British Lead Championships: Butterworth and McNeice crowned 2026 champions

Performance News
23 Feb
2 min read

Erin McNeice claimed her fourth British Lead title and Sam Butterworth took the men’s crown at the 2026 British Lead Championships, held on 22 February 2026 at Big Depot in Manchester.

WOMEN'S FINALS

First of the eventual podium finishers to take to the wall, Zoë Peetermans fought her way through the powerful lower section, securing hold 35+ to earn the silver medal.

2025 British Lead Championship bronze medallist Lucy Garlick, who has delivered strong and consistent performances internationally over the past few years, made a steady start to the women’s final route. She reached hold 29, marginally ahead of Thea Cameron in fourth, who secured 28+, earning Garlick the bronze.

After a dominant performance throughout the Championships - topping all qualification and semi-final routes - Erin was last out in the women’s final. To take the win, she needed to secure hold 36. Climbing confidently into the upper section and reaching hold 42, it was a foot slip that brought her route to an end, but it was more than enough to secure her fourth British Lead title.

Speaking after her win, Erin said:

"I always want to come and execute as best as I can at national championships. I know that a lot of other climbers - really strong World Cup climbers - feel the same as me, that national champs mean a lot to us, so it can be really stressful. It’s definitely a good test of mindset, coming in and giving it a go."

1 Erin McNeice

2 Zoë Peetermans

3 Lucy Garlick

4 Thea Cameron

5 Molly Thompson-Smith

6 Isabella Edgington

7 Fae MacDougall

8 Anya Hmaimou

MEN'S FINALS

Climbing second to last it was Sam Butterworth who set the highpoint, putting on a show with a superb climb to 43+, finishing just half a move from the top.

Last out was Rhys Conlon, and the equation was simple: top the route to take the win outright. Climbing quickly and confidently, Conlon flew up the wall and looked composed as he entered the upper section. But his campaign ended just short of hold 42, leaving him in the silver medal position and confirming Butterworth as British Champion.

After securing the British title, Sam said:

"I put everything into lead this year, and meaning that I get to go to world cups this year is everything - I just can't quite believe it."

Rounding out the podium was 16-year-old senior championship debutant Isaac Sutton. Being the first climber to take to the wall in the final, Sutton put in a strong performance which kept him at the top end of the leaderboard throughout, ultimately landing him the bronze medal.

1 Sam Butterworth

2 Rhys Conlon

3 Isaac Sutton

4 Jim Pope

5 Fred Williams

6 Jamie Jenkins

7 Seán Henchion

8 Finley Kerswell

9 Tom Bouwknegt

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