CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED

The 10^th Leaden Boot challenge was held on Sunday 22 May 2022. It was a welcome return after a two year gap due to COVID. The event attracts participants from across the country, and over 240 runners and walkers from age 14 to some intrepid eighty year olds took part this year to meet the challenge of completing the 26.2 mile route within 12 hours.

Rev John Austerberry conducted a ceremony of blessing the feet of the participants in the old school garden before the Challenge.

The route commenced in Alstonefield and went through Ilam, Calton, Grindon, Ecton, Sheen, and Hartington to finish back in Alstonefield. h ttps://www.alstonefield.org/wp-content/uploads/LBC-Route-Instrs-v20-2022.pdf

The winner was a former record holder and winner, Kurt Fitch from Underwood, Nottingham who completed the route in four hours 20, just 8 minutes more than his previous win in 2019 when he had completed it in four hours 12 minutes!.

Second place went to Ben Ashton, who completed the route in four hours 49 mins, followed by Harry Tate from Ashbourne in five hours 2 minutes. The first woman in was Anna Railton, daughter of volunteer Deb Railton an Alstonefield resident, who completed the route in five hours 24 minutes.

Our oldest participant was 84 year old Barry Wright who completed the route in 11 hours 16 minutes.

We need to say a very special thank you to our volunteers. Over 70 people worked together to make this a successful and safe event, supporting the participants along the route, at the check points and providing them with a hot meal and home-made cakes after the event. Without this support, the event would not be possible

The Leaden Boot Challenge has been described by some participants as ‘the only race where you consume more calories than you burn’! , and we have been overwhelmed by the number of thank yous and positive feedback from all that took part. Thank you.

Next years Leaden Boot will be 21^st May 2023 and entry forms will be available from October this year.

You can join our Facebook group Leaden Boot Challenge or follow our updates on this website page

Any queries please email admin@leadenboot.org.uk

GRANT APPLICATIONS

The Challenge raises funds and makes grants to support local causes and projects with over £25000 being donated over the last 12 years to our local communities. We have now closed for applications from this years funds.

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Any queries about the event should be emailled to: admin@leadenboot.org.uk

http://www.alstonefield.org/wp-content/uploads/Frequently-Asked-Questions-1.docx

Click here for Gallery of Photographs “a stroll around the route”

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So, why the Leaden Boot Challenge?

Lead stolen from the church roof of St Peters, Alstonefield in 2010 prompted numerous fund raising activities within the Parish to raise £10,000 needed to re-lead the roof and to introduce a security system. One of the many fund raising schemes was the development of a challenge event centred around the Parish. A small team of local walkers sought to create an event that was both challenging and fun!

The result is the Leaden Boot Challenge, a 26.2 mile walk/run that entails 5800 feet of ascent, and descent, starting and finishing in the White Peak village of Alstonefield. Start at the Memorial Hall in the centre of Alstonefield at 09:00 and finish no later than 21:00 (12 hours maximum). Hot breakfast rolls are on sale at the start to help you on your way. There are six manned checkpoints (plus two unmanned checkpoints), spaced approx 4 mile apart. Each manned checkpoint has water, squash, snacks, first aid facilities and radio-communication, provided by RAYNET, between checkpoints and the Memorial Hall for additional support as required. Locally made pie and cakes are provided for all participants at the finish (included in entry fee). Certificates and cloth badges will also be given at the finish for those who successfully complete the challenge. Although principally a challenge walk (following LDWA guidelines), the event is open both to walkers and to runners. The shortest time to complete the LBC is 4 hours 12 minutes set by Kurt Fitch in 2019, and he also was the first to complete the 2022 challenge with a time of 4 hours 22 minutes, (also taking the record as the first person to win the challenge twice). Following the success of the various appeals to reach the initial goal of £10,000 by August 2010, the Leaden Boot Challenge has moved on and now supports local good causes. To-date, the event has raised over £25,000 for a variety of local causes.

The elliptical route minimises the use of the more popular trails and other challenge routes around the Staffordshire Moorlands and Derbyshire Dales. Starting from Alstonefield, the route goes through Milldale, over Baley Hill, into Nabs Dale, across the Dove at Ilam Rock, climb to Aires Cottage, then descend Bunster Hill, past Ilam Hall, through Musden Woods and up to Slade House Farm, then past Throwley Hall, through Grindon, across the Manifold at Wetton Mill, over Ecton Hill, Hulme End, Sheen, around Sheen Hill, across the River Dove at Pilsbury, Hartington, Beresford Dale, Narrow Dale and back to Alstonefield.