Baslow Boot Bash – REPORT OF 2026 EVENT – 13th JUNE
This year’s event was the 20th Baslow Boot Bash. There were 152 finishers on
the 26 mile course and 113 on the 14 mile compared with 147 and 124 last year.
Only 6 people retired. The event seems to be attracting fitter people, either that
or you are all just getting fitter. Either way we applaud you for your fitness and
tenacity. The weather was just about perfect for walking and running, not too hot and no rain.
I hope you appreciated the posh parking this year. No long grass and the thought that any minute you would disappear into a large hole, this year we were moved to the Chatsworth caravan park with mown grass and a smooth surface. As part of its Regency Weekend carriages ran between the house and the Golden Gates and no cars were allowed on the road at least up to 4pm. A few carriages contained ladies in Regency dress if you were lucky enough to see them. It was a little further to walk to the village hall and the start but an extra 500m in 26 miles didn’t trouble most of you. We are indebted to the Chatsworth Estate for permission to use the Park without which it would be nigh on impossible to hold the event.
We always say it but it really is great to hear all the appreciative comments from
you before, during and after the event. It makes the whole thing worthwhile.
Glyn who organizes the event particularly enjoys putting faces to the names in his emails.
As you know, this is not a race but there is always interest in the times so again
we are publishing the first 20 home on both courses, male (M) and female (F).
Congratulations to Kurt Fitch who has competed at least 5 times and did a very
fast time 3h 45m which is only 15 minutes outside his own record. Fran Cummins lead home the ladies in 4h 23m. Will Spalton repeated his success of last year in the 14 mile by winning in a time of 1:51 only 2 minutes slower than last year despite a gruelling triathlon the weekend before. Rosa Sampson was the fastest lady and finished in an excellent 2:05.The event has changed over the years. Originally the idea was to navigate using the 1:25000 Ordnance Survey map but now most people seem to use the GPX route sent out by Glyn which has the advantage of being up to date. Does anyone still use a map?
Thanks once again to both Raynet, who handled communications, and to
Derbyshire Light Medical who provided medical back up for the event in case we
needed it – fortunately we didn’t.
As usual we are indebted to the Baslow choir volunteers who cheerfully man the
checkpoints, provide the refreshments to keep everybody going through the day, park the cars and put out (and bring in) the road signs. Last but not least thanks to Glyn Herron and his team for supervising the event from the village hall and making sure everyone is accounted for. It was Glyn’s fifth year dealing with the onerous job of dealing with the entries throughout the year and a special thanks to him. He has already started organizing BBB for 2027. Finally thank you Fitzgerald Craft Bakery in Buxton for the always fabulous pies!
Provisional Date for your Diary: June 12th 2027. Booking opens October 2026.