The 11th edition of the Dragon’s Back Race® almost didn’t happen. Happily, it concluded on Saturday evening as the final runners crossed the finish line in Bute Park, beneath the walls of Cardiff Castle, six days and 380 kilometres after setting out from Conwy Castle in North Wales. Of the 210 athletes from 20 nationalities who started the world’s toughest mountain race at dawn on Monday 7 September, just 53 completed the full course to earn the coveted title of ‘Dragon’ – a finish rate that underlines why this race has acquired near-mythical status. A further 63 runners completed the Hatchling course.
The men’s race was won by Danny Smith, who led from stage one and never relinquished his grip, crossing the line in a cumulative time of 46 hours and 59 minutes. The women’s race told the opposite story: Isobel Turner worked her way up through the field as the week wore on, taking victory in 67 hours and 46 minutes in a masterclass of patience and mountain craft.
This year’s race was the first under Ultra X, which acquired the Dragon’s Back Race® and the Northern Traverse in April 2026 after previous organiser Ourea Events entered administration. With the future of the race secured, the 2026 edition also introduced new ways to experience the legendary route: the two-day Dragon’s Fire in the north, the Dragon’s Tail finishing in Cardiff, and the established Hatchling course – bringing more runners than ever to the mountainous spine of Wales.
Sam Heward, Co-Founder of Ultra X, said: “When Ourea Events entered administration in the spring, there was a real chance this race would never happen. Watching the new Dragons walk down the finish straight beneath Cardiff Castle on Saturday, having crossed a country on foot, was the proudest moment of our year. The mountains of Wales delivered everything this race is famous for, and the runners answered. Huge credit to our team, our volunteers, and every single person who toed the line in Conwy. The Dragon’s Back Race is in safe hands, and it is here to stay.”
2027 entries open on 27 September at www.dragonsbackrace.com, with the race taking place between 6th and 11th September 2027. More than 800 runners have already registered interest – well beyond the event’s capacity – and places across the full six-day race are expected to sell out quickly.
