2026 Devil o’the Highlands Report
There were wins for Michael Deason and Julia Davis at the Devil o’ the Highlands race on Saturday, as the highland’s were bathed in Spring Sunshine.
The Devil course is run over the Northern Half of the full West Highland Way trail from Tyndrum to Fort William. It is 42 Miles (69km) and 6,500 feet (2981 metres) of climb. 587 runners set off from Tyndrum at 6 am.
Men’s Race
Deason was always at the front . He had the company of Bryan Mulgrew on the first 7-mile stretch to Bridge of Orchy, reached in 44:48. Highland Hill Runners’ Waldemar Krogulec was 30 seconds back, with Callum Clarke (Arran Runners), Crawford Whyte (Pyllon), and Ewen Larnicol also in touch.
At Glencoe Mountain Resort (17 Miles), Deason was clocked at 2:04:44. Clarke was two minutes back in 2:06:03, Krogulec and Mulgrew a further minute behind.
Deason extended his lead on the more technical section over to Kinlochleven(27 Miles). He reached there in 4:39:57, holding a 4-minute lead over the Frenchman Larnicol.
The experienced Marcus Scotney had now worked his way into third, a further 5 minutes back.
The positions remained the same in the final miles over the Lairig Mhor to Glen Nevis. Deason finished in 5:39:27, having stretched his lead to over six minutes over Larnicol, who clocked 5:49:46. Scotney was a further 5 minutes back in 5:54:55.
It was Deason’s second victory,having also won in 2023.
Women’s Race
Julia Davis lived up to being one of the pre-race favourites with a superb run to finish in 8th place overall and record the second fastest women’s time on the Devil course.
Davis reached Bridge of Orchy in 48:09, already 15 minutes up on Ochil Hill Runner’s Fanni Gyurko(53:07). Rhian Tazioli ,Anna Tully, and Alison Campbell were not far behind.
By Glencoe at 17 miles reached in 2:18:20, she was now 17 minutes ahead of Gyurko (2:33:47 ), with Tazioli now third in 2:37:32.
By Kinlochleven, reached in 3:53:34, Davis now had a 30-minute lead over Tazioli, who had moved into second on 4:25:37, ahead of Gyurko, 4:28:33. Behind them, Roberta Fletcher had quietly moved into 4th just two minutes back.
Despite taking a tumble heading over the Larig Mhor, by 35 miles at Lundavra, Davis had a lead of over 45 minutes over Fletcher, who had now moved into s econd, with Tazioli in third.
Davis continued to increase her lead and finished in 6:18:37. The GB trail and 100km international finished in 8th place overall, recording the second fastest time by a woman on the Devil course. It was just 12 seconds faster than Ally McGill’s winning time from 2025, but some way behind Lucy Colquhoun’s record from 2012 of 5:47:28.
Commenting afterwards she said ” I absolutely loved the course and was so happy to see it would be warm and sunny. I went out with no expectations but felt strong even if it did start to feel a bit warm. Even after the face plant 12 miles out from the finish I cleaned my face in a stream and carried on. What a wonderful race and a brilliant community”
Non-binary runners
Kit Teague-Long was a clear winner in the Non-binary race. Already 7 minutes ahead of Findlay Smith by Bridge of Orchy, with Artur Jacklewicz, a further 18 minutes back.
Teahgue-Long ended up a clear winner in 9:03:09, Smith, running a very solid race to clock 9:37:22. Jacklewicz clocked 11:57:59.
There were 587starters and 548 Finishers.
342 men,203 women and 3 non-binary.
Full Results HERE
Devil FB group with several picture gallery links HERE
Mens results
1 Michael Deason Shettleston 5:39:27 M40
2 Ewen Larnicol 5:49:46
3 Marcus Scotney Strathearn. 5:54:55 M50
4 Calum Martin Highland HR 5:56:50 M40
5 Waldemar Krogulec. Highland HR 5:58:08 M40
6 Euan Binmore. Dundee Hawks 6:03:54
Women’s results
1. Julia Davis. Newquay RR. 6:18:38
2. Roberta Fletcher. Happy Little Trees RC 7:09:47
3. Rhian Tazioli 7:17:37 F40
4.Rowan Burns Carnethy RC 7:19:45
5.Trine Holmer-Hoven Norway 7:31:31 F50
6 Fanni Gyurka Ochil HR. 7:33:18
M40 Deason, Martin.Krogulec as above
M50
1. Scotney
2. Lorne Crawford 6:37:55
3. Gary Blackwood 7:15:38
M60
1. Mike Sutherland. North Highland Harriers. 7:31:40
2. Angus Kay Lochtayside 8:27:27
3. Steven Morrison 8:49:46
M70
1 Robin Livingston. Perth RR. 9:58:40
2 Andy Cole 100 Marathon Club 12:36:57
Women V40
1, Tazoli
2. Laura Murphy Dirty Runners. 7:34:21
3.Lynsey Parker. Maryhill Harriers. 7:41:05
Women V50
1. Holmer-Hoven
2. Suzanne Lafferrty 8:09:09
3. Charlotte Aspholm 8:12:06 Women V60
Women V60
1.Sian Morgan 8:15:52
2. Nora Pykonnen 9:48:19
2 Imogen Rykell 10:14:56
Women V70
1. Jane McLeod Carnegie Harriers 11:24:00
Non Binary
1 Kit Teague-Long 9:03:09. X40
2.Findlay Smith. 9:37:22
3.Artur Jaklewicz. 11:17:59
Thanks for reading. If you have enjoyed this post, do see our other ones HERE
If you have a comment, please feel free to add it below.
If you are inspired by this, or think someone else you know will be, please do what you have to do by sharing. You all know how these things work by now:-) You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram @tarittweets
Sign up to receive our newsletter alerting you to new posts
Adrian Tarit Stott.
The author is a former GB 24-hour ultra international with over 100 ultra race completions. He has also been involved in organising ultra-distance races for over 30 years. Still an active recreational runner, he is currently a member of UKA’s Ultra Running Advisory Group (URAG) and the Mountain and Trail Advisory Group. He also contributes as part of the selection and team management for both Scottish and GB ultra teams. A freelance writer in his spare time, he contributes articles and reports to several websites and magazines including Athletics Weekly and Irunfar.
