Home » News » Skyrunning UK - Pre-race report the Rab Scafell Sky Race 2023
in Race News / Skyrunning
With 5 races to go at, 3 of them summiting the highest peaks in the UK and 1 in Ireland on the West Coast of Donnegal, this is a series to be reckoned with.
The first race to kick off the season is the Scafell Sky Race, based in the English Lake District in the spectacular valley of Great Langdale. This is the 6th edition of the race and the Lake District Sky Trails team have an exciting line up of 269 runners to toe the start line.
Skyrunners from all over the country and world are descending on a busy Lake District to pit themselves over a super hard 40km of pure skyrunning with 2800m of ascent thrown in for good measure and to test the legs of the best skyrunners in the world.
Well renowned skyrunners have set records and left their mark on the Lakeland Fells, with Tom Evans and Goergia Tindley setting new records in 2022. Who will be fast enough to beat these pretty damn fast times, being 04:30:54 for the means record and 05:48:46 for the womens.
In the line up for this years race there are a few notable names, rising stars and old hats; check out the skyrunning stars below…..
First up we have Andrew Lamont, no stranger to rough mountains, hailing from bonny Scotland and taking the win at the Glen Coe Skyline, Snowdon Sky Race and Pinnacle Ridge Extreme in 2021 and 2022. Andrew is a sure favourite for a podium spot. Next steps up Kim Collison, local legend and previous 24 hour summit holder for the Lakeland Fells. Kim has many wins under his belt in all disciplines from ultra to trail. On home turf, Kim is going to put in a solid performace and likely to hit that top podium place. Hot on his heals will be Josh Wade, another local lad from Kendal and winner of the recent UTS 100M in Wales, 2nd in the Scafell Sky Race 2021.
George Fisher will be in the mix for a top spot, performing in the top 5 in 2021 on the UK Skyrunning circuit. Finally there will be some unknowns and of course a couple of Lakeland stars with Andrew Rutter surely in with a chance of the top 5.
Looking at the Ladies race, Faith Dalgaty must surely be on the card for a win, taking the first place at the Helvellyn Sky Ultra back in 2021. Hot on her heals will be Alicia Schwarzenbach who is super consistent in the womens racing with two 3rd places in the Lakes last year on the SSR and Pinnacle Ridge Extreme. Keri Wallace is maurding from Scotland, fresh out of a great Winter’s running, setting the womens record for a solo Winter Tranters Round and is no strnger to rough terrain and how to move over it in the most efficient style and in the mix for the top places we have Sophie Gibbens [4th at Snowdon Sky Race 2022 and 5th in the Pinnacle Ridge Extreme in 2021. Kat Sizer looks to be making a return to sky racing and is sure to be in the top 5.
With hot conditions forecast and dry fells, it looks like it will be a tough race for the 269 taking part and one of the main race strategies will be how to stay hydrated on such a dry course with only 1 aid station to keep them going.
Its all up in the air for an awesome weekends sky racing over England’s highest mountain range, the uber rocky and technical Scafell Massif.
Who will be crowned champions of the Rab Scafell Sky Race 2023?
Watch the race from your home following the skyrunners on the Open Tracking links below:
Watch your mates and loved ones race the Rab Scafell Sky Race 2023.
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