Runners are Smilers

Montane Lakeland 100 and 50-Mile race, Coniston Cumbria.

Runners snaking their way up out of Coniston onto the fells, shortly after the start of the Lakeland 100 Pic Adrian Stott

Full Montane Lakeland 100-mile results can be seen HERE

With over 2,000 entries, The Montane Lakeland 100 mile and 50 mile weekend, lays claim to the biggest ultra race in Great Britain. This year was no exception with over 700 entries in the 100 miles and over 1,500 entries in the 50-mile race.

100 Mile race

An exciting finish saw Andy Berry win the Montane Lakeland 100, overtaking long-time leader Jarlath McKenna in the final 6km stretch from the last Checkpoint at Tiberthwaite.

Berry finished in 20:03:11. It is the 3rd fastest time in the race history behind Terry Conway’s 19:50:37 in 2012 and Mark Darbyshire’s course record of 19:10:37 from 2021.

Long-time leader Jarlath McKenna took second in 20:14:06, the 4th fastest time on record, with Rob Forbes 3rd in 20:56:36.

Berry has a track record of successfully taking on long solo challenges like the Steve Parr round, a 116-mile Lakeland Circuit with 61 peaks and 42,550 feet climb. Earlier this year, he broke Kim Collison’s Lakeland 24-hour summits record. It was his first 100-mile race situation.

Andy Berry winning the 2023 Montane Lakeland 100 Pic Adrian Stott

Speaking to Andy post race he commented, “I was told at the last Checkpoint at Tilberthwaite, with 4 miles to go, that Jarlath was 15 min ahead, so I had given up on the win and was more concerned with maintaining 2nd and no one coming up behind me.

On the descent, I passed Jarlath sitting down. A couple of hikers were chatting to him, so I knew he was ok. He seemed ok but had run out of steam. I hammered it down the hill as I knew if he got going well again, he would be fast on the last trail and road section as he was earlier in the race.”

“Although I have done big rounds, this is my first 100-mile race. It was similar in many ways. I look at any challenge as just me against me.”

It was also McKenna’s first 100-mile race. With a course record at last October’s 50-mile Lakes in a day event, plus victory in the British Road 100km championships in April in a speedy 6 hours 37 minutes, it was obvious he had the speed to cope with shorter ultra-distance races.

!00 miles on Lakeland terrain is a different challenge. He can be happy with his effort, although he will have learned the nutritional demands of a 100-mile race are different and cannot be underestimated.

Chatting afterwards, he said, “I knew I was struggling at the last checkpoint but thought I would be able to hang on. Over the last short climb, I could feel my legs starting to go, and once I started that last steep descent, they just gave way on me. A couple of hikers stopped and asked if I was ok, which was good of them. I took on some fluid and sugar and managed to get going again, but Andy was already past and on his way, “

Earlier in the race, McKenna and one of the preface favourites, the US-based Scot Ryan Smith, set a fast early pace reaching the Boot Checkpoint at 14.5 miles ahead of Mark Darbyshire’s 2021 course record schedule.

McKenna was to fall back a little between Wasdale (26 miles), and Burttermere, (32 miles), leaving Smith on his own in the lead.

Smith led at Braithwaite (49 miles) but was having some stomach issues overnight, which allowed McKenna, Berry, and Rob Forbes to go ahead.

By the Dockray Checkpoint (59 miles) McKenna was using his road speed well on the flatter sections. He now held a 5-minute lead on Forbes and Berry, with Smith in 4th a further minute back.

Through Dalmain and on to Pooley Bridge, McKenna had built a 10-minute lead that he was to hold until that last 4 miles.

Berry used his hill strength to keep in touch and was comfortably in second place by Kentmere at 90 miles. It was a position he would have been happy to maintain until that last dramatic 4 miles when everything changed.

Women’s 100 mile Race

Pre-race favourite Sabrina Verjee was an emphatic winner of the lady’s race. Her record in recent years both in races and personal adventures have been well documented. Victory in the Winter Spine race and a record for completing the 325 mile Lakeland Wainwrights circuit just two of her numerous achievements.

