Kim Collison has claimed victory in the Montane Winter Spine Race 2025 in 82: 46:32. The Cumbrian ultra runner’s time was the third fastest in the history of the race – and a huge achievement for the talented athlete after three previous attempts did not go to plan.
The women’s race was won by Lucy Gossage, of Nottingham, in 87:41:38. Lucy, of Nottingham, also took fourth place overall.
Conditions for this year’s 268-mile race on the Pennine Way, from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders, were descried as mixed but very tough.
Previous winner John Kelly, who took fifth place in this year’s winter Spine, wrote on social media: “Thanks to Storm Brendan hitting us mid-race, the experience was, well, outright miserable.” He added: “It felt like we ended the race in summer, after starting in winter bounding across perfectly packed snow. We had a day of spring in between as rain unevenly accelerated melting to create a roll of the dice for every step: Slush, ice, actually still good snow, or an unstable crust covering a bog.”
The course record is held by Jack Scott (GBR) in 72:55:05 and the women’s record is held by Jasmin Paris (GBR) in 83:12:23.
Determination takes Kim Collison to a win
It takes a lot of mental and physical determination to train and complete the Winter Spine Race. For Kim there have been years of disappointment and three DNFs (Did Not Finish) in a row in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
He finished more than three hours ahead of second placed Dave Phillips (GBR) and Tiaan Erwee who followed Dave home some seven minutes later.
Read about some of Kim’s achievements:
Runner Kim Collison sets new Paddy Buckley record
Kim Collison breaks Lakes 24-hour running record
New record: 33 Munros in 24 hours for Kim Collison
Strong racing by Lucy Gossage
Lucy ran a strong Winter Spine Race during which she passed early leader Robyn Cassidy. Lucy posted regular updates from the course and despite the hardships, it was clear she enjoyed the event. She improved on her third place finish in the same race last January.
When asked at what point she started to think she might be able to take the top spot, she said: “When I caught Robyn I knew I had her. We were both running my race.”
Sleep had been Lucy’s achilles heel in the last Winter Spine but this time she appeared to master her sleep monsters and arrived at the finish line fresh enough to leap in the air .
Montane-sponsored Robyn Cassidy was almost seven hours behind Lucy in her first Winter Spine race.
Nikki Arthur secured the third female place finishing another nine hours later in 103:36: 59.
Montane Spine Challenger North winners
Two other shorter races take place on the same course, with runners doing a north or south version. Paul Grundy won the Challenger North Race in a time of 48:03:07, while Nicky Spinks was home first in the women’s race in 56:49:55.
See Montane Winter Spine Race