Goat winner – Robyn Cassidy

It’s been a couple of months (almost) since the 2025 SCOTT Cheviot Goat took place.  With conditions just above zero and incredibly wet I’d argue that it was one of the toughest editions so far.  So it’s with much pleasure that we caught up with female winner Robyn Cassidy who managed to complete the course in 13:39 to take home the Edwin Nelson Cup.  The previous two Goat races had been won by legend Nicky Spinks but Robyn was so consistent in her overall pace that Nicky’s mid race surge over the tough ground could not close the gap.  Take a quick look at Robyn’s split times:

People largely split the course into the bits before Barrowburn and the trails after.  In the 41km up to Barrowburn Robyn was taking around 1.2 hours per 10km.  Generally speaking the ground to Barrowburn, with the exception of Cushat Law/Wether Cairn, is far more runnable than later on.  For the remaining 60km that includes some very tough ground she only dipped to 1.4 hours per 10km.  Her consistency over 100km of hard terrain is truly impressive.  We asked Robyn about her experience.

It’s been a while since you took the top spot at the SCOTT Cheviot Goat, how do you reflect on it now?

I loved the event! The Cheviot Goat was one of the first events I heard about when discovering the world of ultra running, so it’s been on the bucket list for a while. It celebrates everything that is great about classic UK ultra-running:  Hills, bogs, rain, tussocks, mud, friendly volunteers and staff and a decent brew and soup at the finish line.

Did you have a particular strategy in mind to cover the full 59-mile course?

Try not to go out like a rocket, keep eating, drinking, smile and look at the views.

Did you find any particular stretch harder than others?

The second ascent up the cheviot was cheeky (especially after my pole breaking). And Ewe Hill… a nice surprise at the end….

How did you cope with the long distances between checkpoints?

It’s all part of the challenge! …and to be fair it’s no different than going out for a training day on the hill. So, I went in with that approach in mind, take enough food, water, layers and look after myself.

If you had to describe the Goat to someone who had never done it, what would you say?

Rough, tussocky, boggy, hilly fun. It’s such a unique event, there are few places now where you feel remote in the hills, the cheviots give you that feeling.

Is there any kit or nutrition that you’d highlight as a “must have” for running something like the Goat?

Montane gaiters were perfect, waterproof socks (dexshell knee high) and a decent waterproof jacket (I use montane phase nano).

What are your plans/targets for the rest of the year?

Off to Gran Canaria for some sunshine and dry trails.