Race Report
After a successful return in 2024, despite a couple of diversions and very much learning on the job, the aim for 2025 was to do everything a little bit better whilst returning (finally) to the original course. That mostly happened.
We were incredibly fortunate that, building on last years success, we managed to sell out all 250 entries by early May. A burgeoning wait list made sure that as the inevitable swathe of cancellations came through we still had 250 folks expected on the day a big increase on last year’s 149 starters.
However events brought that down somewhat. Leading up the race day there were signs that the weather wouldn’t be as good as we had for 2024. There was some back and forth in the forecast before things settled on wind and rain warnings and what was looking like a very soggy day.
Then our hopes for running the course unaltered for 2025 were scuppered by an incredibly late email from United Utilities (Friday at 1530!) which meant that we didn’t have the right permissions needed to go through Goyt Valley. And not just some of it, all of it. Cue some frantic attempts to contact them to no avail on a solution. 15 mins with the map however showed a viable reroute above Long Hill along the old roman road behind White Hall and joining up with the normal course at Elnor Lane. This did however mean that the course came up just under 1.5 miles short. Alterations communicated and heart rates started to fall.
On the day 204 people registered to start, no doubt the horrific weather forecast having some impact on starting numbers, but still the largest start line we’d seen since 2011 and the 2nd highest since 1998!
Once everyone got through the diversion to Elnor Lane and cleared Checkpoint 2, nerves started to relax and it looked like the weather gods were being kind. This however did not stay the case and by early afternoon the rain was constant and torrential and stayed the same to the end of the day.
Whilst the course was slight short this was still a faster High Peak 40 than 2024. The men’s winner, Carl Everall came through in a blistering 5:38:35, so quick that he managed to avoid all but a light drizzle on the day, and caused a few checkpoints to speed up their set up to account for it! No doubt the reason for his fast time I’m sure. The women’s winner was Buxton AC’s own Samantha Willis in 06:23:25, which even accounting for the slightly shortened course would have likely won 2024 overall. A fantastic return for Sam after a 4th in 2024.
In the age categories, with Sam Willis also taking the FV40 trophy, Mary Heald was the first FSEN in, returning again after 2024 in 06:54:54 and taking the advice to use ones backslide to slide down Deep Dale 2 in the wet! FV50 went to Rachel Burton in a fantastic 07:13:34, FV60 to Karen Nash who was extremely close behind Rachel in 07:15:53 and we celebrated the amazing Janet Hill as FV70 winner in 10:56:32.
Our first MV40 was was Rory Harrison who finished 2nd overall in 05:46:48, and was hot on the heels of Carl for the majority of the race before Carl pulled away from High Low. Terry Brewster was first MV50 coming in 06:43:53 and finally Graham Hodges who was first MV60 finishing in 08:13:01.
There were so many other stories on the day, but one to draw attention to is Nigel Dean. Nigel has finished all 32 High Peak 40s since inception. It was a little touch and go as to whether he’d make the start line but not only did he make it, he finished in 11:54:33 knocking over 90 minutes of his time in 2024. Here’s to Mr 100%!
And that draws another year to a close. 2026 brings us the 40th year anniversary of the High Peak 40, and we’re hoping it’s a special one. We’re looking to bring in such innovations as “electronic timing” so gone will be the week long transcription of soggy sheets after the event. Welcome to the future. Entries for 2026 open on 11th October 2025. There’s already been some interest before we’ve opened so if you’re looking to sign up you may need to be quick. And here’s hoping we, finally, this time, run the proper course.
Thanks,
Chris Billingham
Volunteer Team
Race Director – Chris Billingham
Race Coordinator and SPOC – Rebecca Longden
Race Registration: Steve Jeff, Alison Payne, Marli De Jongh, Luke Gregory, Joanna Berry
Marshalling – Judy Vale, Luke Gregory, Chris Billingham
Photographer – Ben Knight
Checkpoint 2 (Taxal) – Alex Mason, Ellie Zeiss, Alison Payne, Joanna Berry
Checkpoint 4 (Beet Farm) – Sheila Bradley and the Buxton AC team
Checkpoint 5 (Rushup Edge) [Water Station] – Steve Jeff
Checkpoint 6 (Castleton) – Kelli Sahan, Luke Gregory, Leah Taggart
Checkpoint 8 (Tideswell Dale) – Helen Patton, Rachel Baker, Ian Dalton, Kathy Perkins
Checkpoint 10 (High Low) – Bethan Madin, Tasha Melville, Katie Walker
Checkpoint 11 (King Sterndale) – Julie Skirvin and Family
Sweepers – Chris Morten, Peter Brown, Will Throssel
Drivers – Mark Patton, Chris Morten
Race HQ – Sarah Billingham, Marli De Jongh, Lorraine Inns, Mick Inns
Finishers Table – Rachel Innis, Joanna Borysiak, Mary Jones
Results Files
HP40 – 2025 – Results and Checkpoint Timings
Memories of the Day
Nigel Dean’s reflections on his 100% record – https://highpeak40.co.uk/results/high-peak-40-20th-september-2025/100-luck/
Karen Nash’s Blog – https://karen-ultras.blogspot.com/2025/09/high-peak-40.html
Chris and Kate O’Brien’s Day out video – https://youtu.be/Msw6Nx5i4JM
Marli De Jongh’s Blog about going from runner to volunteer – https://marlidejongh.substack.com/p/when-life-gives-you-injuries-hand
Pictures of the Day
Part One: The start, crossing the road at Cold Springs, Checkpoint at Elnor Lane, Checkpoint at Castleton
Part Two – Finish Line