McNiece and Butterworth take 2026 British Lead titles
- Tuesday 24th February 2026
Erin McNeice and Sam Butterworth claimed the senior female and male lead climbing titles at the 2026 British Lead Championships, held over the weekend on the impressive competition wall at Big Depot Manchester.
This was McNeice’s fourth British Lead title and Sam Butterworth’s first, having finished second last year behind Toby Roberts. The competition also served as a key selection competition for the GB Climbing team for the coming year.
McNeice was dominant all weekend, topping out all qualification and semi-final routes, and climbing last in the final, she reached hold 42 until a foot slip robbed her of another top out. Speaking after her win, she told The BMC, "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."
Zoë Peetermans climbed superbly to reach hold 35+ to earn second place, with Lucy Garlick taking third place just ahead of Thea Cameron in fourth by a matter of inches.
In the men’s, and on a route that required some lateral upside-down thinking, Sam Butterworth came out second to last with the hope of improving on his second-place finish last year, and boy did he perform. He made it to hold 43+, an agonising half a move short of topping out. This left the last man out, Ryan Conlon, needing to top out to take the win. Climbing positively and with purpose, it looked like he would indeed make it to the top, only to fall at hold 42 and a second-place finish. Third place went to first on the wall in the final, 16-year-old Isaac Sutton, having set the bar high with a blistering climb. Not bad for his senior debut.
Afterwards, a delighted Sam commented, "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."
SENIOR FINAL RESULTS – WOMEN
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
SENIOR FINAL RESULTS – MEN
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
Full results are available (here), and a chance to rewatch the finals (here).