The 2024 KPMG West End Wobbler saw last year’s times shattered in the men’s and women’s categories. Vicki Francis, finishing in 2:18:31, stripped 12 minutes and 32 seconds off Sarah Latham’s winning time of 2:31:03 last year, and demolished her own finish time last year by 24 minute and 45 seconds. Newcomer James Barker exploded onto the BVI hill running scene catching runners and organisers by surprise and finishing the race in 1:49:53, taking 10 minutes and 28 seconds off Julius Farley’s winning time last year.
Jermaine “JJ” Ricketts set a fast pace early on which gave James some concern but he got past JJ on the off-road section of the race at Steele Point and then just kept pulling ahead. James reached Sage Mountain (15.2km) in 1 hour and 21 minutes and then dropped back to sea level like a Trident test rocket.
Vicki, fourth overall, sparred with Michael Killourhy and Philippe Leroy in the early stages of the race. Rose Johnson was second woman in 2:33:25, and Haley White was third in 2:40:19. JJ was second man (2:06:05), Michael Killourhy was third in 2:09:07, a scant 3 minutes behind JJ.
Sam Thompson, usually a contender, had run 20 miles on Friday and 20 miles on Saturday, as he prepares to tackle the Tortola Torture three times in a row to raise funds for PAW BVI. This challenge will see Sam run 163km (over 100miles) over three days, climbing 13,385 feet. PAW BVI is a non-profit organization on the British Virgin Islands, that aims to reduce the number of stray, abandoned and unwanted dogs and cats in the BVI, through a spay/neuter programme and by partnering with US rescues. Sam’s goal is to raise $10,000.
Sixteen runners took on the KPMG West End Wobbler which is one of three races in the Tortola Torture Triple, a series of warm up races for the Tortola Torture. At 21.7km (13.48 miles) it is the longest of the Tortola Torture Triple events. The race started near the Bomba Shack ruins (Little Apple Bay), headed over Zion Hill, around Steele Point and Smuggler’s Cove, through Carrot Bay, up Windy Hill to Sage Mountain, back to Little Apple Bay.
Mourant, platinum sponsor, is a leading offshore law firm, advising on the laws of the BVI, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Jersey.
Teneo, another platinum sponsor, provides full-service financial advisory, with a specialist expertise in cross-border restructuring and insolvency assignments. Fastest time to Sage Mountain from Stoutt’s Lookout Aid Station will win the Teneo KOM Award.
KPMG, another platinum sponsor, provides audit, tax and advisory services together with industry insight. Fastest time from start to West End Aid Station will earn the KPMG Sprint Award.
Reduce & Reuse
The Tortola Torture banned the use of disposable bottles on the race course in 2017. By using reusable five-gallon jugs and coolers, organisers eliminate the use of over 1,200 half litre bottles. In 2023 each runner was given a HydraPak SpeedCup to eliminate the use of reusable cups at the aid stations.
