A woman wearing shorts, tshirt, race pack and carrying poles traverses rocky slabs.
Credit: Spine Race

After 268 miles of hard graft on the iconic Pennine Way, Ed Payne and Jenny Hartley are this year’s winners of the 2026 Summer Spine Race.

After a DNF at last year’s race, Ed Payne (Ireland) was back this year stronger than ever, finishing in an impressive time of 82:28:07. Ed Payne dominated the men’s race, steadily extending his lead. He crossed the finish line on Wednesday evening over 9 hours ahead of second place.

Jenny Hartley, a GP from Shropshire, has proven a force to be reckoned with and looked strong as she came into the finish on Thursday afternoon, in a time of 104:55:46. After taking the lead, Jenny put in a commanding performance with an incredible display of strength, determination and athleticism. Jenny signed up for the Spine after another event was cancelled and having never completed more than 100 miles.

The winners

FULL SPINE

Female Podium

1. Jenny Hartley – Greater Manchester
2. Danielle Macgill – Scotland/ Northumberland
3. Claire Gribb – N. Yorkshire

Male Podium

1. Ed Payne – Ireland
2. Samuel Adams – USA
3. James Green – London

SPRINT SOUTH PODIUM

Female Podium

1. Tasha Brook (montane athlete) – Lake District
2. Sarah Carnwath – UK
3. Eli Blair – UK

Male Podium

1. Jonathan Breeze – London
2. Samuel Hill – Derbyshire
3. Matias Morgan – Northampton

CHALLENGER SOUTH PODIUM

Female Podium

1. Jodie Kantas – Hampshire
2. Ceri Stewart – Wales
3. Rachel Macpherson – Scotland

Male Podium

1. Chris Cope – New Course Record – Nottingham
2. François Maillot – France
3. James Spencer – Yorkshire

MRT CHALLENGE SOUTH

Female: Hannah Lowe – Wigan

Male: Matthew Kilner – W. Yorkshire

SPRINT NORTH

Female Podium

1. Victoria Thompson – New Course Record – Montane athlete – Kendal
2. Louise Goddard – Lancaster
3. Emma Law – Lancashire

Male Podium

1.Tim Brook – New Course Record – Nottingham
2. David Williamson (works for Montane) – Portsmouth
3. Rich Rothwell – UK

CHALLENGER NORTH

Female Podium

1. Laura Nobles – New Course Record (wife of James Nobles Montane Athlete) – Cumbria
2. Emma Coleman – Derbyshire
3. Eleanor Walker – Leeds

Male Podium

1. Chris Andrade – Peak District
2. Chris Taylor – Peak District
3. Chris Hayes – Jersey

MRT CHALLENGE NORTH

Female: Jessica Acheson – Scotland

Male: Matthew Bazire and Jonny Hume (both Keswick)

COURSE RECORDS BROKEN

The Women’s Challenger North, Women’s Sprint North and Men’s Sprint North records were all broken.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR