Wensleydale Wander 2026 Report

After very warm weather a few days before which was ideal for marking out the course, normal April conditions returned with a mix of showers, sunny intervals and a cold wind.

This year saw yet another record number of entrants with 500 entered on line and 20 on the day.

Both Walks were started at 9.00am in Grove Square, Leyburn, by Jade McCardle of Diabetes UK which is the main charity for the event together with Rotary charities, though walkers first gathered for registration at Wensleydale School. There was a choice of two circular walks, one a 23 mile challenge and a shorter one of 12 miles, both starting and finishing in Leyburn. There were liquid refreshments at various checkpoints on both walks, and the walks ended at the school, where a choice of hot soups and cakes, plus more liquid refreshments were served to some very hot and tired walkers.

Although the Wander was, and is, designed as a walk, hence the name, an increasing number of entrants choose to run it each year. Inevitably, the fastest treat it as a race so, for those wishing to know how they fared, click on 12 MILE RESULTS or 23 MILE RESULTS

The first Man home on the Short route was again Matthew Lambert in 1hr 38 minutes, 51 Sec, Second was Kornel Devlin in 1hr 41 min, 08 sec. Third was Steven Devlin in 1hr, 41min, 8 sec

First Lady home (and second overall) In the Short route was Grace Rowland in 1hr, 39min, 34 Sec,  Second was Rebecca Howard in 1hr 44 min, 07 sec. Third was Cassie Ramsay in 1 hr 46 min, 30 sec

First man home in the Long Route was Mathew Ansell in 2 hr, 50 min, 54sec Second was Will Seekins in 2 hr 52min, 22 sec. Third was Paul Ellis in 3hr 3min. 31 sec

First Lady home in the Long route was Helen Burrell in 3hr 26 min, 14 sec.Second was Rosie Jones in 3hr 40 min, 39sec. Third was Janine Claire Lee in 3hr 44min, 23 sec.