James Nobles - Full Spine - 268 miles, 10,000m+
In the most recent 2025 Winter Spine race, James competed in the Challenger South alongside his father, Robert Nobles. James entered the full Winter Spine Race previously in 2024, he started strong, running in joint 4th position with eventual winner Jack Scott at the 103-mile mark (Checkpoint 2, Hawes). However, he was forced to retire from the race later on after a fall in the snow caused a niggle. He ultimately decided to call his race at Checkpoint 2 to prioritise his health for upcoming events. James returns this year, suggesting he has "unfinished business" to take on the full 268-mile route.
Chris Cope - Full Spine - 268 miles, 10,000m+
Chris Cope was the overall winner of the Montane Summer Spine Race 2024 in a time of 79:10:14. Despite biblical rain and storms on day one which led to boggy conditions, Chris maintained a dominant lead. Following his success in the Summer Spine Sprint South (setting a new course record of 6:36:41), he's back to attempt the full Winter Spine Race.
Howard Dracup - Spine Sprint North, 43 miles, 1,700m+
Howard Dracup has consistently achieved podium finishes in the Spine Race series. His past performances include a 3rd place finish in the Spine Challenger South in 2019 and another 3rd place finish in the Spine Challenger North in 2022, which he completed in just over 49 hours. Known for his toughness on technical terrain, his record also includes a victory in the Beacons Way Ultra 100-mile race and previously holding the record for the "Steve Parr Round" in the Lake District. Watch this space to see if Howard can translate his previous 'Challenger' success into a top performance in the 2026 race.
Tasha Brook - Sprint North, 43 miles, 1,700m+
Known for her resilience in harsh conditions, Tasha Brook is an experienced mountaineer who is now channelling years of training and passion into the world of ultra-distance running. For Tasha, stepping up to this distance is a logical progression. "Taking part in the Spine feels like a natural extension of who I am as an athlete and adventurer," she told us. "It’s another chance to learn, grow, and experience the outdoors in a new way." We’ll be watching closely to see how she handles the new challenge taking on the 43 mile race from Brown Rigg to Kirk Yetholm.
Jon Shield- Sprint North, 43 miles, 1,700m+
An ex-paratrooper and record-breaker, Shield has won both the Winter Spine Sprint and Summer Spine Challenger South. He is stepping up to the full 268-mile distance for 2026. Given his history of winning races in some of the most extreme environments on earth, he has the mental toughness required to take on Britain's most brutal race.
You can track the full spine race and other events in the series on the Montane Spine Race website.
