Race Report
2026 brought us the 40th year anniversary of the High Peak 40, and makes this the 33rd edition since the first Otter’s High Peak 40 in 1986. To help celebrate a landmark year for the event, we were delighted to welcome back the team at Otters who sponsored the event, providing a bunch of support. Thanks to the team at Otters for all their support:
- David Smith – Overall Sponsorship
- Sinead Byrne – Otters co-ordinator
- Josh Moss – certificate and t-shirt design
- James Seccombe : Winners badge designer
- James Roe – who hand made the Otter Trophies and took many hours painting and perfecting the bespoke Otters
After a flurry of deferrals and cancellations in the weeks before the event, we started the day with 224 entrants. 194 were present on the day so we continue to see some great numbers coming through.
The weather threatened rain in the lead up to the event his year, but at the last moment brightened. We were lucky enough to only see a little drizzle during the day and otherwise was perfect! Well at Race HQ it was.
After three years of trying, we finally go to run the course unaltered! A lot of work in the months beforehand working with United Utilities, Peak District National Park and others to ensure there were no issues. Only 10 years since the last time the event was run on the full course.
The race started bright at 08:00:21 due to a slightly overrunning speech and the competitors were soon on their way. As everyone made their way around to Mam Tor we heard reports of some incredibly wet and windy weather up on the top. There were some very interesting Instagram stories, but everyone made it through (albeit a few navigational issues around the Castleton area saw a few folk complete a High Peak 43 and High Peak 45!).
First man to finish was Will Mckim-Smith, coming in 30 minutes ahead of 2nd place in 6:07:02, a fantastic performance made all the more apporpriate with him being the Great Grandson of the founder’s of Otters! The women’s winner was Molly Hodges, who came in 07:24:31, 18 minutes ahead of 2nd place. A great result.
In the age categories, Ashleigh Walker took the FV40 trophy in 08:14:39, made all the better as working at Otter’s she had been looking at the incredible trophies for the weeks before the event! FV50 went to Hannah Höggren-Johnson who had to pull out late for the 2025 edition, returned and put in a fantastic performance with 07:46:42. Also representing Smiley Paces like Hannah, FV60 winner was Jane Langham in 08:58:43. Finally our incredibly FV70 winner was Hazel Winder, representing Macclesfield Harriers, finishing in 10:49:58.
Our first MV40 was was Tom Keeber who finished in 07:30:18, however he was beaten by not only our FV50 winner Lee Wilkinson who finished in 06:53:15 and came 4th overall, but also our FV60 winner Paul Oakley in 07:24:41. The veterans showing everyone how the race should be done.
However for the first time, we didn’t have Nigel Dean joining us on the start line. However the team at Otters wanted to recognise his outstanding contribution to the event and presented him with an award and speciail certification. Nigel was with us all day volunteering bringing his deep experience of the event to others. Thanks again Nigel.
2026 closes, the weather held up, we finally got on the proper course, and we got to welcome Otter’s back for a special anniversary. Entries for 2027 open on 10th October 2026. We’ll be upping the stakes with live tracking and more. Once again interest is high, so get that entry in quick!
Thanks,
Chris Billingham
Volunteer Team
Race Director – Chris Billingham
Race Registration and Marshalling: Jenny and Nathan, Peter Brown, Andrew and Heather Cross, Kieran Crowe, David Frith, Marcin Wlezlak, David Oldham
Photographer – Ben Knight
Checkpoint 2 (Taxal) – Lou Locke, Chloe Gill, Sharon Hopkin
Checkpoint 4 (Beet Farm) – Sheila Bradley and the Buxton AC team
Checkpoint 5 (Rushup Edge) [Water Station] – Gareth Harris
Checkpoint 6 (Castleton) – Kelli Sahan, Carl Palmer, Andy Pusey
Checkpoint 8 (Tideswell Dale) – Rachel Baker, Kathy Perkins, Kristen and James
Checkpoint 10 (High Low) – Bethan Madin, Rebecca Longden
Checkpoint 11 (King Sterndale) – Julie and Peter Skirvin
Sweepers – Chris Morten, Peter Brown, Will Throssel
Drivers – Kieran Crowe, David Frith, Andy Lidstone, Harry Humphries, Dennis Thomas
Race HQ – Sarah Billingham, Lorraine Inns, Mick Inns, Leonie Marshall, Andy Lidstone, Jo Bell, Michael Clewlow, Sharon Simpson-George, Dennis Thomas, Harry Humphries
Results Files
HP40 – 2026 – Results and Checkpoint Timings
Memories of the Day
Coming soon…