Who to watch at the 2022 SILVA Northern Traverse and SILVA Lakes Traverse

Competition is set to be fierce for the 2022 editions of the SILVA Northern Traverse and SILVA Lakes Traverse beginning this Saturday 2nd April. The field at the SILVA Northern Traverse is heavily stacked with top ultra-runners, with past winners of both the men’s and women’s events returning to defend their titles. It’s shaping up to be a very exciting event!

Established in 2016, the SILVA Northern Traverse is a 300km footrace that traverses the width of the entire country from St Bees on the west coast of England to the picturesque fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay on the east coast. The route follows the iconic coast to coast route devised by Alfred Wainwright, which takes in the beautiful and contrasting landscapes of the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors. Attracting around 10,000 walkers every year, it is now arguably the most popular long-distance walking route in England.

The SILVA Lakes Traverse is a 100km footrace that crosses the beautiful fells of the Lake District National Park and ends in Shap. It follows the same route as the Northern Traverse from St Bees, and uses the same race infrastructure, logistics and staffing.

There are 158 entered into the 2022 SILVA Northern Traverse, including some of the best ultra-runners around. The women’s race will see 2018 Northern Traverse winner, Karen Nash, up against Lisa Watson (2019 Dragon’s Back Race®winner), Elaine Bisson (second place in the 2021 Montane Dragon’s Back Race® and 2022 Montane Spine Race), Ita Emanuela Marzotto (2016 Cape Wrath Ultra® winner) and Anna Troup (holder of the women’s fastest known time for running the Pennine Way).

Lisa Watson at the 2019 Dragon's Back Race® ©No Limits Photography

Competition is set to be equally strong in the men’s field. Eoin Keith (2016 and 2018 Northern Traverse winner and 2022 Montane Spine Race winner) will be joined on the start line by Kim Collinson (Paddy Buckley Round and winter Bob Graham Round record holder), Pavel Paloncý (three-time Montane Spine Race winner) and Robert Barnes (2018 Cape Wrath Ultra® winner and third placed at the 2019 Dragon's Back Race). You can check out the full entry list for the 2022 SILVA Northern Traverse here.

Rob Barnes at the 2019 Dragon's Back Race® ©No Limits Photography

The SILVA Lakes Traverse has a field of 247 runners and will start on St Bees foreshore at 9:30am on Saturday 2nd April. The SILVA Northern Traverse will follow just an hour later. Participants in the SILVA Lakes Traverse have until 2:00pm on 3rd April to reach Shap to complete the event. Competitors in the SILVA Northern Traverse must reach Robin Hood’s Bay on the east coast by 1:30am on 7th April to complete their race. You can track the runners live here for the Northern Traverse and here for the Lakes Traverse. With so many experienced and accomplished runners, it looks like it will be an exciting and eventful race!

If either of these races have got you excited for a challenge, entries are now open for the 2023 editions of the events.