The power of Payne! Ed wins Summer Spine Race 12 months on from DNF
Last updated 17th Jun 2026
A farmer from the west of Ireland has won one of Britain's toughest endurance races after failing to complete the course last year.
And then, in a message to anyone facing a challenge in their own lives, said: "Don't let anyone tell you you can't".
Ed Payne was first over the finish line in this year's Montane Summer Spine Race - arriving in Kirk Yetholm, in the Scottish Borders, shortly before 7pm on Wednesday.
He set off from Edale in Derbyshire at 8am on Sunday and, by the time he had completed all 268-miles of the Pennine Way, he had most of the Cheviot Hills between him and his nearest competitor.
The 40-year-old - who revealed he survived the run on less than two hours sleep - stopped at the finish line to hug his two children, who accompanied him on the final few yards, before kissing the wall of the Border Hotel.
"I'm feeling surprisingly good," Payne told Greatest Hits Radio, after a skip and a jump for joy on the way in.
"The sleep demons decided when I needed to sleep and not me. I wasn't very happy with that."
But he added: "We're milking cows at home and we have a team of people there. Without them, I'd be at home milking cows, so it's just a big thanks to them."
Ed's official time is recorded as 82 hours, 28 minutes and seven seconds.
When asked what kept him going, the answer was immediate.
"These three people standing behind me, (and) my dad..." he said, looking emotional. "Yeah, I'm a family man."
Last year's winner Anna Troup bowed out early in the race, in a complete reversal of fortunes.
WATCH: Click on the link below to view our video report...
Race director Phil Hayday-Brown explains what keeps them coming back:
"It's not just about covering the distance," he said. "It's about the experience - the landscapes; the people you meet, all the volunteers, the staff; and discovering what you're capable of when you push beyond your comfort zone."
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