Skyline Scotland 2023
The Salomon Skyline Scotland delivers 3 sky races of a world class nature, the races being the Ring of Steall, Glen Coe Skyline and Ben Nevis Ultra. All the races are sponsored by Salomon, with the RoS being part of the Salomon Golden Trails series and BNU being part of the Skyrunner UK and Ireland series.
Salomon Ring of Steall 2023
Sara Willhoit on her way to winning the Salomon Ring of Steall 2023 ©No Limits Photography
The weather was set great for Saturday’s racing and whilst the Salomon Ring of Steal is not in the series and part of the Salomon Golden Trails Series, it's still a world class sky race and deserves mentioning in our article.
Just under 500 skyrunners set off under glorious skies, with a warm feel in the valleys but cool breeze on the tops.
The ladies race set off with 120 skyrunners, several vying for the top podium positions, Sara Willhoit looking to be a favourite after her excellent win at the Rab Pinnacle Ridge Extreme back in July in the Lake District. Jostling for position on the podium with Sara was Aoife McCavana [running for Ireland], Oli Elliott [running for Scotland] and Brits; Esther Everitt, Emma Parry-Jones, Chelsea Creak, all looking strong and on form.
Sara Willhoit took the lead for the women from the start and kept pushing all the way, never being able to take her foot off the gas, in her own words, keeping the pressure on down the final 8km descent into the finish arena in Kinlochleven. Whilst being off the pace from the record held by Judith Wyder [Female record: 3:36:46], Sara crossed the line in a uber fast time of 04:19:09. Second and Third places were taken by Chelsea Creak and Emma Parry-Jones, who were only minutes apart in times of 04:56:26 and 04:59:29 completing the female podium trio.
Gavin Dale racing to win the Salomon Ring of Steall 2023 ©No Limits Photography
In the men's race it was as equally exciting with 353 skyrunners setting off on the start line with Brits; Matthew Allen, Lewis McComb, Gavin Dale and Matthew Elkington all looking for podium spots, from the rest of the world and Scotland stood Jim Rothweiler [Netherlands], Timothy De Vos [Germany], James Miller [South Africa] and Rob Sinclair [Scotland] plus the English fraternity of Jordan Eastwood, Nigel Hocking and Harry Holmes.
The racing was fast, but no records challenged and coming across the line in great form for the converted 1st podium spot was Gavin Dale in a time of 03:46:12, close on his tail was Matthew Elkington in a time of 03:50:03 and Harry Holmes completing the trio and only seconds behind Matthew, in a time of 03:50:21.
2nd place Chelsea Creek enjoying perfect conditions on the Salomon RoS 2023 ©No Limits Photography
Sundays forecast was not looking so kind and final decision by the race organisation and safety management teams were being made as to the safety of the races with sub-zero wind chill temps on the tops, driving rain later in the day and 50+mph cross-winds forecast for the Aonach Eagach Ridge on the second part of the Glencoe Skyline race route.
Mentions of the winds stopping the GCS were made open on the start line by race director, Shane Ohly, and anyone racing was advised to get to CP9 as fast as possible if they were to make it over the AE Ridge to complete the full course.
Just over 100 committed skyrunners stood awaiting the race start at 07:30, me [author - Charles Sproson] being one of them for this year. Since 2015, I have been involved in the organisation, marking and safety until 2021 and so it was a proud moment to be standing on the start line of the most extreme and one of the most iconic skyraces in the world. I was not set to be challenging the podium positions.
Glen Coe Skyline 2023 - Final Edition - Shortened Course [Start to CP9]
The final ever edition of the epic and uber iconic/extreme Salomon Glen Coe Skyline ©No Limits Photography
In the women's race, favourites were Katia Tastagh [UK], Kasia Osipowicz [Poland] and Naomi Lang [Scotland]. The field was small with 18 ladies taking part, but this is a high number for this type of race, especially considering the actual field o the day of just over 100 skyrunners.
Naomi was strong from the start, dominating the race from the front and running in the top 10 for the first part of the race. Curved Ridge is not to be raced over, so from the top of this section [the first scramble] everything truly starts. By checkpoint 6, we were advised that the race would be stopped at CP9 due to worsening conditions and despite this, Naomi kept the pressure on and crossed the finish line in an awesome time of 05:16:06. I was personally racing against Kasia for overall race positions and passed her on the descent to CP9, with Kasia crossing the line in 2nd place on the women's race in a time of 06:38:51 and Katia taking the 3rd podium position in a time of 06:40:28 to complete the women's trio.
