Thousands turn out for Great Knaresborough Bed Race 2026

Ninety teams hurtled across a gruelling 2.4-mile course in the 60th Great Knaresborough Bed Race on Saturday (June 13).  

The event featured a “Swinging Sixties” theme to commemorate the first-ever bed race event, which took place in 1966.

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Before setting off from the grassy banks through Conyngham parkland, the teams showed off their dressed beds, inspired by this year’s theme, at Knaresborough Castle.

Ninety teams participated in the day’s parade before undressing the beds for the big race (Image: Lisa Young)

The winners, Bed Number 44 – The Rocket Men – were selected by a voting panel and led the beds in the town’s parade from 1pm.

Decorations came off for the second instalment of the day, the big race, at 3pm.

The course led the teams from Conyngham across Bond End and onto Waterside before the ascent to Castle Ings.

The parade through Knaresborough delighted thousands of people who lined the streets (Image: Lisa Young)

The teams turned off in High Street, looping back to Bond End through to Mackintosh Park before the arduous 50-yard swim across the River Nidd back to Conyngham.

Joining those taking part was a group of NHS mental health clinicians, raising money for charity Maternal Mental Health Alliance.

Speaking about this, team member Anna Kilsby, a consultant psychiatrist who works in the Harrogate and Knaresborough perinatal mental health service, said: “1 in 4 women have a mental health problem associated with having a baby.

“And 1 in 10 women and birthing people are considered at a level to need specialist perinatal mental health support.

“This means that struggling with your mental health after a baby is as common as everyday things, such as having curly hair.”

“My motivation to run is that hopefully people who might need us will hear how common this is, learn that we exist and want to support them” (Image: TEWV Bed Race team)

She added: “Despite this, people fear stigma and judgement if they ask for help.

“Too many people wait longer than they should – which impacts the woman or birthing person, baby and family.

“My motivation to run is that hopefully people who might need us will hear how common this is, learn that we exist and want to support them.

“Most importantly, they might also realise we are normal people who struggle doing things we aren’t used to – like running – and they don’t feel so anxious about meeting us.”

Teams have been preparing for the event for months (Image: Lisa Young)

Jazz Richardson-Forster, who works as a Peer Lead for North Yorkshire York and Selby Community Services, said that training for the bed race was a “real team effort”.

Knaresborough Striders Men were crowned this year’s winners of the bed race, with an impressive time of 12:33.

They were followed by Gh Brooks Mens (12:34) and The Half Moon (14:12).

The teams gathered at Knaresborough Castle for the judging of the Best Dressed Beds (Image: Lisa Young)

The event is organised by volunteers from the Knaresborough Lions charity, who are assisted by 300 others.

Each year, thousands of pounds are raised through entry fees, sponsorship and sales of the programme – money which goes back into the organisation of the next Bed Race, with any excess donated to worthy causes.

For more on this and the full results from the day, please see here.