History made as women race Cresta Run ‘Grand National’ for first time in over a century

After a ban lasting 103 years, which was imposed because of fears it would cause breast cancer, women have now been allowed to compete again, with the Cresta Run's Ladies' Grand National race, which took place last month.

At the St Moritz Tobogganing Club (SMTC), in Switzerland, the home to the world's oldest and most feared natural ice chute saw Carina Evans make history as she became the first Ladies' Grand National winner in more than a century. She won in a time of 57.76 seconds at a top speed of 71.35mph.

The Cresta was built in 1884 and in 1887, the SMTC was founded by British military officers, with women and men competing equally in the annual Grand Nationals - until the 1920s. The last women to win before the ban was a Mrs Baguley, who, in 1921, finished in 64.9 seconds.

In 2018, though, members voted to overturn the long-standing ban, allowing women to ride again. Evans became the first woman to ride the track when the ban was lifted – since then, she has ridden the Cresta 139 times.

Since the restatement, only 13 women have qualified to ride from the head of the run – which means taking on the full course. "It's the best thing I've ever done,” Evans said. “I will remember that feeling for the rest of my life.

"This race has been a focus for years. It has taken a lot of determination and planning to get here. It represents so much more than just our individual hopes and dreams. We were racing it collectively for all the women who went before us."

"The Cresta is in my DNA. I grew up with it, watching dad (the late Lieutenant-Colonel Digby Willoughby - a former bobsledder and chief executive of the SMTC). I lived and breathed it.”

Evans went on: "Dad was a key instigator of the ladies' fun-races and one of our biggest champions. He would be cartwheeling in the sky."

This year's race was an historic affair as Evans' 18-year-old daughter, Isabella, competed as they became the second mother and daughter to take part in a Grand National. In the recent Men's Grand National, 2002 Olympic skeleton rider, Lord Clifton Wrottesley – said to be the greatest Cresta rider of all time, with a record 17 consecutive wins – won in a time of 51.90 seconds.