Across Borana Conservancy

Stage Two of the For Rangers Ultra took runners deep into the heart of Borana Wildlife Conservancy, a 32,000-acre expanse of arid grassland. This land, which welcomed back black rhinos in 2013 after a 50-year absence, provided a fittingly wild backdrop for a demanding day on foot.

The stage began with a steep climb from the Ngarendare River, quickly reminding participants that Borana’s foothills are far from forgiving. At 2,000m altitude, the terrain was technical, taxing, and relentless. From there, runners broke out onto wide open plains alive with elephant, rhino, and bison, before tackling the sun-baked scrublands that closed out the day. Camp awaited on a vast grass plain, fires lit to warm weary legs and to keep the larger inhabitants of Borana at bay.

Jon Shield took charge of Stage Two with a commanding performance, finishing in 4:15:00. He looked strong throughout, handling the steep technical climbs with ease and opening a clear gap on the plains. Just six minutes back, Rupesh Khapung Limbu held steady for second place in 4:21:00, showing real consistency after yesterday’s efforts. Angus Wardlaw rounded out the podium in 4:52:00, digging deep on the final scrubland sections to hold off the chasers.

In the women’s race, Ioana Barbu was outstanding, crossing the line in 5:29:00 and breaking into the overall top ten. Behind her, Jacqs Manson delivered a strong run of 5:47:00 to secure second place. Marie-Louise Alemany wasn’t far back, finishing in 5:58:00 for third, capping a tightly contested women’s podium.

The middle of the field worked their way steadily through Borana’s punishing climbs and exposed scrublands. Kevin Grant (6:05:00) and Thomas Minyi (6:05:00) crossed together to close out the top 20, with a string of strong performances just behind. Janessa Wells (6:05:00), Carole Kops (6:10:00), and Elodie Milleville (6:16:00) showed real consistency in tough conditions.
As the day wore on, camaraderie played as much of a role as endurance, with many runners pacing side-by-side across the plains.

For others, Borana was about pure survival. Lorna Bonareri (10:33:00) and Gillian Silverthorn (10:46:00) pushed through long hours on the trail, determined to make it to camp. Jordi Menick (13:58:00) was the last finisher across the line after a monumental effort in the African sun.
Sadly, several runners saw their race end early, with Gill Howarth, Mitch New, Stephan Weber, Tony Howarth, and Liam Gibson all recording DNFs on this tricky stage. They’ll be able to return to later stages if deemed medically fit!

Stage Two highlighted the toughness and resilience demanded by the For Rangers Ultra. From the sharp climbs out of the Ngarendare to the heat and exposure of Borana’s scrubland, every runner earned their place around the campfire tonight.