The Road to Big’s

World Team Championship – October 19, 2024

Team Members Sign Up Here – Password in Email

Below is the Current UK team selection list for the 2024 National Satellite World Championships.

At-Large qualifying period (Starts August 16, 2022 and ends August 15, 2024)

Winners of Silver races in 2024 get automatic entry to the team regardless of number of yards, all other places are based on “At Large” or best performances during the qualifying period of the previous 2 year cycle.

I do not select any team members and you select yourself based on your previous recent performances.

You will need to select the UK from the drop down menu if you use the link, we will update the Screenshot as the Lists update.

Roster* – Big Backyard Ultra World Team Championship 2024

Last updated 09/06/2024

Confirmed Team List#

As we invite and confirm the availability of those selected on the above list we will update the table below so you can see who is confirmed on the team, we will also then update the bio and team list info further down this page.

If someone is unavailable we will mark them as such and then move down the list of alternates and if we move down past that list of 5 alternates we will move onto the current UK at large list and move down that.

Name	Confirmed Yes	Confirmed No	No confirmation yet
Mike Raffan	x
Thomas Hugon	x
Iain Bethune	x
Matthew Blackburn		x
John Stocker	x
Andrew Jackson	x
Chris Spurling	x
Wayne Smith	x
Richard Thompson	x
Sarah Perry	x
Alex Sweet	x
Karen Nichol	x
Andy Imms	x
Andy Day		x
Damian Elsdon	x
Luke Carter (Alternate 1)	x
Julie Bethune (Alternate 2)	x

Below is the List ok UK events that are Silver or Bronze races.

You will need to select the UK from the drop down menu if you use the link, we will update the Screenshot as the Lists update.

Silver and Bronze Events

As Places are confirmed and finalised we will update profiles below.

The event will take place at the New Venue in High Lodge at Thetford Forest.

Name Mike Raffan – Age 45

Bio – IT worker stuck behind a desk 9 till 5 so likes to get out in the hills. I have been running Ultras for 15 years with 9 backyards since 2021. I had open heart surgery in 2020 to fix a rare condition I was born with but have never let that hold me back.

UK team listing 1 with a personal best of 42 yards.

Event achieved their best result – Rasslebock BYU Spring 2024

DUV Running History – https://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultperson.php?runner=122890

Name Thomas Hugon – Age 32

Bio -I’m French and I have been living in Orkney, Scotland for 10 years now. I started running soon after moving there. I ran my first Backyard in Orkney in 2022, where I discovered the format and really liked it. At the end of 2023 I committed to qualify for the UK team.

UK team listing 2 with a personal best of 37 yards.

Event achieved their best result – Highlander 2024

DUV Running History – https://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultperson.php?runner=1122836

Name Iain Bethune – Age 41

Bio – I’m 41 years old, from the Scottish Borders, currently living in Bridge of Earn in Perthshire. Married to Julie, with 4 kids and a wee dog. I have a PhD in Physics and the day job is project management for a multi-national IT company.

UK team listing 3 with a personal best of ? yards.

Event achieved their best result – Gods Own BYU November 2022

DUV Running History – https://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultperson.php?runner=1214241

Name Luke Carter – Age 42

Bio – Won my first BYU at Portland Pig, also won it the second year and assisted the third. Assisted at GOBYU autumn 2022 and ran a whole load of other backyards too

UK team listing 4 with a personal best of 38 yards.

Event achieved their best result – Portland Pig BYU 2024

DUV Running History – https://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultperson.php?runner=1425855

Name John Stocker – Age 44

Bio –

UK team listing 5 with a personal best of 81 yards.

Event achieved their best result – SBYU 2021

DUV Running History – https://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultperson.php?runner=642672

Name Andrew Jackson – Age 47

Bio – Started doing backyards in 2022 and qualified for UK team champs by winning highlander. I managed to complete 46 yards getting assist in this event. Since then I have only done race of champs in Germany but can’t wait to have another go in October

UK team listing 6 with a personal best of 47 yards.

