The 2025 Dragon’s Back Race has been hailed as the event’s most dramatic edition yet, defined by brutal weather, breathtaking landscapes and record-breaking performances.

The six-day ultra-running challenge, billed as the world’s toughest mountain race, takes competitors across the mountains of Wales, including Bannau Brycheiniog.

David Parrish dominated this year’s race to take overall victory in a winning time of 48 hours 40 minutes. He was followed by 23-year-old Ed Brewer, who claimed third place overall and second man in 52 hours 25 minutes – an outstanding performance for one of the youngest athletes in the field. Local Welsh runner Ieuan Belshaw was the third man home (fourth overall), finishing in 57 hours 53 minutes.

Reflecting at the finish line, Parrish said: “It's an honour and a privilege, quite a relief as well that it's over. I'm sure in a few days I will say I enjoyed it, but right now I can safely say that today was very much an ordeal on the body, I'm delighted that I got through that without any serious injury.”

But the headlines belonged to the women’s race, where history was made. Holly Wootten (ALTRA & VOOM) smashed the women’s course record by an extraordinary three hours, finishing in 50 hours 46 minutes to place second overall. The previous record, set by Lisa Watson in 2022, stood at 53 hours 46 minutes.

Wootten now joins an elite group of women who have achieved overall podium finishes in the event, following Jasmin Paris (2nd overall in 2015) and Helene Whitaker, who won the inaugural race in 1992 as part of a pair.

“I’ve gone into deeper darker holes than I have before, and I think bouncing back from when I thought things were slipping away, I am stronger than I thought,” Wootten said at the finish.

She crossed the line more than 10 hours ahead of second-placed woman Jodie Gauld (Ellis Brigham & VOOM), who finished in 61 hours 2 minutes. Leanne van Dijk delivered a strong performance to secure third in the women’s race.