The Author [Charles Sproson] ascending to Curved Ridge behind Neil MacDonald ©SkyrunningUK
In the men's race, Ellis Bland, Oli Jepsen, Ed Brewer, Alastair Graves and Phillip Rutter [all Brits] were in the mix with Robin Downie [Scotland], Douglas Bartholemew and Scot Maguire [Canada] all looking for those converted podium finishes.
Ellis Bland led the race to CP1 with Scott Maguire and Phillip Rutter sitting in closely behind. The ups and downs and terrain of the GCS make it seriously tough, yet the top 6 moved with ease over the terrain, with Phillip Rutter taking the win at CP9 in 04:38:07, Scott Maguire taking the 2nd place in 04:51:08 and Alastair Graves coming in 3rd in a time of 04:59:04, taking the 3rd podium slot.
Whilst the Glencoe Skyline was underway, skyrunners were being kit checked and let into the start pen for the penultimate race in the UK and Ireland Skyrunner National Series for 2023.
Both the Salomon Ben Nevis Ultra and Glen Coe Skyline winners 1/2/3 on the stage together for the prize giving ceremony ©No Limits Photography
Salomon Ben Nevis Ultra 2023 - Bad Weather Route - Skyrunning UK & Ireland National Series: Race 4
The Ben Nevis Ultra takes in the highest point in the British Isles, crossing the summit of Ben Nevis just before the halfway point of the race. It completes the National 3 Peaks for those who have been taking part in the Skyrunner® National Series in the UK and Ireland.
With the projected bad weather that was forecast, the organising team opted, wisely, for the Bad Weather route for 2023. This meant the skyrunner’s would still make the summit of the Ben, but then once at valley level, they would take the Highland Way back into Kinlochleven.
Alicia Schwarzenbach and Karolina Woloszczyk discussing tactics in the start pen ©No Limits Photography
On the start line in the ladies race stood Karolina Woloszczyk [Poland], 2nd place in the recent Rab Pinnacle Ridge Extreme in the Lakes, Sophie McKeeman [GB], Myvanwy Hanna [GB] and Alicia Schwarzenbach [England] who has been on terrific form this season. The 2nd half of the race was quite unlike the usual route, taking lower trails and really turning it into a race of 2 halves, technical skyrunning to start with a fast, but long low level trail race to finish.
Myvanwy led the race to CP1, with Alicia then taking over the lead for the rest of the race to arrive at the finish being the clear winner in 07:32:20, with a 30 minute lead of the rest of the field and finishing in 10th place overall. This will certainly cement Alicia into the winning position for the Skyrunner® National Series for 2023 in the UK and Ireland. Myvanwy continued her race in 2nd place, crossing the line in 2nd position still, in a time of 08:00:21 and completing the female podium spots was Sophie McKeeman in a time of 08:01:17, hot on Myvanwy’s heels.
A tired but happy Alicia Schwazenbach crosses the finish line to take the win on the Salomon Ben Nevis Ultra 2023 ©No Limits Photography
Myvanwy Hanna took the 2nd place in the Salomon Ben Nevis Ultra ©No Limits Photography
The men's race was looking to be fast with Tom Owens, who recently competed in the Skyrunner World Champs Masters race in Italy this year for the UK squad, local Scottish runner Tom Carthey, 2 brothers from opposite sides of the world; David Haunschmidt [NZ] and Patrick Haunschmidt [Canada] and GB runners Jonathan Pybus and George Fisher who is looking to be favourite to win the Skyrunner UK and Ireland National Series.
The start was fast with Tom Owens, Jonathan Pybus, George Fisher and David Haunschmidt all shoulder to shoulder in the race to CP1, from there the race opened out with George putting in a break for the lead, closely followed by David Haunschmidt. George led the race until CP4, by which point David had closed the gap and taken the 1st place, holding it all the way to the finish crossing the line in a cracking time of 05:57:35. George held onto his second place, crossing the finish line in 06:00:43 and Jonathan Pybus completing the podium trio in a time of 06:15:53.
David Haunschmidt, just visiting from NZ, relishing in his win on the Salomon Ben Nevis Ultra ©No Limits Photography
George Fisher after a tremendous season racing the Skyrunner® National Series UK and Ireland 2023 ©No Limits Photography
That wraps up the Skyline Scotland weekend, leaving us to say that it will be moving for 2025 to a new location in the Scottish Highlands. 2024 is a break year for the team to plan and deliver yet another awesome Skyline Scotland from a new and exciting location.
All eyes now look to the Seven Sisters Skyline in Ireland this weekend for the last race in the Skyrunner UK and Ireland series for 2023.
View all the Salomon Skyline Scotland Sky Race results below:
Salomon Ring of Steall 2023 results