Event achieved their best result – SBYU 2022

DUV Running History – https://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultperson.php?runner=1565874

Name Chris Spurling – Age 48

Bio – I’m a physio specialising in running injuries, which is bloody handy as a 48-year-old with stiff hips, a history of back pain, and a love of running ultras. The stiff hips and back pain stem from playing a lot of football and doing a lot of triple jumping in my teens and 20’s. At that time, I hated any training runs longer than 100 metres.

So, I surprised myself when I felt the urge to run a marathon, to tick it off my bucket list. Finishing it was fun, but pounding the pavements in training wasn’t really my thing, so I was delighted to be introduced to the world of trail running and ultras. I finished my first one, London to Brighton, in 2011, age 35.

My first BYU was in the post-Covid world of 2020 at the Suffolk Backyard Ultra, wearing a face mask in the starting corral every hour. I managed 36 yards that day, which was the furthest I had ever run at that stage.

Since then, I have had 4 more attempts around the same course at Knettishall heath, where I’ve racked up 183 yards over my 5 attempts. I think it’s about time for a change, so I’m looking forward to trying my hand at the new Thetford Forest course for these World Team Championships.

UK team listing 7 with a personal best of 46 yards.

Event achieved their best result – SBYU 2023

DUV Running History – https://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultperson.php?runner=229705

Name Wayne Smith – Age 47

Bio – Running ultra’s since 2011. Qualified for the 2022 National champs with 35 yards but didn’t run. Qualified this year with 45 yards, looking to go further in October

UK team listing 8 with a personal best of 45 yards.

Event achieved their best result – SBYU 2024

DUV Running History – https://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultperson.php?runner=261671

Name Richard Thompson – Age 51

Bio –

I started my BYU journey by winning the Yeovil Bagyard Ultra followed by another win at the Rasselbock BYU. My best result was in Suffolk 2023 and since then I have struggled with BYUs due weather, illness and other issues. I am hoping to improve on my performances.

UK team listing 9 with a personal best of 44 yards.

Event achieved their best result – SBYU 2023

DUV Running History – https://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultperson.php?runner=799097

Name Sarah Perry – Age 31

Bio –

UK team listing 10 with a personal best of 42 yards.

Event achieved their best result – Rasslebock Spring 2024

DUV Running History – https://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultperson.php?runner=1456848

Name Alex Sweet – Age 44

Bio – Alex has been a club runner with London Heathside since 2002, competing from 1500m to marathon distance. The move into ultra distance only came since 2020.

UK team listing 11 with a personal best of 40 yards.

Event achieved their best result – SBYU 2023

DUV Running History – https://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultperson.php?runner=1034298

Name Karen Nicol – Age 48

Bio – Karen Nicol has been competing in ultra-distance races for over 10 years and loves (and sometimes loathes) a Backyard Ultra. With 40 yards under her belt, the former female GB record holder has a real passion for encouraging females to participate in Backyards.

UK team listing 12 with a personal best of 40 yards.

Event achieved their best result – Florence Court 2024

DUV Running History – https://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultperson.php?runner=1738380

Name Andy Imms – Age 41

Bio – Started running ultras in 2017 and have got into backyard ultras in the last 3 years. After getting the assist for two years running at Portland Pig I finally managed to get the win this year, hitting my PB too.

UK team listing 13 with a personal best of 39 yards.

Event achieved their best result – Portland Pig Backyard Ultra. May 2024

DUV Running History – https://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultperson.php?runner=1020503

Name Julie Bethune – Age 45

Bio – I grew up thinking I couldn’t run but challenged myself to run a marathon for my 40th birthday. I then didn’t run for a year! In 2020 I built my running back up and realised I had a real love of longer ultra races. I am not quick but I can keep going! Since then I have run longer and longer races, my preferred being 100 miles+.

I ran my first backyard ultra in Nov 2022 completing 27 yards and since then I have ran 4 more (winning 2). I am super excited to be part of the UK team and I am looking forward to really pushing myself and seeing what I can achieve.

UK team listing 14 with a personal best of 38 yards.

Event achieved their best result – Rasselbock March 2024

DUV Running History – https://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultperson.php?runner=1583774