One of the toughest and most unconventional ultramarathons in the UK, saw Sarah Perry claiming a remarkable outright victory after becoming the only finisher at The Hill, a brutal winter challenge on The Wrekin in Shropshire.

The event, held from 5 to 7 December, returned for the first time in five years and saw 24 runners attempt to complete 56 relentless laps up and down the rocky trail within a strict 48-hour time limit. The full distance totalled 160 miles with an eye-watering 47,000 feet of ascent, more than one and a half times the height of Mount Everest.

Perry, from Cumbria, was the sole runner to finish the challenge, stopping the clock at 47 hours and one minute. By the end of the race she was the only athlete left on the hill, with the remaining competitors having withdrawn as the physical and mental demands took their toll.

The win came just six weeks after Perry set a new women’s world record at the Backyard Ultra World Championships, where she completed 95 laps and covered 395 miles, this latest success further underlines her status as one of the leading ultra runners in the world. Speaking after the race, Perry said she knew that allowing only six weeks to recover and rebuild after her world record run was a big challenge, but the chance to take part in The Hill was too good to miss.

Conditions on The Wrekin were cold and wet throughout the weekend, with runners setting off strongly on Friday night before attrition steadily reduced the field. Several athletes retired during the first night, with more dropping out over Saturday and Sunday. Perry described the final third of the race as particularly hard, explaining that the biggest challenge was managing the relentless time pressure. She chose to skip breaks and push on despite wet socks and sleep deprivation, prioritising forward progress over comfort.

With a world record and a solo finish in one of the UK’s most extreme races in the space of just a few weeks, Sarah's winter campaign is off to a great start!

If you'd like to know more, visit The Hill website.

Image: Cockbain Events Facebook