Ricky William Lightfoot (born 31 March 1985)[1] is a British runner who has been a world champion in trail running and a medallist in the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge.

Ricky Lightfoot
Personal information
Full nameRicky Lightfoot
NationalityBritish
Born (1985-03-31) 31 March 1985 (age 39)
Workington, Cumbria, England
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)Fell running, trail running, ultramarathon
ClubEllenborough Athletic Club

Biography

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Lightfoot began competing in fell races at the age of fourteen after being inspired by his school caretaker Brian Taylor[2] and was encouraged by his parents Robert and Kathleen.[3] He has been sponsored by Salomon since 2008.[4] Lightfoot is a member of Ellenborough AC.[5]

He has won several of the most prestigious fell races, including the Three Peaks Race,[6] Wasdale,[7] Borrowdale,[8] Ennerdale,[9] the Three Shires[10] and Skiddaw.[11] He won the Lakeland Classics Trophy series in 2007[12] and 2015.[13]

He has also competed domestically on other surfaces, winning the Brampton to Carlisle and Derwentwater 10 road races and the Cumbria Cross Country Championships.[14]

Internationally, Lightfoot won the Zegama-Aizkorri race in 2009[15] and finished third in that season’s Skyrunner World Series.[16] He was also third in the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge that year when the event was incorporated into the Kaisermarathon in Söll.[17]

He won the Hammer Trail in Denmark, his first ultramarathon, in 2012.[18] In 2013, he won the IAU Trail World Championships when the competition was held in Llanrwst.[19] Also that year, he won the Trail du Colorado in Réunion[20] and the Otter Trail Run in South Africa.[21]

In 2014, he was victorious at the Dodo Trail in Mauritius[22] and the following year he won the Ultra SkyMarathon Madeira.[23]

In 2022, he won the Man versus Horse Marathon.[5]

Lightfoot works as a firefighter, based at Workington Fire Station[24] and is managed by Iconic Agency.[25]

References

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  1. ^ Association of Road Racing Statisticians: Ricky Lightfoot.
  2. ^ iRunFar: The Fells Favourite Son: An Interview with Ricky Lightfoot.
  3. ^ Times & Star: Fell Running Lightfoot Lives up to his Name.
  4. ^ Cotswold Outdoor: An Interview with Trail Running World Champion Ricky Lightfoot.
  5. ^ a b "Man v horse: Powys race won by runner Ricky Lightfoot". BBC News. 12 June 2022.
  6. ^ Grough: Ricky Lightfoot Squeezes Three Peaks Race Win Between Firefighting Night Shifts.
  7. ^ Cumberland & Westmorland Herald: Bell and Collison in Impressive Form at Wasdale Horseshoe Race.
  8. ^ Times & Star: Lightfoot Storms to Borrowdale Win.
  9. ^ Lakeland Classics Trophy: Ennerdale 2007 Results.
  10. ^ The Westmorland Gazette: Lightfoot is King of Three Shires.
  11. ^ Keswick AC: Skiddaw Fell Race 2009.
  12. ^ Graham Breeze, "Broken Records: 6th (2007) Lakeland Classics Trophy", The Fellrunner, Spring 2008, 44-46.
  13. ^ Lakeland Classics Trophy: 2015 Results.
  14. ^ Power of 10: Ricky Lightfoot.
  15. ^ Zegama-Aizkorri: Classifications.
  16. ^ Skyrunner World Series: 2009 Ranking.
  17. ^ IAAF: Lauenstein and Pichrtova win Kaisermarathon Titles in Söll.
  18. ^ Salomon Trail Tour: Hammertime: Ricky Lightfoot Relives his Danish 50 Miler at the Hammer Trail.
  19. ^ IAAF: Lightfoot and Mauclair triumph at IAU Trail World Championships.
  20. ^ Trail du Colorado: Winners.
  21. ^ Otter Trail Run: Records Fall as the Best Chase the Grail.
  22. ^ Eruption Studio on YouTube: The Dodo Trail 2014.
  23. ^ iancorless.com: Ultra Skymarathon Madeira 2015.
  24. ^ News & Star: The Light Feet of Ricky Lightfoot.
  25. ^ "People – Iconic Agency".
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