Cooper second in ultra race (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Mick Cooper second in ultra race

6:10pm Tuesday 29th January 2013 in Sport By Bill Marshall, T&A Sports Reporter

Ultra runner Mick Cooper from Bradford has finished second in what has been called “Britain’s most brutal race”.

He completed the 268 miles of the Pennine Way from Edale to Kirk Yetholm in five days, seven hours and 11 minutes, with Eugeni Rosello Sole clocking five days, four hours and 52 minutes to win the Dare2b The Spine Race.

Only three other athletes finished the winter multi-day mountain marathon – Gregory Crowley (5:12:13) and 2011 inaugural winner Gary Morrison and Richard Lendon (both 6:09:28).

There were five checkpoints – Hebden Bridge, Hawes, Middleton in Teesdale, Alston and Bellingham – and competitors were wrapped in nine layers of clothing to combat temperatures that were as low as minus seven.

There was also the added complications of high winds and either low visibility or darkness.

A concurrent smaller race – the Dare2b Spine Challenger, covering a mere 105 miles – was won by Phillippe Gatta ahead of Mark Caldwell, with Gary Warmington and Stephen Thompson in equal third.