Carnethy had at least five entries in the world’s premier ultra-race festival in Chamonix last week. The main race (the UTMB) starts in Chamonix and does the circuit of Mont Blanc (170 km, 10000m of ascent).
We had three entries in the UTMB:
· Gregor Heron: An impressive 192nd, in 32 hours, 40 mins
· Graham Nash: 356th in 36 hours 21 minutes.
· Fredelina Yong: dropped out at Courmayer after 18 hours.
The race was won by Xavier Thevenard in 21 hours and 9 minutes. There were 2563 starters and 1662 finishers (65%). It’s a massive achievement just getting into this race let alone finishing it, so much respec’ to Gregor and Graham.
In the CCC, which is more like a hilly version of the WHW (100 km and 6200m of ascent), starting in Courmayeur, Andy Fallas managed a tremendous 15th (13 hours and 54 mins), first GB competitor in. The winner was Zach Miller of USA in 11 hours 53 mins. Eoin Lennon had to drop out at La Fouly after 5 hours, whilst in 55th place.
No Carnethy entries this year for the PTL, which is quite possibly the hardest race in the world, involving 300km and 26000m of ascent. This is as long as races like the Dragon’s Back or the Marathon des Sables but it’s continuous rather than staged – so you add sleep deprivation into the mix. It was won this year by a Belgian team in 118 hours (just under 5 days). Our own Olly, Jason and Mick finished this race last year in 13th place in about 5.5 days. Next year, anyone?
Alec Erskine