Ascending the first mountain, Pen-y-Ghent (© Pete Hartley)
More than 900 runners, a record, have entered for the 54th edition of the Three Peaks race in the Yorkshire Dales, England on Saturday (26).
Athletes from nineteen countries will join those from the host nation, GBR & NI, in the battle to become World champion in long distance mountain running over the hills of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough, a distance of 37.5km with 1608m of ascent and descent.
The winner of the men’s race for the past three years and the race favourite, local boy Robb Jebb, will be faced with a strong British challenge from Andy Peace (record holder), Simon Booth, Ian Holmes, Billy Burns and Rickie Lightfoot.
Jebb will also have to contend with the overseas challenge from Zachary Freudenburg (USA) bronze medallist in 2006, and Toni Vencelj (SLO) silver medallist in 2005.
The women’s race over the same course also promises to be a cracker. Current World champion Anita Haakenstad Evertsen (NOR) will be challenged by long distance expert Angela Mudge (GBR), Lizzy Hawker (GBR) ultra distance World champion, and Anna Pichrtova (CZE) the current World champion at the shorter mountain running distance and an Olympic marathon runner.
With heavy rain forecast for the day it is unlikely that the 1996 race records will be breached, but route finding will pose no problems this year since the course will be fully marked as required by the regulations of the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA).
Danny Hughes for the IAAF
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