2026 Wilson Run: the 142nd race
No one could say that the 142nd race got off to a normal start. After biblical rain and gale-force winds forced the race to be postponed from Tuesday to Thursday, it was with trepidation and excitement that pupils lined up to begin the race that is a rite of passage for many Sixth Form pupils at Sedbergh.
At 2:30pm sharp on Thursday 25th March, the starting gun was sounded by Mr Moore, who organised the run for over 30 years, from 1960-1993. During that time he ran the course over 300 times. Hearts always pump at the start as the runners’ adrenaline is high and everyone tries to settle quickly into a pace that doesn’t leave them winded and tired out too early.
Whilst flooding on the streams and rivers that traverse the course had subsided to safe levels, it was not, and never is, an easy race across the fells. The race, billed as the most challenging school race in the country, certainly delivered the level of challenge and excitement that we expect from the Wilson Run. The course was muddy—what locals would describe as ‘claggy’—the streams flowing fast and high, and the route was slippy. Very slippy.
Amongst the boys, Hugo took an early lead and maintained it throughout. He slowly but steadily pulled away from fellow School House residents Henry (2nd) and Edouard (3rd) to finish in 1:19:41—an absolutely incredible time given the conditions.
Juliet (Lupton) maintained a strong lead in the girls’ race from the very start, but her fellow Luptonians, Daisy (3rd), Jemima (2nd) and Bertie (4th), were close throughout and battled it out for places. Last year’s winner, Jemima, ultimately staged a thrilling burst over the last couple of kilometres to take 2nd.
School House’s celebrated Year 12 runner, Hugo, talks about why, as an athlete and runner, the race offers something other running events don’t: “A lot of other sports get focus within school. On a weekly basis, people go down to watch the rugby boys play, but with running, you’re always out of school. For big races, the nationals, your biggest event of the year, people don’t see it. But the Wilson is a big event for running at Sedbergh, and people you know are watching, and that’s probably part of what makes it special for me. Because a lot of the time it’ll just be the team and my parents watching races, but the Wilson is at school, and it’s special because it’s a big event in school.”
Imo Boddy, an Old Sedberghian and now a professional ultra runner and holder of world records in a couple of long-distance events, said this about how the Wilson inspired her own career: “I found a huge love for running, initially, through the Wilson Run. It was the start of achieving goals, breaking down barriers, and realising that I am capable of so much more than I initially thought.”
