'Brutal' Winter Spine Races underway in waist-deep snow

The annual Montane Winter Spine Races started in bright and chilly conditions with the 46-mile ‘sprint’ race from Edale to Hebden Bridge on Saturday.

Despite patches of waist-deep snow along the route, Hannah Bruce was the first woman across the line on her debut in the event.  

She crossed the finishing line in 12 hours 53 minutes. That was a quarter of an hour ahead of runner-up Meredith Moody, with 3rd-placed Rebecca Devereux - who braved wearing shorts in the sub-zero temperatures – coming home eight minutes later. 

“There was way too much powdered snow and not enough running,” said the champion.  

“Bleaklow was the worst, waist deep. If you were on a path where people had trodden, one centimetre to the side and you just disappeared. I got what I came for. 

“It was good. I probably got too excited at the start. It was so nice with the blue sky and the snow, and I probably went up Jacob’s Ladder too hard, but it’s nice to cross the line first.” 

In the men’s section, Paul Brennan blitzed the competition by finishing nearly an hour ahead of Tom Hollins and James Trott, who crossed the line together in joint-second place. 

“What a race that was,” said the Irishman on his arrival in Hebden Bridge, just 9 hours 26 minutes after leaving Edale. 

“It was tough. Kilometres 21 to 35 were single track with deep snow, but after that it was cool. There was a great vibe among the hikers out there, it was a fantastic day.” 

The main event – a brutal 268-mile, week-long dash along the full length of the Pennine Way – began in Edale this morning. 

Competitors have until next Sunday morning to reach Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders to complete the course. 

Neither Jack Scott, the reigning champion and course record holder (72h 55m 5s), nor Glossop’s endurance legend Jasmin Paris MBE are taking part this year.