KATHMANDU: Pasang Lama Sherpa won the sixth edition of Everest Trail Race which concluded in Lukla, of Solukhumbu district in eastern Nepal. Director General at the Department of Tourism Jaya Narayan Acharya received the athletes at the final point of the trail amidst a function in Lukla on the lap of Mt Everest, according to Kami Sherpa, Managing Director at Annapurna Treks Expedition Pvt Ltd After gruesome six stages along the trail, Sherpa (Adeaventura-Annapurna Treks) completed all the stages starting from Jiri to Bhandara (22km), Jase Bhanjyang (24km), Kharikhola (37km), Phakding (28km), Tyangboche (20km) and Lukla (30km) in 22 hours and 4 minutes. In men’s category, Capo Soler Miquel of Spain completed the race in 24 hrs and 22 minutes while Scottish Morgan Casey stood third completing the trail in 24 hours and 33 minutes. Sherpa said that Andreja Sterle (Slovenia) won the race under women’s category in 20 hours 53 minutes. Jennifer Hill and Dabies Sarah from UK stood second and third completing the race in 34 hours and 40 hours & 2 minutes respectively. A total of 45 athletes, including 10 women, from 10 different countries took part in the race. The world’s toughest high-altitude trail race began from Jiri of Dolakha district on Thursday as the event also aimed at preserving the route used by Tenzing Norge Sherpa and Edmund Hillary during the first ascent to the Mt Everest in 1953. The top three athletes in both men and women categories will receive 1,000 Euros, 750 Euros and 250 Euros respectively, according to Sherpa, ETR was a grand success, participants had a close view of the spectacular peaks in the world - Mt Everest, Mt Lhotse and Mt Makalu, among others According to participants, last year’s earthquake and the monsoon rains added technicality with stones, mud and ice in the path that always goes up and down in short but intense distances.

ETR officials said concerning to the damages caused by earthquake of 2015, part of the race budget is destined to help to equip again all schools along the circuit. In 2015, Nepal’s Bhim Gurung won the men’s category race covering the distance in 20 hours and 24 minutes, while Catalan Anna Comet won the race in women’s category in 25 hours and 44 minutes.