Female runners make history in Derbyshire endurance event at Hardwick Estate

History was made in Derbyshire when female runners scooped all top three spots in a test of endurance, making it a first for an event of its type in this country.

A backyard ultra is a form of endurance event in which competitors run 4.167 miles every hour, on the hour. The last runner standing wins.

Race organisers of the Rasselbock Backyard Ultra at the National Trust’s Hardwick Estate confirmed this week that the recent event was the first recorded to have achieved an all-female podium in the UK.

The only previously recorded occasion was at an event in Iceland, making the result at Hardwick an important milestone for the sport.

It was fitting that the all-female achievement was made on the historic Hardwick Estate as it was once home to Bess of Hardwick, one of the most pioneering and remarkable women of the Elizabethan era.

The ultra-marathon race attracted 141 competitors along with hundreds of spectators to the Hardwick Estate, near Chesterfield.

Matt Dillon, visitor experience manager at Hardwick, said: “We were delighted to see such a great turnout of runners and spectators. It promised to be an exciting event and for it to have achieved records made it an even more memorable weekend.

“This was an extraordinary event organised by Rasselbock and we were very pleased to have been part of it.”

Taking the top spot was Becky Atkinson and despite it being her first backyard ultra race, she completed 40 hours of continuous running, reaching a total distance of 166.4 miles.

Second and third place went to Hayley Wilson and Hollie Jones.

Rasselbock’s event organiser, Eric Keeler, confirmed: “We went through thousands of results worldwide and an all-female winning line-up has only happened once before - in Iceland. Becky’s 40-hour debut, and a female top three, was an exciting result.

“The Hardwick event is uniquely challenging. It features the smallest start line across the series in this country due to single-track trails and estate gates. Runners navigate a course through a farm and share the path with sheep and cattle, which is always a fun experience, especially at night!”

The Rasselbock Backyard Ultra event is steadily growing in popularity, with more than 700 events taking place globally each year. There are 55 held across the UK.

The Hardwick Estate, meanwhile, continues to host a variety of events throughout the year.

More at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardwick

To sign up for next year's Rasselbock Hardwick Backyard Ultra, visit: https://rasselbock.co.uk/event/rasselbock-backyard-ultra-hardwick-hall-2027/