Athletes from twenty countries come to Yorkshire  

Preview

More than 900 runners, a record, have entered for the 54th edition of the Three Peaks race in the Yorkshire Dales on Saturday. Athletes from nineteen countries will those from join the host nation, United Kingdom, in the battles for 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.

Winner of the mens race for the past three years and 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. He 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.

R.Jebb (Photo P.Hartley)

The womens 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) current
World Champion at the shorter mountain running distance and 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).

Details of the race and the entry list can be found on the web page www.threepeaksrace.org.uk

Danny Hughes