In the history of the event, twenty teams have taken up the challenge, with the majority choosing to do it repeatedly.
Exotic names such as Gladioli, Snake Pass Barstewards, Lost Vagueness, and Noe Hope compete with the more traditional Edale Old Schoolboys, Sheffield Medics and Dark Peak Fell Runners. A local team sponsored by Fieldhead Campsite have taken the fastest local team honours for the last six years.
Although a team uniform is not obligatory, many choose to wear outfits such as medical gowns (Sheffield Medics) or bright pink T-shirts (Gladioli).
Nearby Hathersage provides a team known as Fat Boys, part of an active running club. Many of the team members are hardened fell-runners, a popular sport in the Peak District. Even with this stamina and experience, most describe the Beer Barrel Challenge as the hardest event they’ve taken part in. A normal fell run, long thought it may be, does not require the runner to carry a 7-stone barrel.
