Simon Roberts and Katie Mills win Montane Dragon’s Back Race® 2021

Welsh runner Simon Roberts and Canada-based Brit Katie Mills raced to victory in the Montane Dragon’s Back Race® 2021.

Simon, 33, from South Wales, finished the six-day race from Conwy Castle to Cardiff Castle in 45:42:11. He ran to the finish line in the beautiful castle grounds with runner up Russell Bentley. 

Emotional after seeing his parents, Simon, who is the first Welsh athlete to win the race, said: “I am elated. I said at the start I would win. I had trained enough and I was confident I could win. I have done what I set out to do. But I still can't find the words to explain how I feel.”

Simon Roberts and Katie Mills triumph. © No Limits Photography

Welsh runner Simon is thrilled to have won. © No Limits Photography

Katie, right, and female runner up Elaine finished today at Cardiff Castle at the same time. © No Limits Photography

Katie Mills: I am so proud to have finished

Female champion Katie, 31, who lives in Vancouver, placed an impressive seventh overall in a time of 61:12:54. In tears as she hugged her mum, dad and sisters, she said: “It feels really, really good to get here and to not run anymore. I am just so proud to have finished it. That means more than anything. 

“I have had injuries for the last few years so to get to the finish line in one piece is amazing. I didn’t know if I could do it after day three but it feels amazing to have got here.”

She added: “There are not too many girls who have got here and to have performed how I wanted to, it feels even more amazing. All the guys did amazing and all the girls did amazing.”

Russell is overwhelmed as he finishes the Montane Dragon’s Back Race® 2021. © No Limits Photography

Emotional finish for runner-up Russell Bentley

Russell Bentley, 40, from North Wales, was runner up in the 380km race with a total elevation of 17,400m. He finished in 47:08:55, an hour and 26 minutes behind Simon.

He said: "I feel ecstatic. I am over the moon."

He was asked about seeing his wife and two young children. Russell, in tears, said: "When it gets tough it is your kids you think about. You get dark times in an event like this. It tests you like you have never been tested before. It is thoughts of the kids that get you through."

He added: "It is a brilliant race with brilliant mountains and brilliant organisation. It was tough though.”

Simon, who finished 23rd in the five-day Dragon’s Back Race in 2019, revealed his respect for Russell. Over the race, there have been times when Russell and Simon raced hard side by side, or decided to spend some time together.

Simon said: “I have so much respect for Russell as an athlete. He has tested me, especially on the road sections. He is awesome and a top bloke."

Russell was equally impressed with Simon. He said: “Racing against Simon has been great. He is a very aggressive competitor. I was trying my best every day to shake him. I didn’t have one easy day. 

"I have got to hand it to him – the better guy won. I really gave it everything and there was nothing more I could do. He had more than me. He is rising star and a nice guy.”

Matt O’Keefe enjoyed the journey. © No Limits Photography

Matt O’Keefe takes third place

In third place was another Welsh runner Matt O’Keefe, 38, in 52:08:13. He said: “I am so happy. I absolutely enjoyed it. I loved the journey. I am so pleased for Simon, who is my friend and who I train with.”

Elaine Bisson is second female in the Montane Dragon’s back Race 2021. © No Limits Photography

A delighted Cat Slater was third female. © No Limits Photography

The female race: A great top 3

The top three places in the women’s race were secured early in the race. While Katie led a strong race and pulled further ahead each day, the second and third placed ladies are also impressive athletes.

Female runner up was English athlete Elaine Bisson, 43, in 66:53:28, while Cat Slater, 35, also from England, finished third female in 69:49:14.

Elaine said: “It is the hardest thing I have ever done. I expected it to be tough and it was. It was a great adventure. It was magic.”

Cat said: “It has been been an amazing week. I am glad it is all over. It has been an emotional rollercoaster.”

Simon with family and friends. © No Limits Photography

‘We are so proud of them’

Friends and family had gathered at the finish line in the Montane Dragon’s Back Race event village at Cardiff Castle. Among them were Simon’s mum and dad, Sue and Mark.

In tears, Sue said: “I am just so proud of him. He is really focused. He said in 2019 when he last did the race that it was going to be his race. He has been focused, determined and passionate. He deserves the win."

Mark, who was also in tears, said: “It is one of the best days of my life to see Simon achieve this. I am immensely proud.”

Russell’s wife Nina and their children five-year-old Emmalayla and Jim, seven, were there, too. The children ran to greet their dad as he crossed the finish line.

Nina said: “I couldn’t be more proud. I am in awe of my husband. It has taken my breath away.  It has been an exciting experience to watch it on-line. I have done a lot of crying this week because it has been so emotional.

“The race is such a beautiful and symbolic thing to do. It is also such an incredible human effort. I am in awe of all the participants.” 

Katie’s mum Celia had travelled from Ireland to Cardiff this morning with one of Katie’s sisters, Sarah. Katie’s dad and another sister, Charlotte were also there in support.

Celia said: “Katie had been understated about the race but then we suddenly realised what it was. We are amazed and proud. She has given so much happiness to the family as everyone has been following the race on-line. We are so excited for her.”

Many emotions at the finish line today. © No Limits Photography

Final day: Montane Dragon’s Back Race 2021

This year saw the inaugural staging of the six-day Montane Dragon’s Back Race 2021. The extra day took the runners from Talybont-on-Usk, Brecon, to Cardiff Castle. It is the sixth edition of the race, which is acclaimed as the world’s toughest mountain race.

Of an original 367 runners, only 91 were still competitive today. They will each be presented with a coveted Dragon Trophy for a full completion.

The participants had run an average daily distance of 63km and 2900m of ascent. The accumulative ascent is almost twice the height of Mount Everest.  

Weather conditions ranged from extreme heat and sunshine in the first few days, to wet and windy for the next two days. The final day provided almost perfect running conditions, with sunshine and a breeze.

Another 68 runners, who had continued the journey after being retired due to missing a checkpoint or cut-off time, also finished at the castle today.

Shane Ohly, race founder and director, said: “It is such a journey of nine years and six editions of the race. We have come from the first event in 2012, where we delivered a race from one van with a small team of volunteers, to the monster that it has become with 60 vehicles and 160 staff, as well as the fantastic finish at Cardiff Castle.

“It is incredible. I am proud today of where we are today and I know the competitors will be be blown away with this setting. This is now an international event with the perfect international venue to finish.”