Women Achieve Historic Podium Sweep at UK Ultra-Marathon

In an unprecedented achievement for UK endurance racing, three women secured the top positions at the Rasselbock Backyard Ultra held at the Hardwick Estate in Derbyshire. This marks the first time an all-female podium has been recorded in the history of the event in the United Kingdom.

The challenging ultra-marathon requires competitors to complete a 4.16-mile loop every hour, on the hour, until only one runner remains. The event saw 141 participants, with women making up 21% of the field and men 79%.

Becky Atkinson, from west Wales, emerged victorious, completing 40 consecutive hours of running and covering a total distance of 166.4 miles. This was Atkinson's debut in the Rasselbock Backyard Ultra. Hayley Wilson, from Worksop in Nottinghamshire, and Hollie Jones, from Easby in Yorkshire, claimed second and third place, respectively.

"Given our history and connection with Bess of Hardwick, it feels fitting that female runners made their mark on the event here," said Matt Dillon from Hardwick Hall, referencing the estate's former inhabitant, a prominent businesswoman of the Tudor era.

Race organizers noted that an all-female winning lineup in this specific type of ultra-marathon is exceptionally rare, having occurred only once before globally in Iceland. "Becky's 40-hour debut, and a female top three, was an exciting result for the event," stated Eric Keeler, an event organizer.

The Hardwick event presented unique challenges, including narrow trails and farm gates, with runners navigating through farmland inhabited by sheep and cattle. Over 700 Rasselbock Backyard Ultra events are held annually worldwide, with 55 taking place in the UK.

The performance of the female athletes aligns with research suggesting that the performance gap between men and women in running diminishes significantly as distances increase. Studies indicate that in ultra-marathons, physiological factors such as fat metabolism efficiency, oxygen-efficient muscle fibers, and greater fatigue resistance in women may contribute to their competitive performance over extended durations.