Watch video footage from our over-head drone here! (courtesy of Opera PR).

Following its very successful inauguration in 2019, when 287 runners completed the course, the race has led a more difficult path. The 2020 race was cancelled due to the virus that cancelled most of that year. The 2021 race went ahead, but only 113 of 350 entrants started as an icy blast (called Storm Arwen) covered the area in a thick blanket of snow. In comparison, this year’s race was positively tropical, with temperatures reaching 10˚C in the shade (although -10˚C with wind chill factor up on Baslow Edge reported one chilly marshal). 

The race was started by Rev. Mike Gilbert, Rector of St Anne’s Church. We had 350 entrants and 279 starters on the day. The runners chased through the churchyard and crossed the 1608 historic bridge before running up the muddy fields of Bubnell with cheery marshals clapping them on their way. The ridge of Bank and Bramley Woods was particularly beautiful that, with an abundance of autumnal leaves and views over the Derwent Valley. An unavoidable icy pool at Bramley Farm tested waterproof socks to the limit. The going was easy along the river, before hitting the hill climb up to Curbar Gap - a true test of lung capacity. This year we had been given the go-ahead to run along Baslow Edge before spilling down Baslow Bar to the finish at St Anne’s Primary School. Although, rain was forecast this year it stayed away which allowed runners to enjoy a post-race chat with tea and cake in the school yard to recount the trials and tribulations of the event. What were the best shoes to wear? Grip for the mud or traction for those slippery rocks! Quite a quandary!
 

 The overall winner was Andrew Heyes. At 47:13 his time beat the previous course record by over 3 minutes. To keep it in the family, his wife Lauren Heyes finished as first woman with a time of 55:29 (beating the female course record by 5 minutes). Christmas is looking good in the Heyes household this year as they both walked out with a Chatsworth Hamper and Rab vouchers to spend at Outside in Hathersage. Andrew and Lauren were running in memory of Andrew's sister, Jenny, who passed away in 2018. Her 3 children attend the village school, and the family are all very much a part of Baslow community life making this a particularly special win for the couple. This year we were very pleased to give prizes to all ages categories and local winners. Many thanks to all our sponsors (listed on our sponsors page). Local resident Michael Brown was particularly strong with a finishing time of 59:02!
 

Thanks to Rab sponsorship, our timing costs were covered this year, so that our final total income was in excess of £3500. This money has been divided between the Baslow school PTFA fund, the Baslow Church buildings fund, the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis appeal and the Friends of Calcutta Cathedral relief service. 

The Baslow Bolt is the second in the 2022/23 Outside Winter Race Series. The Hathersage Night Race took place on 17th Nov. The Winter Half Tour of Bradwell is on 11th Feb 2023 and the Grindleford Gallop on 11th March 2023. Great prizes are available to those that do well overall in these events.

The Baslow Bolt will be back on Saturday 25th November 2023. Entries will open in Autumn 2023. Put it in the diary now! 

Race report by Richard Conroy and David Elphick, race co-organisers. Many thanks to all those that helped make this race possible!

Overall results: (view/download the full results PDF)