The SCARPA Trail Team are smashing it! A busy month of races and events this September have seen some excellent results for the SCARPA trail team.
Racing in the UK and Internationally there have been some incredible recent results for the team. In this blog we will be keeping you posted on results for the SCARPA Trail Team and bringing you exclusive interviews with the team.
The Ridgeway Challenge 86 Miles
The Ridgeway Challenge 86 Miles (138km), is a continuous running event that starts at Ivinghoe Beacon near Tring and ends at Avebury Stone Circle.
The route is 86 miles along The Ridgeway National Trail, a 5000 year old trackway through the Chiltern Hills and North Wessex Downs (along Grim’s Ditch for several miles), Barbury Castle and Liddington Castle (hill forts) en route.
Photo Credit: Know Jack Media
Tim Pigott ran an amazing race and finished second in a time of 14:07:51! Here are Tim’s thoughts on the race:
“What an amazing race, I was so close to pulling out at half way but somehow managed to rally and finish strongly enough to secure second place. That UKA medal is a very special one 😍
Running the whole length of the Ridgeway was a childhood dream having grown up around the Liddington castle section, so glad I have now achieved that goal.
If you run on trails and like the longer stuff this race HAS to be on your bucket list, you get to enjoy 86miles and 5000 years of history!”
Dragon’s Back Race
We were delighted to be supporting this year’s Dragon’s Back Race and had four of the SCARPA Team involved in the race. SCARPA UK athletes Jon Shield, Dougie Zinis and Carmine de Grandis (hatchling) and International athlete Silvia Ainhoa Trigueros.
This 6 day race spans the whole of Wales – starting in Conwy Castle crossing the length of the country before finishing in the amazing surroundings of Cardiff Castle.
In a tough week of racing in unseasonably hot conditions Jon and Dougie both unfortunately had to pull out on day three.
However Silvia battle on to finish the race as the third fastest women!
Carmine de Grandis completed the hatchling course – whilst carrying his accordion and stopping to play on the tops! Great achievement!
You can read our day-by-day report on the race here: Dragon’s Back Race 2023
Swiss Peaks 360
Now we are heading abroad to our first International race: The Swiss Peaks 360.
The Swiss Peaks is an ultra-trail undoubtedly among the most difficult in the world: a demanding and technical race. It takes place over a distance of 365 km and a total elevation gain of 25900 m! Going from glaciers to Lake Geneva through the most beautiful alpine valleys of the 4,000s of the Alps.
SCARPA Athletes Tom Hollins and Howard Dracup both were taking on the Swiss Peaks for the first time.
In a race of this length and difficulty finishing is a great achievement – but both of our boys not only finished but ran in excellent times.
Tom finished 12th overall with a time of 99:43:45, while Howard was 22nd with a time of 110:04:32. It is great to see two Brits doing so well in European races!
We caught up with Tom and Howard a week after the race to hear how it was for them, how they are recovering and what is next for the pair.
Tom and Howard Swiss Peaks Interviews
Tor des Géants
The Tor des Géants is one of the key races on the European Trail Running calendar. The Tor des Géants® is the first race of this kind to cover an entire region, running along its spectacular paths at the foot of the highest Four-Thousanders in the Alps and through the Gran Paradiso Natural Park and the Mont Avic Regional Park. All of these particular features help make this such a unique, inimitable race.
Géants (Giants) doesn’t just refer to the size of the mountains, but also the pedigree of the packed field of runners – with some big names in European trail running taking part.
SCARPA athlete Emma Stuart took her place on the start line after a year of some impressive running and results in UK races.
Running hard from the Start Emma ran an amazing race and took the win in the women’s field – finishing in 82:21 – over two hours ahead of the second place runner!
We will of course be having a full de-brief with Emma once she has had a chance to get some sleep and recover! Watch this space!
In the 30km Race – Jessica Wilson was also representing SCARPA UK. This shorter race takes place on technical trails at high altitude – making it no easy race!
Jess completed this race with a smile taking on the tough conditions of the TOR!
Ring of Steall Skyrace
The Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace™ follows in the tradition of skyrunning, which consists of uncompromising mountain running, such as scrambling along mountain ridges with steep ascents, traverses and descents on technical and challenging terrain.
This skyrunning race route incorporates two lofty ridges within the Mamores, including the Devil’s Ridge, which provides a thrilling and airy traverse with Glen Nevis visible ahead and as a yawning drop far below, and Ben Nevis beyond and towering above.
SCARPA athlete Sara Willhoit ran the 29km route which features 2,500m of ascent. With an amazing run, Sara won the women’s race – finishing 8th overall in a time of 04:19:09.
We caught up with Sara after the race, where she reflected on a great day in the Highlands:
“The Ring of Steall is a route I have wanted to do since my first visit to the Highlands.
The appeal of this as a race is the big climbs, technical scrambles, airy ridges, and a great event village atmosphere. This was it’s final year, so it was my last opportunity to take on this iconic race.
The day was nice and warm in the valley with a cold breeze on the summits. I lead from almost start to finish. Support on the course was great, with marshalls on all the summits and technical sections. After the final climb there is almost 5 miles of descending to the finish. I didn’t know where second place was so I couldn’t ease off until I broke the tape.
I wore the Scarpa Spin 2.0 shoe, which handled everything well. The Vibram Megagrip some gave me lots of continence across the rocky scrambles.”
Ultra X
Ultra X 110 England takes place in the Peak District National Park, an upland area characterised by vast green landscapes, rounded hills, plateaus, valleys, limestone gorges, and gritstone escarpments.
SCARPA Athlete Lewis Ryan was the latest of the SCARPA Team to record a win – coming first in this year’s Ultra X 110 England. Lewis said;
“This was my first taste of stage racing and I loved it. The added challenge of pacing yourself just right on the first day, recovering and then going again the next was entirely new and interesting for me. Both days had plenty of elevation (4300m total), varying terrain and a lot of distance (110km total) – so I opted for the Spin Planets which are great all-rounders and provided as much comfort over the weekend as they did performance.
Of course, I was very happy to take the overall win and it’s a huge confidence boost going into Kullamannen by UTMB in Novemeber! And perhaps some bigger stage races next year…”
SCARPA Trail Running Shoes
While we can’t guarantee they will make you run like the SCARPA team – we are extremely proud of our range of trail running shoes.
With shoes for every terrain and distance there is something for every runner, including our new arrivals: Ribelle Run Kalibra HT & ST and the Spin ST.
Check out the full range:
