Stoodley Pike Fell Race

The shortest of Todmorden Harriers’ Fell Races took place last Tuesday and Calder Valley’s Alex Whittem celebrated his first win over the speedy 3.5 mile course. Starting adjacent to Lumbutts Mill the runners quickly climbed the causeway stones and continued past Withens Gate and along the Pennine Way to Stoodley Pike. A nerve testing steep descent to London Road followed, before a fast flat return to the finish at the Top Brink Inn. For the first time in many years the race experienced rain instead of its usual legendary blue skies and finishers quickly retired to inside the Inn for refreshments and the presentation afterwards.
Whittem took an early lead and held it to the end despite the quality pursuit from James Logue and Chris Smale. The men’s team prize went to Calder Valley Fell Runners.
Todmorden’s Sarah May won the ladies race, with teammate Claire Duffield in 3rd place just behind Clayton’s Tracy Mitchell. Calder Valley also looked on course to take the ladies team prize, with 5th, 6th and 7th places. However, Laura Sutcliffe just edged out Janette Dowling to be the ladies 3rd counter for the team prize, propelling Todmorden to the prize.
The race once again attracted some of the North’s top young fell runners with 4 of the top 16 runners aged under16 years old. Todmorden’s Sean Carey took the category win, and finished an excellent 4th overall, ahead of 8th placed Joseph Crossfield and 12th placed Bradley Traviss, both of Halifax Harriers. Rossendale’s Elliot Wylie finished in 16th overall with club mate Sam Walsh finishing first U18.

Todmorden Results: 4 Sean Carey 20:56;19 Paul Burnett 23:16;31 Peter Bowles 24:19;34 Sarah May 24:49;52 Dan Taylor 25:47;63 Claire Duffield 26:23;100 Ray Poulter 29:56;108 Laura Sutcliffe 30:44;109 Jeanette Dowling 30:49;117 Paula Haworth 32:17;120 Mandy Goth 33:10;127 David O'Neill 36:03;139 John Newby 47:40.