The organisers behind some of the UK’s most iconic ultrarunning events have released a statement to announce that they have ceased trading, raising questions about the future of races including the Dragon’s Back Race and the Cape Wrath Ultra.
Ourea Events, the company founded by Shane Ohly, confirmed that it has stopped operating and is now working with professional advisers on the next steps for the business. The move means that events scheduled for 2026 will not go ahead under the current company structure. The next event, the Northern Traverse, had been scheduled for the 28th of March.
Alongside the Dragon’s Back Race and Cape Wrath Ultra, other affected races include the Northern Traverse and its associated events, the Lakes Traverse, Dales Traverse and Moors Traverse, as well as the Skyline Scotland.
In a statement, Ohly described the decision as “a deeply painful moment” for the business, acknowledging the impact on runners, staff, volunteers and partners who have supported the events over the past 15 years.
Participants who have already paid entry fees for upcoming races are expected to be contacted in due course.
According to the statement, the company had been profitable prior to the pandemic but faced a difficult financial recovery in the years that followed. Events were unable to run for around 18 months during COVID restrictions, removing the company’s main source of income while leaving it with significant debts. Further pressures followed in the years after. International participation dropped sharply after Brexit, particularly among European runners who had previously made up a large proportion of entries at some events. Rising costs during the cost of living crisis also placed strain on budgets that had been set well in advance.
Despite efforts to stabilise the business, recent entry trends for 2026 suggested that the financial situation would continue to deteriorate.
While the announcement marks a major moment for the UK ultrarunning scene, the long term future of the events themselves may not yet be decided. Ourea said it hopes the races could continue under a different structure or ownership.
Events such as the Dragon’s Back Race have built an international reputation over the past decade, attracting competitors from around the world to take on multi day challenges across some of the UK’s most dramatic mountain landscapes. Notable winners have included former Wainwrights round record holder Steve Birkinshaw and Jasmin Paris who made headlines around the world after becoming the first female finisher of the Barkley Marathons.
Main photo: No Limits Photography
