Ultra running challenge set to reach north west Sutherland today
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Runners taking part in the 2021 Cape Wrath Ultra are set to enter Sutherland today.
The 400km, multi-stage event began at Fort William last Sunday and finishes at Cape Wrath on Sunday, August 8.
Today is day 6 of the gruelling challenge and runners were scheduled to set off from Inverbroom this morning, heading for Inchnadamph. Around 90 competitors registered to take part.
Tomorrow will see them push on from Inchnadamph to Kinlochbervie and from the port to Cape Wrath lighthouse the following day. A celebratory meal and presentation of finishers’ medals that evening will mark the end of the challenge. Participants will camp overnight at Keoldale.
The Cape Wrath Ultra is the first event organised by Ourea Events to go ahead this year. It was originally intended to hold it in May 2020 but it had to be postponed twice due to the coronavirus pandemic.
At the start of the race founder Shane Ohly said: “We are relieved to be here in Fort William and ready to go. It is literally the culmination of years of work and it is great to finally be here.”
After five days, the top five runners in the 2021 Cape Wrath Ultra are:
1st - Ian Stewart (total time 30hrs and 41mins) – first male
2nd - Sally Fawcett (31:57) – first female
3rd - Lisa Watson (32:02) – second female
4th – Charles Smith (33:54) – second male
5th – Ritchie Williamson (34:29) – third male.
Ian Stewart has led the race from the start, while Sally Fawcett and Lisa Watson have run together from day two. As they all prepared for the latter part of the race, none of the top three was giving any insights into their game plan for the last three days.