Sabrina Verjee Finishing the 2023 Montane Lakeland 100 Pic Adrian Stott

Finishing in 23:00:06, It was her third win in the event and her fastest time. Only Beth Pascall, with her course record of 21:39:36 in 2016, has run faster. She finished over three and a half hours ahead of the second place finisher.

Laura Watson offered company in the early stages but Verjee maintained her steady pace and slowly pulled further away. Watson eventually dropped out at Mardale (82 Miles.) Elaine Bisson, who had placed second in the Cape Wrath ultra earlier in the year, and tipped to do well, also dropped out out Dalmain.

Ukranian Darila Bodnar, 6th at the Istria 100 miler in April, finished 2nd in 26:46:59. Cornwall’s Jodie Gauld, running her 5th Lakeland 100, was 3rd in her fastest time to date of 28:43:39.

Lakeland 50 mile races

Lakeland 50 mile Men’s race.

Full Montane Lakeland 50-mile results can be seen HERE

In the 50-mile race, there were victories for Neil MacNicol and Katie Kaars-Sijpesteijn.

2023 Montane Lakeland 50 Mile Champions Neil MacNicol & Katie Kaars-Sijpesteijn. Pic Adrian Stott

MacNicol, from Fife in Scotland, had twice placed second in the Lakeland 100 in recent years.

At 51, his goal was to enjoy the shorter distance this year.He was always in the top six, but over the last 15 km from Langdale, as others ahead of him began to falter, he seized his moment and was delighted with the win.

“ I just stuck to my plan. I wasn’t expecting to be on the podium, let alone win it! It’s all a little surreal”

Rob Trigwell had been the early leader at Howtown(11 miles) with Rory Harris, Lakeland 100 winner in 2019 not far behind. At Kentmere( 20 miles ) Trigwell and Dan Thacker were together with MacNicoll in close contention. Harris had fallen back to fourth. By Ambleside (34 miles) Trigwell had a minute lead over Thacker with MacNicol 3 minutes back.

Through Langdale, Trigwell managed to open a gap on Thacker but they were together, just seconds apart, at the last Checkpoint at Tilberthwaite’(46.5 Miles) with MacNicol three and a half minutes back in third. Like the 100-mile race, all was to change on that last wee climb and long descent to the finish in Coniston. MacNicol recorded 8:03:58 and, at 51 years young, is possibly the oldest winner of either the 100 or 50 mile events at Lakeland. Robert Trigwell finished just 90 seconds back in 2nd with 8:05:12 and Dan Thacker routing out the podium in 3rd with 8:08:45

Women’s Lakeland 50 mile

GB trail international, Katie Kaars-Sijpesteijn claimed her 4th win in the 50-Mile event. She was a clear winner of the lady’s race finishing in 8:23:15. Although slower than her course record 8:02:19 from last year, she now holds the four fastest women’s times on the 50 mile course.

At Kentmere(20 Miles) She already had a 5 minute lead over Victoria Thompson with Lauren Graham a further 5 minutes back in third, These positions were to remain unchanged with Thompson finishing second in 8:47:43, and Graham third in 8:56:26. A brief comment of “That was tough today!” as she passed through the finish area, summing up her race.

TOTAL FINISHERS AND STARTERS

In the 50-mile race, there were 1,377 starters,841 men and 536 women. The 113 DNFs gave an 8% dropout rate.
The 100-mile race had 616 starters, 495 men and 121 women. The 236 DNF,s gave a 38% dropout rate. People drop out of ultra races for a variety of reasons. The race website says that traditionally between 40-50% of starters in the 100-mile dropout, indicating 2023 was a good year. It certainly indicates that The Lakeland 100 course is a credible challenge for anyone. However, the distance and the Lakeland terrain, should never be underestimated, and the thin line between ploughing on regardless and good sensible decision-making is often blurred.

UPDATED ALL TIME MONTANE 100 AND 50 MILE TIMES

ALL TIME MONTANE LAKELAND 50 MILE TIMES

Full Lakeland 50 results can be seen here https://results.opentracking.co.uk/event/23lakeland50

You can read our Montane Lakeland 100 /50 preview HERE

And our Montane Lakeland 100/50 overview with key race historical Stats HERE

An edited report of this post appeared in Athletics Weekly’s online events coverage week commencing 31st July.

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