’ and cool temperatures, coupled with slippery conditions underfoot throughout this notoriously rocky and technical route.
Low visibility and slippery conditions were par for the course this weekend ©Evan Davies
Pre-race favourite Bethan Logan led from the start to claim a commanding victory, with a nearly 20-minute lead over 2nd place finisher Francesca Kearney at the finish, despite going off-course at one point and following the Sky Ultra route. Poor visibility made navigation difficult for many, despite the excellent course marking by the organisers.
Worried she’d set out too fast initially as she ran with men’s race winner Ed Brewer, she also struggled with balance issues on the technical descents, caused by an eye infection: “I did actually fall and hit my back, so tried to work the uphills instead and just survive the downhills because it’s so slippery out there”.
Highly experienced Bethan Logan claimed victory in the Scafell Sky Race ©Evan Davies
Despite these challenges, Logan crossed the finish line in 06:18:18, followed by newcomer to skyrunning and relative local, running for Cumberland Fell Runner, Francesca Kearney who finished in 06:37:47. Less than a minute behind, Hazel Skerman of Carnethy Hill Running Club completed the podium in 06:38:41.
Francesca Kearney of Cumberland Fell Runners finished 2nd ©Nathan Phua
Third lady overall, Hazel Skerman was also first V40-44 in 06:38:41. Emma Stuart was first V45-49 in 08:33:13. Helen Brown (4th F overall) finished in 07:11:05 to claim first V50-54 and Joanne Paterson the sole F55+ finisher, in a stellar 10:52:21 (27th overall).
A focused Ed Brewer storms to victory in the Scafell Sky Race ©Nathan Phua
In the men’s race, similar race dynamics played out, with pre-race favourite and Scarpa athlete Ed Brewer taking the reins early on in the race, despite holding back on the first climb and having his planned split times written on his forearm: “I didn’t want to be in the lead at the top of the first climb, so held back until there, then took the lead on that first long descent and pushed all the way to the finish”. This comes after a superb 02:29:44 PB at London Marathon in April, followed by an intense training block of ski touring in Chamonix, prior to prepping the legs for the demands of skyrunning with lots of descending in recent weeks. Brimming with enthusiasm at the finish having run a solid 04:53:31, he now looks forward to Pinnacle Ridge Extreme, followed by the Snowdon SkyRace in August, where he hopes to defend his course record.
Finishing in second place in 05:44:12, Matthew Bye ran with a friend for half the race, before pulling away as the race neared its closure. He also now looks forward to racing Snowdon SkyRace, being more familiar terrain thanks to living in nearby Bethesda. Sam Dicks completed the men’s podium, in 06:06:51.
Sam Dicks en route to 3rd in the Scafell Sky Race ©Nathan Phua
Robert Dale claimed victory in the M40-44 age cat, in a time of 06:37:44, with first M45-49 runner Dmitry Morozov not far behind in 06:49:26 to claim first M45-49 and 18th overall. David Johnson ran a strong race to finish 4th overall and 1st M50-54 in a time of 06:08:22 and Jason Mckay also finished in the top ten overall in 06:23:55 to claim 1st M55+.
Full provisional results can now be found online HERE, with Series ranking charts to be added to the website imminently.
A super technical race around the Lake District’s central fells ©Evan Davies
Scafell Sky Ultra
Earlier in the morning, the second edition of the Scafell Sky Ultra started, with chilly conditions in the valley floor not dampening the atmosphere, as the field prepared to set off up the first savage climb of Harrison Stickle.
Unlike in last year’s men’s race, which saw a joint finish for first place, an extended solo effort around the route’s 62km & 4,300m+ by familiar face to the circuit, Jeremy Swainson paid off, as he dominated the race from the off, finishing in a blistering 08:41:00 to establish a new course record by four minutes.
Jeremy Swainson navigates the technical Corridor Route to Scafell Pike in the Scafell Sky Ultra ©Tom Mcnally
Looking fairly worked at the finish, he said: “I felt pretty good until coming down off Scafell Pike, then it started to get pretty real… The last major climb was quite a struggle, but at the top I started wondering if I could break the course record, so I just kept pushing”. Based in Devon, Swainson now plans to race the 14 Peaks Ultra in August, the third race of the SkyUltra® Series this year.
In second place in 09:48:12, Rab athlete Ben James said at the finish “I didn’t see anyone for the second half of the race… the underfoot conditions were really slippy, it was so greasy and there was a lot of bum shuffling!” He now looks forward to Helvellyn Sky Ultra next month, followed by the 14 Peaks Ultra in August, where he’ll race against Jeremy again and do battle for points in the SkyUltra® Series.
Rab athlete Ben James finished second overall ©Nathan Phua
In the Masters age cats, Ali Dixon ran a strong race to finish 7th overall and 1st M40-44 in 11:39:57. Hem Rana was 1st M45-49 in 12:59:01, with Alan Renville the sole M55+ finisher in 14:10:06.
In the women’s race, pre-race favourite Helen Newman, from Portsmouth ran a strong race, finishing in 11:49:54. However this result remains provisional, as she took time from her race to assist another runner with a badly sprained ankle, who required medical attention.
Having ran Scafell Sky Race in 2023 and using this race as training for Ultra Tour Mone Rosa at the end of summer, she said at the finish: “It was my first race of the season, so I was really nervous. I just turned my watch around, had no nutrition or pacing strategy and just tried to enjoy it. When I do that and have a big smile on my face, I get better results!”
Helen Newman en route to victory in the second Scafell Sky Ultra ©Evan Davies
Second place in the women’s race was Amy Robinson in 14:26:36, with third going to Zane Agapova in 14:47:37. There were no age category finishers in the women’s race this year, but a massive congratulations to all finishers of this incredibly demanding route!
Full provisional results can now be found online HERE, with series ranking charts to be added to this site imminently.
The National Series revisits the Lake District next month: See you there?
Next up in the Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series, we revisit the eastern Lake District on 18th July for the second Lake District Sky Trails event, where three Series races will be taking place:
The epic Helvellyn Sky Ultra: 57km & 3,700m+ and the second race of the SkyUltra® Series. Entries HERE.
The incredible, technical Pinnacle Ridge Extreme: 28km & 2,700m+ taking in a range of Grade 3 scrambles! Entries HERE.
The fast and furious St. Sunday Sky Race: 29km & 2,050m+ and first race of the U23 Series. The perfect entry-level SkyRace! Entries HERE.
Entries to all races close at midnight on Saturday 27th June, so if you want to join and be part of the next stop of the Skyrunner® UK & Ireland Series: Enter today!
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.
