Team Bermuda will compete in the 2024 edition of the Backyard World Team Championship, set to take place on Saturday, October 19.
A spokesperson said, “After the successful staging of Backyard Ultra running events in 2022 and 2023, sponsored by Monument Re, Team Bermuda is set to take part in the Backyard World Team Championship on Saturday 19th October.
“The top 15 competitors from those two events have qualified to compete for Bermuda against runners from 64 other countries, all of whom are competing in their home countries, all starting at 7am Central Time [9am Bermuda time] on Saturday 19th October. Bermuda’s course will be the same as the 2023 event, taking place at Southside, St Davids with a start/finish corral near Sunjammers.
“The World Team Championship follows the usual Backyard format where runners complete a 4.167 mile [6,706 meters] loop every hour on the hour. All runners start together each hour on the hour and continue until they fail to complete a Yard in the allotted hour or voluntarily withdraw.
“Teams will be ranked based on the total number of aggregate yards completed by all team members. The distance and duration of the event is therefore limited only by the runners themselves, with the event continuing day[s] and night[s] until there is only one person left.
“In addition to the team competition, for the Bermuda team members, the last person standing and completing a loop after all other runners have withdrawn will be the 2024 Bermuda National Backyard Champion. If they complete at least 24 loops they will also qualify for next year’s Backyard Individual World Championships.
“The Bermuda team, sponsored by Monument Re, is led by the 2022 and 2023 Bermuda Backyard Champions Fabri Alvera and Jason Williams, who have both previously run beyond 24 loops or 100 miles. They are joined by some very promising local ultra runners, including Louise Wells who just competed in the Ironman World Championship triathlon.
“The full team, including alternates, is Fabri Alvera, Jason Williams, Richard Howells, Jonathan Chapman, Louise Wells, Florin Teleman, Philip Woollins, Michael Evans, Toby Derham, Edward Ferrari-Willis, Martina Olcheski-Bell, Mark Harris, Alex Brogden, Sarah Ryan, Paula Barrow, Ben Train, Hanah Cannon, Michael Caldwell, and Craig Rothwell.
“The current Backyard World Team Champions are the USA, whose team completed 860 loops, while the current individual Backyard world record is held by Harvey Lewis of the USA, who completed 108 loops or 450 miles, running for nearly four and a half straight days.”
Team Manager Anne Kermode said, “Our athletes are excited to be representing Bermuda in our first opportunity to compete against some of ultra running’s legends, and I am sure they will give their best and do Bermuda proud.”
Race Coordinator Andy McComb said, “Thanks to the support of Monument Re, Bermuda will be competing along with Backyard powerhouses USA, Belgium, and the UK. While we are not expecting to upset those countries in our first attempt, we believe Bermuda has a great opportunity to punch above its weight against some countries much larger and more experienced in the backyard race format and be competitive in the small country category.”
The spokesperson said, “Race organisers are looking for Bermuda to come out and support the team as well as volunteer to assist with race marshalling. Those willing to volunteer can sign up here.
“For more information, visit the website or email bdabackyardultra@gmail.com.”
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