Erik Johannes Husom and Georgia Tindley Win 5th Glen Coe Skyline

© No Limits Photography

Erik Johannes Husom and Georgia Tindley have won the 5th Salomon Glen Coe Skyline race on Sunday. For Norwegian Erik, 24, it was his first attempt at a sky race and he was thrilled to come home in a time of 7:55:00. Georgia Tindley, who lives in Kingussie, was the first female in a time of 8:29:57.

Winner Erik Johannes Husom   © No Limits Photography
Winner Erik Johannes Husom
© No Limits Photography

He said: "I can't believe it. It is incredible to take the win here. This is the biggest race yet for me."

In 2016, Georgia, 27, was the winner of the Salomon Mamores VK and the Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace.

She said: "Today feels unreal. I just can't believe it."

A technical and very challenging course, the Salomon Glen Coe Skyline, now in its fifth year, extends to 52km with a total ascent of 4750m. The course includes two infamous scrambles: First is Curved Ridge, which climbs steeply on the iconic Stob Dearg (Buachaille Etive Mor) via an exposed Grade 3 scramble; later in the course runners must then take on a full traverse of the Aonach Eagach Ridge, a famously exposed grade 2 scramble.

The record holders are Kilian Jornet in a time of 6:25:39 and Emelie Forsberg in 7:53:30, both set in 2017.

After two days of unseasonably hot sun, most runners welcomed lower temperatures for Sunday's race, whioch saw a more typically seasonal mix of cloud, wind, showers and sunshine.

First female Georgia on Aonach Eagach  © No Limits Photography
First female Georgia on Aonach Eagach
© No Limits Photography

There was a fight for places among the top four finishers in the race. While Erik showed his strength in the end, second placed Andy Berry, of England, third placed Greg Vollet, of France, and Scot Andrew Barrington, who was pipped into fourth place, all finished within nine minutes.

Erik, who was seventh in the Salomon Mamores VK on Friday, said: "Going into the race, I hoped I might finish in the top 20 but I have had a rough year with pneumonia so I have lost a lot training. But when I was in the top three at half way through the race I grew in confidence. I knew I had strength on the climbs and on the downhills so I just tried to keep going and focus on the podium.

"I was nervous, though, and I kept looking over my shoulder for the others. It is incredible to be the winner in my first sky race and this feels like is a kind of breakthrough for me."

Georgia was almost 40 minutes ahead of the second female Ann Penelope Spencer, from Alaska, who finished in 9:10:51, and 50 minutes in front of third placed Irish athlete Megan Wilson (9:20:12). She also earned eighth place overall.

Georgia, who is originally from London, said: "I had a look at the start list going into the race and I thought I might have a chance but you never know who will turn up and how they will race. I also raced last weekend in the ZacUp SkyRace in Italy and came fifth so I wasn't sure how I would go today."

She also placed eighth in the Tromso Skyrace this year and she was sixth 2018. On Sunday, the Hunters Bog Trotters' athlete led from the start but she reveals she had no idea how the other women were doing.

"I just kept pushing on and looking over my shoulder. I was expecting others to catch up" she said.

"I really like steep climbs and I enjoyed the Curved Ridge the most today but I am not so good on the downhills. Also, I didn't feel too good the Aonach Eagach ridge. Before that I had felt quite good and I think I maybe pushed it too hard then and that affected me later on. That last 20km was tough and I had to cling on.

"It's so nice to win a race that is local to me and it is one of my best results, especially this year."


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