The Dragon’s Back Race 2025 has been hailed as the most dramatic yet, with extreme weather, re-directed routes and record-breaking performances.
Starting on 1 September within the ancient walls of Conwy Castle in North Wales, competitors faced a gruelling six- day, 236-mile (380-kilometre) journey southwards along the mountainous spine of the country to Cardiff Castle.
The race began in stormy conditions so severe organisers re-routed runners from the dangerous Crib Goch ridge to the safer Pyg Track ascent of Yr Wydffa (Snowdon) in Eryri (Snowdon) National Park.
David Parrish emerged as the men’s champion, completing the course in 48 hours 40 minutes. “It’s an honour and a privilege, quite a relief as well that it’s over,” he said at the finish line. “I’m sure in a few days I will say I enjoyed it, but right now I can safely say that today was very much an ordeal on the body. I’m delighted that I got through that without any serious injury.”
While Parrish led the men, Holly Wootten was the first woman to cross the finishing line, coming second overall with an extraordinary time of 50 hours 46 minutes. She shattered Lisa Watson’s 2022 course record by three hours. “I’ve gone into deeper darker holes than I have before,” she said. “I think bouncing back from when I thought things were slipping away, I am stronger than I thought.”
Wootten was over 10 hours ahead of second-place woman Jodie Gauld, who finished in 61 hours 2 minutes, while Leanne van Dijk claimed third. Reflecting on her strategy, Wootten added: “I wanted to challenge and take the fight to the guys... Coming into this week, it was all about the overall competition for me.”
Young star Ed Brewer finished second man and third overall in 52 hours 25 minutes, while Welsh runner Ieuan Belshaw placed fourth in 57 hours 53 minutes. Brewer described the opening stage as “biblical”. “Five of us were running together at that point and we just stopped talking and got our hoods up and heads down,” he said.
Of 278 entrants, 90 completed the full course. Michael Burke became the first athlete to complete The Ourea Triple in a single year, conquering three of Britain’s toughest ultra-races – Dragon’s Back Race, Cape Wrath Ultra and The Northern Traverse.
In pictures: Dragon’s Back Race 2025
Day 1
Day 2 and 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Top image: Dragons Back Race 2025. Credit: No Limits Photography
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