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The object of this website is to provide a single, ready source of information on the ultra-distance challenges which have been developed over the past three or more decades. It now offers a diverse range of long and "short", old and recent, formal and informal routes from around the UK to encourage runners of all ages and abilities to have a go.
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FRA LONG DISTANCE RECORDS and NEWS
Please send details and a schedule of any record-breaking runs and the like to Martin Stone who maintains records on behalf of the Fell Runners Association. Email: martin.stone@sportident.co.uk
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The 24 hour Munro Record
The object is to climb as many Munros as possible within 24 hours by starting and finishing at the same point. Solo or unsupported attempts are permitted. As you would expect the record attempts have been based in the two areas which offer the maximum concentration of Munros - Lochaber and Glen Shiel. Unfortunately although mountains may not move Munros sometimes do and this has muddied the 24 hour record waters somewhat! When a new edition of Munro Tables was published by the Scottish Mountaineering Club in 1997 the revisions affected all prior rounds. As fate would have it Sgorr an lubhair on the Mamores was demoted from Munro status thereby reducing all Lochaber rounds by one whereas Sgurr Na Carnach, one of the Five Sisters in Glen Shiel, was promoted so boosting the Munro tally of Broxap and Donnelly without them even having to step out the door! The table below gives a brief summary of the successful record attempts. Following the 1997 revisions Jon Broxap remained the record holder for some 29 years until Jim Mann broke the record by switching to 30 Munros in the Cairngorms at the suggestion of Phil Clark.
A Summary of Records and Attempts
Notes on the table
- The Tranter, Ramsay and Broxap Rounds are already documented elsewhere on this site - see links below.
- Martin Stone added Sgor Gaibre and Carn Dearg, south of Loch Ossian, to the basic Ramsay Round in a notable solo self-sufficient run .
- In 1977, prior to Jon Broxap, Blyth Wright completed a walk over 17 Munros in the Glen Shiel hills in 23 hours taking in the well-known South Claunie an Five Sisters ridges.
- Adrian Belton, starting from Fersit Dam, attempted 29 (pre 1997) Munros with the option of 30 if things went well. Unfortunately luck was against him. When well on course for a new record summer turned to winter and near white-out conditions forced him to modify his route. He added Sgor Gaibre, Carn Dearg, Aonach Beag, Beinn Eibhinn and Gael Charn to Ramsey's 24 but omitted Beinn na Lap to give him a tally of 28 equalling Jon Broxap's although in a slower time. The 28 was later reduced to 27 with the publication of the 1997 edition of Munro Tables.
- Colin Donnelly's attempt was solo but supported. He decided in advance to leave out Ben Attow and A Ghlas-bheinn from Broxap's round making a (pre 1997) tally of 26 Munros. This was soon upgraded to 27 to equal Belton's (post 1997) 27.
- In 2008 Stephen Pyke aimed to extend Broxap's Round to 31 Munros by adding Tom a'Choinich and Toll Creagh. He was thwarted by bad weather and had to abandon his attempt after some 16 hours with a tally of 21 Munros.
Links and Further Information
■ 30 years ago - The Story of Ramsay's Round, Jon Broxap (The Fellrunner, Autumn 2008) - a good roundup of all the 24 hour record attempts as well as the basic Ramsay Round itself.
■ The Munro Phenomenon, Andrew Dempster (Mainstream Publishing, 1995) - includes a survey of 24 hour record attempts up to 1995.
■ Beinn Fhionnlaidh's Case, Jon Broxap (The Fell Runner, September 1988) - An account of his record breaking run plus a report by his pacers
■ New Munro Record, Adrian Belton (The Fellrunner, October 1991) - an account of his 28/27 Munro record.
■ Spyke's 31 Munro Attempt - Chris Upson's Blog
■ Tranters Round - the gofar web page which includes an outline map and schedule
■ Charlie Ramsay Round - the gofar web page which includes an outline map and schedule
■ Broxap Round - the gofar web page which includes an outline map and schedule.
■ Munro Map - obtain an overview of both the Lochaber and Glen Shiel Munros by selecting a Munro from those areas.
■ Munro's 24 hour record attempt July 2017 Jim Mann (the Fellrunner, Summer 2017) - An account of Jim's record-breaking round of 30 Cairngorm Munros.
|
year |
runner |
area |
munros |
post 1997 |
time |
miles |
ascent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1964 |
Philip Tranter |
Lochaber |
19 |
18 |
23-00 |
40 |
20600' |
|
1978 |
Charlie Ramsey |
Lochaber |
24 |
23 |
23-58 |
60 |
28000' |
|
1987 |
Martin Stone |
Lochaber |
26 |
25 |
23-24 |
70 |
31000' |
|
1988 |
Jon Broxap |
Glen Shiel-Affric |
28 |
29 |
23-20 |
78 |
35000' |
|
1991 |
Adrian Belton |
Lochaber |
28 |
27 |
23-57 |
75 |
34000' |
|
1997 |
Colin Donnelly |
Glen Shiel-Affric |
26 |
27 |
22-44 |
? |
? |
|
2017 |
Jim Mann |
Cairngorms |
30 |
30 |
22-05 |
87 |
25000' |