Jumla Rara Ultra: 17-year-old Kolpana Budha steals the show!
The 6th edition of the high altitude mountain trail race between Jumla and Rara in remote Western Nepal saw the absolute confirmation of Kolpana Budha’s trail running talent. The local teenager, just 17, won the women’s 50k race with a remarkable advantage over another young talent, Rayja Laxmi Rawal, and is set for this year’s ATM Championship Final in Vietnam on 4 October. Previously this season, Kolpana Budha had already finished second behind reigning champion and compatriot Priya Rai at the MTR 50k race in March, and last November in India, she also took the victory in Malnad 30km (not an ATM points race, but still). Rawal took second place, and after winning Malnad 50 and third in MTR 50 she is the points leader in the Nepalese ATM ranking. At this stage of the season, she can also look forward to the ATM Final. Most likely so can Sandipa Budha, because after a fourth place in mTR 50, she now took the third spot on the podium in JRU. All three runners are coached by Karnali Sports in Jumla. Quite an astonishing group of runners they have there, and that also includes many men.
Dal Bdr Kunwar was the clear winner of the men’s race in 5h53. He was followed by Hom Lai Shrestha, already fourth in MTR two months ago. Chandra Rawat was third on the podium.
Jumla and Rara is the area where many of the country’s finest mountain runners come from and it once again showed during the race, held in good conditions this spring. It is a very remote area and mobile connectivity is very limited, hence the delay in the race report.
Men:
1. Dal Bdr Kunwar (5124) 05:53:57 Karnali Sports Club
2. Hom Lal Shrestha (5122) 06:07:55 Nepal Army
3. Chandra Rawat (5127) 06:19:28 Karnali Sports Club
4. Sher Bdr Budha (5128) 06:3:42 Karnali Sports Club
5. Dhira Bdr Rawat (5123) 06:42:08 Karnali Sports Club
Women:
1. Kalpana Budha (5125) 07:51:25 Karnali Sports Club
2. Rajya Laxmi Rawal (5126) 08:28:41 Karnali Sports Club
3. Sandipa Budha (5130) 08:46:03 Karnali Sports Club
4. Ummakali Budha (5108) 10:04:18 Karnali Sports Club
5 Anisha Gurung (5135) 11:07:08 Kathmandu
