Jack Scott on his way to victory in this year's Montane Spine Race. Photo: Bob Smith Photography

Jack Scott has won the Montane Winter Spine Race, and smashed the existing record by more than 10 hours.

The athlete arrived at the Kirk Yetholm finish comfortably ahead of last year’s winner Damian Hall, who is still currently out on the Cheviot hills.

Hall led the race, along with Kim Collison, in its early stages, with the latter dropping out on the second day of the event.

Scott’s finishing time of 3 days 55mins 5secs beat the record set by Jasmin Paris five years ago. Konrad Rawlik was, at the time of writing, in third place, approaching Byrness.

French athlete Claire Bannwarth, who was fastest woman in the 2023 race, is still in the lead in the female event, and in fifth overall place. Lucy Gossage is second-placed woman, with Hannah Rickman third.

Another course record fell with Joe O’Leary clipping more than 16 hours off the previous fastest time in the Montane Winter Spine Challenger North, run between Hardraw in the Yorkshire Dales and Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders. Tom Hollins, a previous Spine Race winner, is in second place. Fastest woman Nikki Arthur is currently placed third as she negotiates the frozen Cheviot Hills.

Progress of runners still on the course can be followed on the Open Tracking website.