Collison a step closer to elusive Winter Spine title as Gossage moves clear of Cassidy at ‘Britain’s most brutal’ race

It’s going down to the wire in the men’s race at the Montane Winter Spine as Britain’s Kim Collison closes in on the finish at Kirk Yetholm.

There’s a similar battle for the women’s title but Lucy Gossage looks to have made a significant move away from Robyn Cassidy.

Erwee overtakes Kelly

Collison has led the men’s race – and overall – from the outset.

The 2024 Swiss Peaks Trail 360 winner, who has also triumphed in the Northern Traverse and Arc of Attrition, has DNF next to his name in each of his three Winter Spine attempts but this is looking like the year he cracks ‘Britain’s most brutal’.

When the sun rose on Wednesday morning he had completed 215 of the 268 miles up the Pennine Way, having reached checkpoint five at Bellingham in 69 hours and 19 minutes.

His closest challenger now is South African Tiaan Erwee, winner of the Summer Spine in 2022, who is two hours and 20 minutes behind.

And it’s just another seven minutes and 16 minutes back respectively to Brit Dave Phillips and John Kelly, the American ultrarunning star who won this event in 2020 and holds the FKT (fastest known time) on the Pennine Way.

Kelly was hit with a penalty on Tuesday after some diversions were put in place in response to flooding.

The Spine Race media team said: “Following a review of the previously issued penalty to John Kelly and consultation between the Race Director and HQ, it has been agreed that the initial 26-minute penalty will be withdrawn.

“However, as John gained a 13-minute advantage by following a shorter route, and to maintain the original gap between Kim Collinson and John over the Cauldren Snout section, a 13-minute adjustment will be added to John’s time.”

Gossage goes clear

Meanwhile in the women’s race, former top triathlete Lucy Gossage is on course for a remarkable win.

The NHS oncologist, who is fundraising for MOVE which aims to ‘use physical activity and exercise to improve the lives of people with cancer’, was third on her debut in the race last year.

Tuesday saw her join forces with long-time leader Robyn Cassidy before moving clear as darkness fell.

And she extended her advantage to two-and-a-half hours by Greenhead.

You can watch the action unfold with the live tracker here.