Dave Phillips and Hannah Rickman conquer Storm Kathleen to win the 2024 SILVA Northern Traverse

The winners are in!

Dave Phillips has made it to Robin Hood’s Bay in an incredible time of 47 hours 32 minutes, while Hannah Rickman has run an astonishing time of 52 hours 42 minutes. After starting over on the East Coast at St Bees on Saturday morning, they have had a long journey of nearly 300km to get here.

Conditions this year have been tough, with Storm Kathleen making it hard for runners to stay upright in some of the higher level sections, and saturated bogs making the terrain underfoot particularly slow. However, Phillips and Rickman have stayed resolute throughout to take the win, while many of the field dropped out around them.

Hannah and Dave receive their SILVA prizes ©No Limits Photography

Dave Phillips achieved his impressive goal of under 48 hours

As Dave Phillips made his way over the final few miles of the North York Moors he was greeted by a glorious sunrise, ushering in his arrival into Robin Hood’s Bay just after 8 this morning.

He looked incredibly strong as he ran into the finish – certainly not like someone who had just run for nearly 2 days straight.

Dave had a strong run into the finish ©No Limits Photography

He said, “I’m happy – I wanted to do it in under 48 hours.” 

He faced extremely testing conditions, but he took it in his stride. “That wind was relentless, but it was more tailwind than headwind. It was more the conditions underfoot that made it slow. The bogs were super boggy! Even coming across this last bit was so wet.”

We asked him what the toughest moments were: “Coming over that Coast path now was the toughest because I thought I wasn’t going to make it in time in 48 hours I suppose because it was so boggy. Last night was terrible without any sleep. I was a bit all over the place until the sun came up.”

One of the real challenges of a challenge of this length is managing sleep, especially for those at the sharp end of the field who will be reluctant to waste too much time along the route. Sleep for too long and you could lose precious places – not enough, and it could end your race.

“I had no hallucinations – I was just really confused about how long things were taking. I thought I was going round in circles most of last night.”

“I only had 10 minute sleeps along the trail. It took me 7 hours to do 32k! I might have been better off just sleeping 3 hours – I’d have been quicker. I’ve never tried properly sleeping in a race – I’ve only ever had 10 minute sleeps. There’s that moment on the trail where you know you’re going to sleep. I’ve never tried sleeping in an aid station. You’re better off just lying in the mud!” 

He certainly had a positive outlook on his incredible journey though  – “It was an adventure!” 

Event Director Shane Ohly greets Dave into the finish ©No Limits Photography

Upon arriving at the Bay, after being greeted by Event Director, Shane Ohly, he went down to the sea to throw in a pebble he’d carried all the way across from St Bees in true Wainwright Coast to Coast tradition.

He was met at the finish by friend and fellow ultra-runner Mark Darbyshire. Mark was in the lead earlier on in the race, before sadly pulling out at Richmond after an incredibly tough night.

He said, “I’d gone off to quick for those conditions!” However, he has promised to be back in future.

Dave was met at the finish by Mark Darbyshire ©No Limits Photography

Hannah Rickman was first woman and second overall  

Second into the finish and first woman was Hannah Rickman. Hannah has an incredible run, and has not only completely dominated the women’s field, but also worked her way up the overall field to come in second in a time of 52 hours and 42 minutes.

She seemed in excellent spirits at the finish, and despite having nearly 300km in her legs, was powering back up the hill to the Event Centre. She had also taken a small pebble across the country with her, which she threw into the sea.

Hannah Rickman has had an incredible run ©No Limits Photography

She said, “The last bit was so muddy! I was really ready to be done! A lot of the last bit was uncontrolled falling.”

“I’m not aching in unusual ways, just the expected ways. My entire body aches but that’s to be expected.”

Hannah only managed to get a little bit of sleep. She said, “I had some really sloppy side of the trail snoozy bits, and a little bit at Richmond.” 

We asked what kept her going through the tough moments. She said, “I just really wanted to be done. That was the prevailing emotion – I didn’t want to go into another night.” 

“Both the nights were pretty rough. The weather the first night was rubbish – painful and so slow going. The second night I was a sleepy mess. I did a lot of curling up in a ball on the side of the trail and the moors were cold. I didn’t do the sleep quite right. The nights were a bit rubbish, but the days were good. I’ve had quite a lot of caffeine! Every time I did try and sleep I got the muscles spasms coming in.”

Hannah was met at the finish by her friend and Lakes Traverse winner Samantha Lissauer ©No Limits Photography

However, she also had some event highlights. She said, “All the people and the volunteers was amazing! The Vale of York bit, the flat bit in the middle, was the bit I was dreading the most, but then actually the sun came out, there was a rainbow so it was delightful. Especially as I was really dreading it.”

Hannah brings a lot of experience to the race, having cut her teeth on the Winter Spine Race, but it certainly wasn’t easy. She said, “It was probably the worst conditions I’ve ever been out in overnight.”

She was met at the finish by her friend Samantha Lissauer, who herself was first woman in the SILVA Lakes Traverse just this Saturday just gone.

Although Hannah’s time is quicker than Lisa Watson’s 2022 course record, as she was diverted on the lower level route on Day 1 rather than going over Kidsty Pike, it isn’t quite the same record. However, there is no denying that Hannah has had a phenomenal run.

Third into the finish and second man was Scottish runner, David Parrish who has had an incredible run. There is now expected to be quite a long gap before the next runner comes into the finish. In a race this long, the field get incredibly spread out.

A beautiful end to a tough race ©No Limits Photography

Most of the runners are still out in the wild North York Moors

While the first finisher is in, there are still many more people out there, who will be arriving well into Wednesday night.

While there is no denying that Phillips’ and Rickman’s achievement is phenomenal, what these mid and back of pack runners need to face is arguably even more challenging, as they must run through a third and sometimes even a fourth night.

We look forward to catching up with some of these intrepid runners on the blog tomorrow, so keep following along with their journey!

SAVE THE DATE – ENTRIES OPEN ON 12TH APRIL

Feeling inspired? Don’t forget to sign up as soon as entries open on Friday 12th April for your own adventure.

Will this be you next year? ©No Limits Photography