Race date: Saturday 15th November 2025
Race report by Darrel Porter

The Beast of Bamford had its inaugural run last year, this year it was back with the added Beastier option for those that really enjoy suffering!

The Beast is approximately 14km with around 600m of climbing, it’s a good mix of road and trail and is classified as a BM race by the Fell Runners Association and accordingly it has the minimum FRA kit requirement (Full body waterproof cover, gloves, hat, map, compass, whistle and spare food). This race requires trail shoes and this year fell shoes were better!

On the run up to the race we were treated to storm Claudia, so the 2025 Beast took on a very wet character.

Race start is a 5 min jog from registration so we made our way to the start with plenty of time for a warmup, it was pretty cold and constantly threatening rain, but I decided against putting on my waterproof. With the warmup done the race start was then delayed by 15 minutes to give all approx. 200 runners time to get to the start line. This give me time to eye the competition, I recognised quite a few runners in my age category who ran similar paces to me so I knew it was going to be tough, also Jack Scott (2024 Spine record holder) turned up at the start line – we all knew who was going to win.

The race begins with a fast road section with a steep downhill, there was plenty of jostling for position and for added fun the steep downhill had become an ankle deep stream (a common theme of the race this year). There ends the downhill for a while, the route (still on road) turns steeply uphill and is still wondrously ankle-deep in water. The road section carries on for a mile or so all uphill before crossing to a trail section and then the climb to Bamford edge. At this point last year I chose a bad line and ran up the steepest hill I could find, this year I knew better and skirted the bottom of the hill for a less severe climb (still pretty steep though). Runners were off in all directions here choosing different routes, I shouted to those nearby that this was the best line and we ascended to the edge.

The route along the edge is gently descending and fast running, a bit muddy in places and great views. The trail then swings down a long, steepish and very wet descent to the Ladybower Dam. I took the opportunity to pass quite a few runners here who were unused to this type of descending or wearing the wrong shoes, I was unfortunately slowed by a dog walker on the route and was forced to take a longer and slower line robbing me of a PB on the segment!

Crossing the Ladybower dam and then swinging right then left through the woods the route climbs towards Win Hill, it was here that I realised something was wrong, my legs were done, I’d over trained in the week leading up to the race (and stayed up late attending a whiskey tasting night). Sections which I knew I could run became completely un-runnable for me and it wasn’t helped by the aforementioned paths that had become streams! I continued to stagger up Win Hill losing places all the way, I managed the occasional begrudging run/stagger, but just as I crested Win Hill my calves cramped. I stopped to stretch them out, ran a bit and had to stop again. The descent off Win Hill is one of my favourites and I was becoming worried that I wouldn’t be able to run it. A group of four runners passed me and I managed to get it together to limp behind them and watch forlornly as they disappeared into the distance.

I finally came to the descent, swinging left through a style off Win Hill and promptly my legs cramped again, but I was able to rapidly get going and build speed quickly eventually picking up to full breakneck pace. I overtook several runners who had moments before cruised past me and even passed the group of four who overtook me on Win Hill.

The final section of this race is a approx. 2 miles of road undulating but with some good downhill (and two route choices). I was able to cruise at a good steady pace and took a quick little shortcut shortly after the first road section on a public trail that cuts through a farm (this nicely dodges a nasty little hill). Later there is an opportunity to take a small trail off Thornhill Road that cuts off a large road section, I pulled a few runners new to this lark with me promising them that it was a better route.

At the bottom of the trail you can hear the finish (apparently quite a few runners went wrong here) we swung left onto the road and built pace for the final sprint. With 200m to go someone pulled alongside me, a sprint off it was to be then. A full sprint ensued and I managed to pip the runner, but only by a fraction.

After the race there was beer, a great selection of cakes and some very nice (and welcomed) pie and peas. These weren’t in with the entry, but all funds went to a good cause.

All in all a great day out a tough race, but a great course. Apparently the Beastier race was very challenging with a lot of runners going wrong. The weather conditions made the race a fun challenge, I was running in my new Nnormal Kjereg Bruts and they were excellent, but it would have been very difficult in something with less grip!

The Beast was won (no surprises) by Jack Scott (Innov8) who set a new course record in 1:00:46 and Catherine Williams (Sinfin RC) in 1:15:54. Six Striders were in attendance at the Beast.