Sanya Khanchai is one of the so-called big-three of Thailand’s first modern generation of elite trail runners and when he announced he would try and tackle the course record of UTCR’s Ultimate 230k race category set by Jag Lanante two years ago in 37:05:35, you could bet he was going to put up another show of his. Khanchai won the Classic 125k race of this great event in the north of Thailand two years ago and celebrated that with a handstand and salto at the finish line in Singha Park. Khanchai is no longer one of the youngest in the start lists of races, but his dedication to running and fitness continue to put him on top op podiums - at least in his own country.

At Ultra Trail Chiang Rai 2020, the Thailand SuperTrail with a field of domestic runners-only due to covid 19, Khanchai started out quickest, but made it a habit to wait for the next participant at each of the first couple of aid stations. Saving his energy for the last 100 miles or 160k - because that’s a distance he knows to manage well from past experiences. In any case it was clear nobody would even threaten to beat him in the race last weekend. Sanya Khanchai started chasing his personal goal and passed the km 200 mark one could foresee him reaching it: do the Ultimate 230 in less than 37 hours. He arrived in 36 hours and 20 minutes 4 seconds to take the victory - and importantly - 600 points for the 2020/21 Asia Trail Master Championship. Khanchai has never done enough races to really feature in the Championship shoot-out at the end of the year, but perhaps this win with the maximum points available for any race could be a stimulant for 2021. In any case, it was his 3rd ATM race win after UT Koh Chang 100 and UT Chiang Rai 125 in 2018.

Equally impressive was the first runner-rup: Robert Butcher. The 61-year-old (!) Bangkok-based Britain has had very difficult months behind him fighting with cancer and chemotherapy to complete the 230k in a remarkable time of 45:25:33, which is only four-and-a-half hours away from his time set last year in this race. The terrain in Chiang Rai must suit Butcher as he was already once on the podium before here: third on the 125k in 2017. Last weekend, the final step on the podium went to Sittisak Suwannee in 49:26:16.

The women’s Ultimate 230 was a closer battle between five women, of whom Kanlaya Thongfachalai got the upper hand at the end. She finished in a time of 56:02:37. It’s her first ATM race victory and it is not a complete surprise as Kanlaya has been improving her competitive game in the last couple of years. Second and third place went to Benjamas Chotemateepirom and Thanawal Nawachartkhosit.

In total, 36 runners completed the Ultimate 230 within the time limit of 60 hours.

A rather surprising winner emerged on the Classic distance of 125km yesterday: Somkiat Roddeeying. The Thai athlete had a two-hour gap on second place Amorn Kimnguan and five-and-a half on Graeme Fancett. What is stunning is that Somkiat’s winning time of 21:14:21 is almost exactly ten hours (!) faster than his own time in this same race three years ago! Talking about improvement! A year ago he completed the Ultimate 230 in 53:35, which was good for 16th place overall. In ATM races, he had never come close to even a podium but last weekend he took advantage of the situation and grabbed his maiden win in a time that would have given him a Top 10 ranking in last year’s elite-filled race.

In the women’s 125k race, the victory went to Patcharee Chuaythaisong in a time of 25:54:04. It was her second ATM race victory after taking UTKC 70k category in 2018. Issaree Kengnok and Natha Raveephusita were second and third in 29:20:54 and 32:48:32 respectively.

With special thanks to Running Insider and Teelakow for image material

Ultimate 230 winners in 2020: Kanlaya Thongfachalai and Sanya Khanchai

Final metres for Kanlaya in the SIngha Park

Impressive first ATM race win for Somkiat Roddeeying on the Classic 125k

UT Chiang Rai: Sanya Khanchai takes 3rd ATM race win