Damian Hall pays tribute to Jack Scott after historic battle at Montane Winter Spine Race

Defending champion Damian Hall was full of praise for this year’s Montane Winter Spine Race winner Jack Scott, despite losing out on a chance to take home back-to-back titles in 2024 to his fellow Brit.

The pair, who also went head-to-head twelve months ago at ‘Britain’s most brutal’ where Hall came out on top, raced side-by-side again for the first half of this year’s edition until Scott pulled clear.

Gracious in defeat, Hall paid tribute to Scott for his incredible performance, which saw the 29-year-old break Jasmin Paris’ overall course record which has stood since 2019.

“Way to get me back”

Sharing his admiration on Instagram after the race, Hall said it was strange to feel happy with his own fantastic second place finish despite losing out to Scott, but added that it was great to witness some British ultra running record breaking.

“When you win a race, then go back the next year and run it a couple of hours quicker, it’s not unreasonable, I don’t think, to expect to have won it again.

“It’s an odd feeling, to be pretty chuffed with your own performance, but to also have your butt thoroughly kicked. Nonetheless, very cool to witness British ultra running history.”

Hall, who broke his own men’s course record with a 82:25:10 in second place, demonstrated his class once again on the Pennine Way but it was Scott, with a phenomenal 72:55:05, who wrote his name into the record books.