The ‘Michael Graham Callaghan Trophy’ was donated by Patrick Macke who was originally awarded this for his 1985 Spartathlon win. Patrick’s wish is that we rename the trophy the ‘Michael Graham Callaghan Trophy’ after the original Spartathlon organiser Michael Graham Callaghan who unfortunately passed away in 2013 and award it as a perpetual trophy for the best British Performance at Spartathlon each year.I’m sure you’ll agree this is a very kind gesture by Patrick which will be greatly appreciated by all future British Spartathlon runners. The trophy was held by custodians Malcolm and Marilyn Campbell (Malcolm was in fact a world beater himself on the Ultra scene and inaugural President of the IAU) before this was donated to the British Spartathlon Team.Michael Callaghan Michael Callaghan was a member of the British Hellenic Chamber of Commerce in Greece. When John Foden approached the British Chamber in Athens with his theories. Michael was one of the few who took this project seriously and started to gather sponsoring for John Fodens’ trial run and for the first official race which resulted in what we now all know as Spartathlon.Without Michael’s efforts Spartathlon might never have come about and John Foden’s ideas may have been forgotten.1982 RAF Letter2017 Update In 2017 an additional trophy was introduced in order to recognise both the best male and best female British performances at Spartathlon. The Michael Graham Callaghan Trophy was adopted for the 1st Male British Finisher and a new trophy was created for the 1st Female British Finisher.2019 Update Unfortunately, the original 1st British Female Finisher trophy was mislaid and a replacement trophy purchased in 2019. After a vote on the British Spartathlon Facebook page, it was agreed to name the award the Lizzie Hawker Trophy after her fantastic 2012 Spartathlon performance as 1st place female and 3rd place overall. The team aims not to lose the trophy again a second time!2021 Update With no female runners in this years BST Team we had 25 British men all challenging for the Michael Callaghan trophy. In the early stages of the race Alistair Higgins was once again leading from the front and on the charge for a hat-trick of wins with Danny Hawkins and David Bone close behind. With some unkind stomach issues both Danny and David over-took Al around the mountain stage and Danny kicked on to a huge win and 15th best British time ever.2022 Update We had three female starters this year. Two debutants. Sandra Tullet and Emma Bird and Ali Young a returning Spartathlete. All three gave their all but Ali Young built on the success of her previous journey to Sparta by delivering a rock solid performance to take the plaudits for the Ladies Best British Performance.Little separated the men up to marathon point but early leader Alastair Higgins was leading the charge, followed by Ryan Tipping, Ian Thomas, Nick Smith and the bulk of the team. Come Hellas Cann (Corinth) at around fifty miles the picture remained largely the same but Andy Day had moved up the field.Alastair alas encountered stomach issues by the time the race had hit Ancient Nemea but failed to shake it off, whilst Andy Day went from strength to strength coming home as first Brit with a storming ninety minute PB. Big congrats to both Ali and Andy!
2023 Update
We had two female starters this year. Debutant Laura Watts who had also completed her second Badwater this year and Ali Young returning to Spartathlon for the third time to make history.
Laura and Ali performed brilliantly but Ali built on the success of her previous finishes to not only finish as first British female but also overall first British finisher! Ali certainly took the plaudits again this year! Tremendous performance Ali!In terms of the men sixteen out of twenty one made it to Sparta with debutant Chris Maxwell coming home as first British male with a fine performance, followed by Alastair Higgins and Andrew McKillop. Andrew had also completed the Badwater/Spartathlon double this year along with Laura and Ian.All in all a great performance by the team! Well done BST!
2024 UpdateThe BST were encouraged to see three female starters this year and all were Debutants: Chloe Brooks, Wendy Whearity and Anna Brown.Conditions were particularly tough in the excessive heat but Anna found the resolve and determination needed to overcome the challenge of this epic race to come home as first lady, to secure her first Spartathlon and win the Lizzy Hawker Trophy for Best British Performance (Female) Well done Anna!(Anna is coached by our very own DaznBone of Camino Ultra)In terms of the men, Bryan Wilkins (also coached by DaznBone / Camino Utra) ran a tremendous debut to come home to secure the Michael Graham Callaghan Trophy for Best British Performance (Male) Well done Bryan!2025 UpdateThe British Spartathlon Team once again featured a mix of veterans and debutants with seventeen men and three women toeing the line in an overall field of 354 athletes.MenBryan Wilkins, last years winner of the Michael Graham Callaghan Trophy once again led the charge of the British men hotly pursued by debutant Tim Benger who put in a fantastic performance until injury cruelly undid his race.Bryan went from strength to strength despite a battle with stomach issues, and a frustrating 5k navigational error to retain the Michael Graham Callaghan Trophy with an outstanding time of 25hrs 26 mins, ninth overall in the wider field and fifth fastest British time in history!Dom Jones stunning debut performance brought him home in 26hrs 15 mins.Andy Day, back for redemption this year put in another strong performance to finish in 29hrs 09 mins. WomenOur three women this year were Anna Brown, Michelle White and Alex Marshall.Michelle ran a very strong debut, leading off for the women and finishing in 31hrs 34 mins, 5th overall within the British Team and becomes the new custodian of the Lizzie Hawker Trophy for first British female.Alex Marshall also put in a great debut, finishing in 33hrs 52 mins and is already looking eager to return to face this epic again.Our winner of the Lizzie Hawker Trophy in 2024 Anna Brown sadly suffered injury at Mt Parthenio this year which forced her to retire. Conditions at the mountain were exacerbated by rain which had hit earlier than expected.Congratulations everyone! The Hall of Fame page and British Awards section below has been updated to reflect all finishers for 2025.1st Male British Finisher (The Michael Graham Callaghan Trophy)2025 – Bryan Wilkins2024 – Bryan Wilkins2023 – Chris Maxwell2022 – Andy (Daysey) Day2021 – Danny Hawkins2019 – Alastair Higgins2018 – Alastair Higgins2017 – Nathan Flear2016 – Ian Thomas2015 – Dan Lawson1st Female British Finisher (The Lizzie Hawker Trophy)2025 – Michelle White2024 – Anna Brown2023 – Ali Young (N.B. Also first overall British finisher!)2022 – Ali Young2021 – No Female Competitor2019 – Sarah Sawyer2018 – Cat Simpson2017 – Sarah Morwood
Little separated the men up to marathon point but early leader Alastair Higgins was leading the charge, followed by Ryan Tipping, Ian Thomas, Nick Smith and the bulk of the team. Come Hellas Cann (Corinth) at around fifty miles the picture remained largely the same but Andy Day had moved up the field.Alastair alas encountered stomach issues by the time the race had hit Ancient Nemea but failed to shake it off, whilst Andy Day went from strength to strength coming home as first Brit with a storming ninety minute PB. Big congrats to both Ali and Andy!
British Spartathlon Team 