Ourea Events has ceased trading with immediate effect, bringing uncertainty to some of the UK’s best known multi day and mountain ultra events.
In a statement, event director Shane Ohly confirmed the company is now in discussions with professional advisers and that all races scheduled for 2026 will not take place under the current business.
Affected events include the Northern Traverse series, which incorporates the Lakes Traverse, Dales Traverse and Moors Traverse, along with the Cape Wrath Ultra, Dragon’s Back Race and Skyline Scotland.
Ohly said the decision to stop trading was taken to avoid increasing debts to participants, suppliers and other creditors, and to maximise the chances that the events could continue in future under a different structure or ownership.
“We are especially aware of participants who have already paid race entry fees,” he said. “By opting to cease trading at this stage, our goal is to maximise the likelihood that the events will continue under a different structure or ownership.”
Founded more than 15 years ago, Ourea Events built a reputation for challenging multi day ultras and point to point races across some of the UK’s most remote landscapes.
According to Ohly, the business had been profitable prior to the pandemic, recording a modest profit in 2019. However, the impact of COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an 18 month period where events could not take place and income effectively stopped.
Like many event organisers, the company also faced additional pressures in the years that followed. The end of Brexit coincided with a significant drop in international participation, which had previously accounted for up to 50 percent of entries at some races. Rising costs during the 2022 cost of living crisis further squeezed margins, with event costs increasing by around 20 percent while entry fees lagged behind.
Ohly said the team had continued to organise events and work towards financial recovery in the years since the pandemic, but the business had remained loss making.
“With the current trend in entries for 2026, it became clear the financial situation would deteriorate further,” he said.
Participants who have already entered 2026 events will be contacted in due course, though the company has asked runners not to contact Ourea directly as staff are unable to respond.
Despite the closure, Ohly said he hopes the races themselves may continue in the future.
“I want to thank the extraordinary community that has supported Ourea Events over the years, including runners, volunteers, partners and suppliers,” he said. “My sincere hope is that this process will allow the events themselves to continue in some form in the future.”
Photo credit: Ourea Events/Silva Northern Traverse
