A VET from Skipton will be putting a year of training to the test when she tackles a brutal 108-mile race along the backbone of England next week.

Abby Robertson, who works for Aireworth Vets in Keighley, is embarking on the Spine MRT Challenge – a notoriously difficult non-stop race along the Pennine Way between Edale in the Peak District to Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales.

A volunteer with the Grassington based Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association, she will be joined by fellow rescuers, Ruth Smith and Clare Canty for the race which starts on Saturday, January 14, and must be completed in 60 hours. The race takes in remote and rugged terrain when daylight hours are limited, and contenders must be prepared for extreme weather conditions.

The Spine MRT Challenge is a spin-off from the Spine Race which spans the entire 268-mile Pennine Way. It is only open to members of mountain rescue teams in England and Wales who receive discounted entry so they can raise funds.

Thanks to the four-day rota offered at Aireworth Vets, Abby manages to fit up to 20 hours of training a week around her role as a vet, family life, volunteer work and hobbies, such as potholing.

Abby, Ruth and Clare, who have been running, cycling and swimming to be race fit, will each have to carry their own pack of essentials, from a sleeping bag to a stove and supplies.

Abby said she was spurred on to sign up after seeing the low numbers of female competitors in 2022. She hopes their involvement will help to encourage more women to take part in challenging outdoor activities and join their local mountain rescue teams.

“I am very much up for a challenge. I love being in the outdoors and this is on our doorstep – the route passes through the moors just by Aireworth Vets and where I live.

“There’s a lot of training involved. I have a very supportive partner and am very lucky at Aireworth Vets where we have a very good work rota. I work a four-day week and one in eight weekends. We would struggle in this area to find a better work-life balance. I couldn’t have done the training otherwise.

“I get up early and train, and I run home from work occasionally as well. I have also boosted what I am eating and am trying to eat healthily.

“We entered last February, so we have been preparing for the whole of 2022. I am excited to just get it done. I am really hoping at least one of us will cross the finish line. That would be a win.

“I am expecting my pack to weigh between eight and ten kilograms. I am approaching this as an expedition, although it is a race. I twisted my ankle a month ago, so my estimated finish time is slower now; I would be very happy to do it in 45 hours.

“It is very exciting, but I am a bit apprehensive. The weather is a massive factor. You can get 50 to 60mph wind, constant wind, rain, sleet, or snow at this time of the year.”

The friends are using the race to raise funds for mental health charity Mind, a cause close to their hearts, as well as the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association. They have so far raised more than £1,700. To sponsor the trio,

https://www.justgiving.com/team/UWFRAMRTChallenge