Why Worcestershire Way Chose Engraved Slate Medals

The Worcestershire Way isn't a road race.

It's an outdoor challenge built around countryside, hills and adventure, so the finishers deserved something that reflected where they'd been rather than another standard medal.

Instead of using traditional metal medals, the organisers chose engraved slate medals that felt like a natural extension of the landscape participants had just experienced.

The engraved slate medal created for Worcestershire Way.

About the Event

Organised by The Summit Sista's and Women & Wild, Worcestershire Way is designed to encourage people to get outdoors, challenge themselves and enjoy everything the countryside has to offer.

Rather than focusing purely on finishing times, the event celebrates adventure, resilience and shared experiences.

That made the choice of medal just as important as the route itself.

The Design Challenge

Outdoor events often use medals that could belong to almost any race.

The organisers wanted something that immediately felt connected to the environment participants had spent the day exploring.

• Create an award that reflected the countryside.
• Use natural materials that suited the event.
• Keep the design simple and timeless.
• Give finishers something that felt genuinely different.
• Create a premium award without becoming over-designed.

Why Slate Was the Right Choice

Slate has a completely different feel to traditional medals.

Every piece has its own natural texture and edge, making every medal slightly different from the next.

Rather than trying to compete with polished metal, the slate embraces the rugged character of the outdoors.

• Natural stone suited the countryside setting.
• Laser engraving created a clean, understated finish.
• Every medal had its own natural character.
• The darker slate created excellent engraving contrast.
• The medal immediately felt premium without needing extra decoration.

The Medal Approach

The final medal kept the design deliberately simple.

A circular slate medal with subtle engraving allowed the natural stone to become part of the design rather than hiding it underneath heavy graphics.

Combined with a recycled ribbon, the result felt authentic, durable and perfectly suited to an outdoor adventure event.

What Other Event Organisers Can Learn

If your event takes place in forests, mountains, national parks or the countryside, think about whether your medals should reflect the environment rather than following what every other race does.

• Choose materials that fit the location.
• Don't over-design natural products.
• Let texture become part of the medal.
• Think about how the medal feels as well as how it looks.
• Design awards that reinforce the event story.

Participants remember experiences. The medal should remind them exactly where they earned it.

Case Study Summary

The Final Result

The finished slate medals perfectly reflected the spirit of Worcestershire Way.

Rather than competing for attention with bright colours or complicated finishes, they used natural stone to create something simple, distinctive and memorable.

For outdoor events, that's often exactly what participants appreciate most.

Planning an Outdoor Event?

If you're organising a trail race, hiking challenge, ultra marathon or countryside event, we'll help you choose the right material, finish and design to match your event.