Ben Crowther finished a very credible third in the Midsummer Madness three day series organised by Calder Valley Fell Runners. The series is made up of three races held on consecutive days.
The action started on Friday evening with the Wicken Hill Whizz a tough 1000feet climb up from Mytholmroyd to the Sheepstone trig point and back down, all within the space of just 3 miles. After reaching the summit in 12th place, Ben managed to gain two places on the decent to finish in 10th. David Baldaro also had a fine descent finishing in 14th and with Phil Cook and Clive Greatorex in 25th and 26th, Todmorden finished 2nd team on the night.
The start venue moved to Chiserley, above Hebden Bridge, as Saturday dawned with the prospect of the navigational challenge of the 7 mile Reservoir Bogs where the checkpoints to visit were only revealed on the day and runners had to find their own way between them. Ben was again the first Harrier to finish in 8th place.
The final challenge on Sunday was the Tom Tittiman, a short 4 mile dash up and down the hill of the same name, which was won by the in-form James Logue, of Horwich RMI, in a new course record. Ben Crowther rounded off the weekend with 11th place, which placed him 3rd of those runners that had completed all three events.
Phil Cook finished next Todmorden runner in the Tom Tittiman, followed by Lucy Hobbs 3rd lady overall and Laura Sutcliffe.
Todmorden Harriers had five runners amongst the 10,000 at the Jane Tomlinson 10k in Leeds on Sunday. First Harrier to finish was Rachel Henthorne in a time of 55:12, just over a minute ahead of husband David. Laurence Bristow complete the distance in 1:04:34 followed by Katy Moore, 1:05:19 and Ian Stansfield in 1:06:01.
Thursday 25 June 2009
Thursday 18 June 2009
Hebden Bridge Fell Race
Hebden Bridge was the venue for the Todmorden Harriers organised fell race on Sunday. The 5.8 mile route started from Calder Holmes Parks and wound its way up Erringden Moor to Stoodley Pike before circling round and returning to the park. Once again the race was blessed with blue skies and sunshine and attracted a record turnout of nearly 80 runners, including many unattached and first time fell runners.
James Logue of Horwich RMI comfortably won the race for the 2nd consecutive year, in a time of 44:46, just over a minute outside his own course record that he had set last year. Adam Breaks was the first of many Calder Valley Fell Runners in 2nd place, nearly 3 minutes behind, with another Horwich runner, Stuart Edmondson in 3rd place.
Sean Carey was the first Harrier to finish in an excellent 4th place. Paul Brannigan continued his return to form in 10th and Darren Tweed edged out Dan Taylor to finish 3rd Todmorden runner.
Whilst the men’s team prize was easily won by Calder Valley, the ladies prize was a much closer affair. Jo Buckley, who also finished 13th overall in a time of 53:40 to take the win. Todmorden’s Lucy Hobbs found the course to her liking to finish 2nd lady, followed by Calder’s Sharon Godsman and then Todmorden’s Lauren Jeska in quick succession. The race was then on for the 3rd counter to finish and it was Calder’s Claire Hanson who clinched the prize. The Mytholmroyd based club also added prizes for the men vet40, Andy Clarke and ladies vet40, Gillian Wisbey.
Todmorden Results: 4 Sean Carey 49:21; 10 Paul Brannigan 52:13; 26 Darren Tweed 56:57; 28 Dan Taylor 57:23; 36 Lucy Hobbs 59:18; 38 Lauren Jeska 60:01; 52 Kevin Coughlan 63:39; 68 Louise Abdy 69:49; 76 Graham Milnes 78:19; 77 Myra Wells 92:42; 78 Laurence Bristow 94:11.
The next Todmorden Harriers’ event is the ever popular and well supported Stoodley Pike Fell Race which takes place on Tues 7th July 2009 at 7.30pm from the Top Brink. The race is a 3.5mile fast and furious dash up to the monument before dropping steeply down to London Road and returning. Profits from the race are donated to local charities and full details can be found on the website www.todharriers.co.uk
James Logue of Horwich RMI comfortably won the race for the 2nd consecutive year, in a time of 44:46, just over a minute outside his own course record that he had set last year. Adam Breaks was the first of many Calder Valley Fell Runners in 2nd place, nearly 3 minutes behind, with another Horwich runner, Stuart Edmondson in 3rd place.
Sean Carey was the first Harrier to finish in an excellent 4th place. Paul Brannigan continued his return to form in 10th and Darren Tweed edged out Dan Taylor to finish 3rd Todmorden runner.
Whilst the men’s team prize was easily won by Calder Valley, the ladies prize was a much closer affair. Jo Buckley, who also finished 13th overall in a time of 53:40 to take the win. Todmorden’s Lucy Hobbs found the course to her liking to finish 2nd lady, followed by Calder’s Sharon Godsman and then Todmorden’s Lauren Jeska in quick succession. The race was then on for the 3rd counter to finish and it was Calder’s Claire Hanson who clinched the prize. The Mytholmroyd based club also added prizes for the men vet40, Andy Clarke and ladies vet40, Gillian Wisbey.
Todmorden Results: 4 Sean Carey 49:21; 10 Paul Brannigan 52:13; 26 Darren Tweed 56:57; 28 Dan Taylor 57:23; 36 Lucy Hobbs 59:18; 38 Lauren Jeska 60:01; 52 Kevin Coughlan 63:39; 68 Louise Abdy 69:49; 76 Graham Milnes 78:19; 77 Myra Wells 92:42; 78 Laurence Bristow 94:11.
The next Todmorden Harriers’ event is the ever popular and well supported Stoodley Pike Fell Race which takes place on Tues 7th July 2009 at 7.30pm from the Top Brink. The race is a 3.5mile fast and furious dash up to the monument before dropping steeply down to London Road and returning. Profits from the race are donated to local charities and full details can be found on the website www.todharriers.co.uk
Thursday 11 June 2009
Stretton Hills
Todmorden Harriers’ were faced with a change of terrain as the English Fell Championships made a rare foray south to the West Midlands for the second round in the six race series. Church Stretton was the base for the Stretton Hills Fell Race, a 5.75mile short circular course. Whilst he surface underfoot was somewhat smoother and quicker than the tussock moorland more usually encountered in Calderdale, there were still plenty of familiar misty hills to conquer with the race taking in 2500 feet of ascent and descent.
With separate races for the men and women, the ladies were first up and Todmorden put in a strong performance with Sarah May finishing in 13th place. Philippa Jackson of Keswick won the race in a time of 54:12 to add to her win at the Half Tour of Pendle. Lauren Jeska and Kath Brierley had a close battle finishing in 26th and 27th places respectively, only three seconds apart, which lifted the Todmorden ladies to an excellent 3rd place team overall on the day, and into 4th place in the Championship Table after the first two rounds. Sarah May is now the highest placed Todmorden lady in the individual standings and lies in 21st place.
Todmorden Ladies Results: 13 Sarah May 1:01:55; 26 Lauren Jeska 1:05:48; 27 Kath Brierley 1:05:51; 49 Melanie Blackhurst 1:12:39
The heavy rain that had affected the ladies race eased only slightly for the men’s race an hour later, where Pudsey and Bramley dominated the first three places with Rob Hope’s time of 44:37 setting him clear of John Heneghan and Danny Hope.
Andrew Wrench and Jon Wright ran a close race, with Wrench edging ahead at the end to finish first Harrier in 24rd place overall and 4th vet40. Jon Wright is highest placed Todmorden runner in the overall standings after two rounds and now lies in 14th overall in the English Championship. Dave Collins was the next Harrier home in 68th and 7th vet50, which moved him up 10th place in the vet50 championship standings.
Todmorden Mens Results: 23 Andrew Wrench 50:52; 24 Jon Wright 50:57; 68 Dave Collins 57:07; 72 Andrew Horsfall 57:36; 115 Kevin Booth 1:03:03; 122 Daniel Taylor 1:04:05; 141 James Riley 1:06:35; 182 Peter Marshall 1:17:23; 186 Peter Ehrhardt 1:20:23.
With separate races for the men and women, the ladies were first up and Todmorden put in a strong performance with Sarah May finishing in 13th place. Philippa Jackson of Keswick won the race in a time of 54:12 to add to her win at the Half Tour of Pendle. Lauren Jeska and Kath Brierley had a close battle finishing in 26th and 27th places respectively, only three seconds apart, which lifted the Todmorden ladies to an excellent 3rd place team overall on the day, and into 4th place in the Championship Table after the first two rounds. Sarah May is now the highest placed Todmorden lady in the individual standings and lies in 21st place.
Todmorden Ladies Results: 13 Sarah May 1:01:55; 26 Lauren Jeska 1:05:48; 27 Kath Brierley 1:05:51; 49 Melanie Blackhurst 1:12:39
The heavy rain that had affected the ladies race eased only slightly for the men’s race an hour later, where Pudsey and Bramley dominated the first three places with Rob Hope’s time of 44:37 setting him clear of John Heneghan and Danny Hope.
Andrew Wrench and Jon Wright ran a close race, with Wrench edging ahead at the end to finish first Harrier in 24rd place overall and 4th vet40. Jon Wright is highest placed Todmorden runner in the overall standings after two rounds and now lies in 14th overall in the English Championship. Dave Collins was the next Harrier home in 68th and 7th vet50, which moved him up 10th place in the vet50 championship standings.
Todmorden Mens Results: 23 Andrew Wrench 50:52; 24 Jon Wright 50:57; 68 Dave Collins 57:07; 72 Andrew Horsfall 57:36; 115 Kevin Booth 1:03:03; 122 Daniel Taylor 1:04:05; 141 James Riley 1:06:35; 182 Peter Marshall 1:17:23; 186 Peter Ehrhardt 1:20:23.
Thursday 4 June 2009
Duddon Valley | Hendon Brook
Todmorden Harriers’ had two tough challenges to tackle in last weekend’s hot sunshine. On Saturday the club’s Fell Championship visited Duddon Valley in the Lake District for the epic 18 mile fell race that incorporates over 6000 feet of ascent and descent as it travels around the head of the valley over the peaks of Harter, Hardknott, Little Stand, Swirl How, Dow Crag, White Pike and Caw.
Craig Stansfield was first Harrier to finish, in just under 4 hours. Kath Brierley was first Todmorden lady ahead of Rachel Skinner and Chris Preston.
Todmorden Results: 74 Craig Stansfield 3:59:34; 111 Kath Brierley 4:21:19; 130 Rachel Skinner 4:30:08; 133 Christine Preston 4:31:13; 138 James Riley 4:36:35; 139 David Wilson 4:37:52; 159 Kevin Booth 4:54:34; 176 Mick Craven 5:05:18; 196 Mandy Goth 5:33:18; 200 Louise Abdy 5:35:48; 204 Helen Hodgkinson 5:45:27.
The second championship race of the weekend was on Sunday, with the 25th anniversary of the Hendon Brook 13.5mile Road Race near Nelson. The race, which helps raise awareness of and funds for Holly Grove Special School, attracted a bumper turnout for the occasion. It once again delivered good weather to live up to its nickname of ‘the hot one’, adding to the enjoyable challenge of the very hilly course.
The performance of the day came from Moyra Parfitt, who knocked an incredible 5 minutes off the ladies v60 course record on a day when many runners recorded slower than normal times.
After cycling across to the race, Phil Cook judged the course and weather perfectly to finish 5 minutes ahead of Duncan Ritchie to take the honour of first Todmorden finisher. First Todmorden lady to cross the line was Mel Blackhurst, finishing just ahead of Claire Duffield after a race long battle.
Todmorden Results: Phil Cook 1:50:56; Duncan Ritchie 1:55:42; Mel Blackhurst 1:55:49; Claire Duffield 1:57:27; Kevin Coughlan 2:00:46; Peter Ehrhardt 2:03:18; Richard O'Sullivan 2:06:31; Richard Butterwick 2:16:00; Moyra Parfitt 2:16:24; Helen Wilson 2:16:54.
The Harriers’ next summer fell race takes place on Sunday June 14th, with an 11 o'clock start from Calder Holmes Park. The 6mile strenuous circular route takes runners over Erringden Moor to Stoodley Pike. Further details can be found on the club’s website www.todharriers.co.uk
Craig Stansfield was first Harrier to finish, in just under 4 hours. Kath Brierley was first Todmorden lady ahead of Rachel Skinner and Chris Preston.
Todmorden Results: 74 Craig Stansfield 3:59:34; 111 Kath Brierley 4:21:19; 130 Rachel Skinner 4:30:08; 133 Christine Preston 4:31:13; 138 James Riley 4:36:35; 139 David Wilson 4:37:52; 159 Kevin Booth 4:54:34; 176 Mick Craven 5:05:18; 196 Mandy Goth 5:33:18; 200 Louise Abdy 5:35:48; 204 Helen Hodgkinson 5:45:27.
The second championship race of the weekend was on Sunday, with the 25th anniversary of the Hendon Brook 13.5mile Road Race near Nelson. The race, which helps raise awareness of and funds for Holly Grove Special School, attracted a bumper turnout for the occasion. It once again delivered good weather to live up to its nickname of ‘the hot one’, adding to the enjoyable challenge of the very hilly course.
The performance of the day came from Moyra Parfitt, who knocked an incredible 5 minutes off the ladies v60 course record on a day when many runners recorded slower than normal times.
After cycling across to the race, Phil Cook judged the course and weather perfectly to finish 5 minutes ahead of Duncan Ritchie to take the honour of first Todmorden finisher. First Todmorden lady to cross the line was Mel Blackhurst, finishing just ahead of Claire Duffield after a race long battle.
Todmorden Results: Phil Cook 1:50:56; Duncan Ritchie 1:55:42; Mel Blackhurst 1:55:49; Claire Duffield 1:57:27; Kevin Coughlan 2:00:46; Peter Ehrhardt 2:03:18; Richard O'Sullivan 2:06:31; Richard Butterwick 2:16:00; Moyra Parfitt 2:16:24; Helen Wilson 2:16:54.
The Harriers’ next summer fell race takes place on Sunday June 14th, with an 11 o'clock start from Calder Holmes Park. The 6mile strenuous circular route takes runners over Erringden Moor to Stoodley Pike. Further details can be found on the club’s website www.todharriers.co.uk
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