Mountain Designs Wild Women racing around the World

It has been a big few months for Mountain Designs Wild Women (former and current) racing in amazing places around the world. 

As we say once a Mountain Designs Wild Women always a Wild Women, so even though some women move on and or away, we still all have a connection and a bond that will last forever. 

Kelly-Anne Speight is now living in Ireland and on June 18, this is what she posted to her Facebook Page. 

Time for an adventure along the west coast of Ireland ☘️🚴‍♀️ We set off at 5am tomorrow from Cork. The route follows the wild Atlantic way taking in all the major peninsulas, (2430km/ 25,000m climbing). In true Irish style it will be a wet and wild start to the morning 💦☔️ followed by lots of sunshine and tailwinds the whole way to Derry 😉🤞 Tracker link below if you want the follow the dots 

Well Kelly-Anne didn't only finish this epic 2400km event, she finished 3rd outright. Below is a short video of her finish! We are all so proud of Kelly-Anne for this remarkable achievement. 

Meanwhile up in Mission Beach in North Queensland we had battles between Wild Women from Australia and NZ happening at The Amazons Australia Adventure Race 2026. This was the second edition of the event which was the first ever ARWS all female adventure race back in 2025. Mountain Designs have been there all the way and supported the event as a major partner with Jan Leverton and Kim Beckinsale as event directors, which is sometimes more stressful than racing. This year mother nature whipped up the winds, plenty of rain fell, but this did not deter the women especially all of the Wild Women out there battling for their spot on the podium in the various categories. 

Jan & Kim

In the Warriors category 

Team Two Banana Day were victorious featuring Elizabeth Dornam

Team Spirited Women Chicks were 2nd overall featuring Emma McCosh (NZ)

Team Mountain Designs Wild Women were 3rd overall featuring Cass Kimlin and Nicola Jelenik 

In the Tribes category 

Team Foxie Moxies dominated and finished 4th overall featuring Laura Newton 

In the Legend category 

Team Spirited Women Chicks were victorious finishing 6th overall featuring Debbie Chambers (NZ) 

Liz

Emma

Cass

Nicola

Laura

Debbie

Meanwhile Ashild Kridge who was part of the Mountain Designs Wild Women Team who raced at the ARWS World Championships in Canada in 2025, loved it so much she went back to Canada for more adventure. So, while The Amazons Australia was taking place, Ashild was taking part in Raid the Rockies Stage Race which was an ARWS Qualifier. Ashild raced with one of our team hosts from the World Championships Carl and two others. Their Team 'Adventure Immersion Lab' finished 3rd in the Mixed Team Category and 4th overall. During the event, Ashild arrived at a TA box, to find that her shoes for that leg had not been packed. So, what do you do in this situation? Well, Ashild simply did the leg in her socks! 

 Ashild's reflections

"We crossed the finish line third in the Premier Mixed division behind the top Canadian and American teams and couldn't have been happier with the result. But what stands out most from these four days isn't the podium finish—it's the people.

I genuinely couldn't have asked for a better group of teammates. We pushed hard, laughed a lot, made plenty of good decisions and a few questionable ones, solved problems, adapted when things went sideways and looked after each other when it mattered. Most importantly, we had an absolute blast every single day. Every one of us brought different strengths to the team, and every one of us put the team first. Somehow it all just clicked.

For me, that's what adventure racing is really about. The mountains, rivers, incredible views, trails and checkpoints are fantastic, but it's sharing those experiences with good people that makes a race memorable. The friendships, teamwork and shared adventures are what stay with you long after the finish line.

Raid the Rockies was an incredible race, and without doubt one of my favourite adventure racing experiences yet."

We will finish this blog with the latest news from the ARWS. 

Every 6 months the ARWS updates its ranking points. In 2025 following the inclusion of the first ever ARWS All-Female Adventure Race - The Amazons Australia - globally, each region now includes Mixed, Male and Female pairs in the regional rankings. 

The Mountain Designs Wild Women have just been announced as ARWS Oceania Series leaders ahead of all other teams. This will no doubt arise a few eyebrows as we are not 'MIXED' team, but hey, we are out there racing, nearly every race and having so much fun and adventure along the way! 2026 saw the introduction of the first ever ARWS Junior Worls Championship and according the ARWS CEO Heidi Muller, we are not too far away from seeing the first ever ARWS ALL-FEMALE World Championship. Dream - Believe - Create - Succeed  

World Rankings | Adventure Racing World Series - ARWS - To view regional rankings, select the region. The Mountain Designs Wild Women are Oceania Region. 

This weekend we have Mountain Designs Hells Bells and the Mountain Designs Wild Women are represented by Kim & Laura from Legend AR and Nicola & Cass from The Amazons Australia. Can't wait for an opportunity to race again in our own backyard! 

Laura & Kim

Cass & Nicola