The town council has honoured an ultra runner from Stone who set a new record for a gruelling 268-mile race.
Jack Scott used his love of running to help overcome a gambling addiction – and just five years after taking up the sport, he has conquered one of the toughest endurance events in the world.
Jack took more than 10 hours off the course record for the Montane Winter Spine Race, which runs along the Pennine Way. He completed the 268-mile race in 72 hours and 55 minutes.
Jack told councillors about the challenge he faced to get to his winning position – and that he had trained at nearby Downs Banks. He said,
“I started five years ago, and I failed.
“I was 10 weeks out of gambling addiction. I had to grow and I couldn’t have gone as deep as I went without failing.
“I had to grow up really, and managed to win it in January. It meant so much to me because I had lost in the past.
“There was a point in the race where I could have slowed down and taken three hours off the record. But something was telling me to do it that way.”
Members of Stone Town Council congratulated him on his achievement at their meeting this month. Town Mayor Jim Davies also highlighted his work to promote Gamstop, a free self-exclusion service that helps people control their online gambling.
Councillor Davies said:
“Jack Scott is an ultra distance runner of distances longer than several marathons and when I heard about his amazing record I was completely astonished. The Pennine Way is a walking route that usually takes many days, up hill and down dale, camping in tents.
“But as a race it is widely regarded as one of the toughest endurance events in the world. Jack completed it taking just the odd snatch of sleep here and there, beating the course record by more than 10 hours.
“His great achievement puts him alongside Stone’s other great athlete, Olympian Joe Clarke – of course his race was somewhat shorter (he won a gold medal for canoe slalom at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio). On behalf of the town council and the people of Stone, it gives me great pleasure to give (him) a certificate of achievement.”
