By Alan Hinkes
The 2025 Montane Winter Spine Race – billed as Britain’s most brutal endurance race – saw hundreds of intrepid athletes make their way through Teesdale last week.
The Winter Spine Race challenges runners to complete the 268-mile Pennine Way, with those taking part coming from all over the world.
The middle section, when a lot of the runners are very tired, passes through Teesdale. This section is also one of the most demanding and technical, with some danger and risk.
Due to icy conditions, the route past Cauldron Snout had to be diverted, as there was a serious risk participants could have slipped into the raging waters, especially in the dark.
There was a checkpoint at Tan Hill Inn, after which the Pennine Way crosses the A66 through an underpass and on to the next point at Langdon Beck Youth Hostel Association base.
In between, locals Gail and Neville Foster had set up their own support “pop up” feeding station in Lunedale, just above Grassholme reservoir.
This is a true labour of love and allowed by the organisers, as they man this feed spot from the front runner to the last man. Gail and Neville were there from Sunday until 10pm on Wednesday.
Neville, who covered most of the night shifts, said “It’s great to meet people of different nationalities. Everyone is friendly, even when they are really pushed and worn out.”
Gail had made delicious flapjacks, which everyone appreciated. It might even become legendary: “Gail’s flapjack stop”.
“It’s just great to help and encourage people on,” said Gail.
Langdon Beck YHA was staffed by 24 volunteers, many local to Teesdale, who did eight hours on and eight hours off, digging out the snow from Sunday until Thursday as the 300 runners passed through.
One of the cooks drove in from Staindrop and the baggage sorter Patrick Bonnett, is from Barney.
Patrick is also a runner and trains regularly at Hamsterley with The Durham Fell Runners. The two checkpoint managers Paul Lee and Jen O’Neil run and co-ordinate the site.
Jen is from Weardale and Paul from down south. Paul has been working as a checkpoint manager with all the Spines, winter and summer, usually in Teesdale, which he now thinks of as his second home.
Paul’s son was in the race, and he said it was nice to see him as he passed through. Participants are allowed to stop a maximum of eight hours at Landon Beck.
Obviously, the front runners only pass through. Others get a few hours sleep and enjoy a meal, especially a curry.
Langdon Beck checkpoint has become known as the Teesdale Tandoori, when Jen started serving curries to ‘Spiners’ a few years ago.
Jen said: “There have been many friendships formed, working on the Spine support teams.
“Everyone enjoys it and looks forward to the next one.”
There are still 120 miles from Langdon Beck to the finish at Kirk Yetholm. It takes determination, sheer effort and will power to manage the suffering and sleep deprivation to the bitter end.
In Middleton-in-Teesdale I met Judd Hirst, from Glossop Mountain Rescue Team. He was with one of the Spine Safety Teams (SST). These small groups of experienced personnel check runners out at various locations and are ready to assist if there is a casualty.
In the men’s race, experienced spine runner Kim Collison took victory in a time of 82 hours and 46 minutes.
In the women’s race, Robyn Cassidy led the charge early on, before Lucy Gossage caught up, eventually leaving Cassidy behind to take the win in 87.41.
The final finisher was Tim Secker, who reached Kirk Yetholme in 166.17.
Many others dropped out along the way.
