Boot Bash - REPORT OF 2018 EVENT - 16th JUNE

This year’s event was the fourteenth Baslow Boot Bash and we had 294 entrants. This is the sixth year we have had a 14 mile route and it continues to be popular and successful. Apart from anything else it smooths out the arrival process, in that we have a more regular stream of finishers, and we managed to process most of the 14 milers before the 26 mile walkers arrived. This is also helpful for the kitchen staff.

As is usual on these events, we had quite a large number of no-shows (42) on the day but we finished up with 103 starters on the 14 mile route and 149 starters on the 26 mile route. We had 4 retirees from the 26 mile route and 6 from the 14 mile route as the attached results show. The weather was ideal this year with a cool start. It was only marred by a thunderstorm at about 5.00pm soaking participants and checkpoint staff alike and causing Raynet to lower their 40 foot communications mast! Fortunately comms were not interrupted…

As you all know, this is not a competition but everyone likes to know who was first home and the time it took to complete the course so here goes: first home on the 26 mile route was Damian Thacker in a time of 3 hours 40 minutes. The first woman home was Claire Howard in a time of 4 hours and 52 minutes.

In the 14 mile event Emma Humphries crossed the line in a time of 2 hour 28 minutes. The first man home was Martin Ward in a time of 1 hours 58 minutes.

Thanks once again to both Raynet, who handled communications, and to the Kinder Mountain Rescue team who provided first aid cover. Good communication is vital to ensure that we don’t lose anyone. We are very grateful for the first aid skills that are on hand whenever the need arises, although the first aiders were thankfully hardly used this year. We must also thank those members of the Mountain Rescue team who sweep the 14 mile route ensuring that we always knew where the tail-enders were.

Thanks also to the kitchen crew, who provide all the refreshments and keep everybody going through the day.

We are determined to maintain quality and for this reason we have to put a ceiling on the number of entrants. If you want to secure a place on next year’s event, you are strongly advised to book early. As usual booking will open in September 2018.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to making the Boot Bash such an enjoyable and friendly event. See you next year!