Stoodley Pike Fell Race | Eccup 10

Todmorden’s Lauren Jeska smashed the ladies course record by over a minute at the Stoodley Pike Fell Race last week.

The race starts with a sharp climb on the causeway stones up from Lumbutts, and then travels along the ridge to the Pike. A steep descent to London Road tests the nerves of the runners and the final run in takes them back to the finish field at the Top Brink Inn.

Todmorden postman, and Calder Valley runner, Alex Whittem won the race for the second consecutive year, having quickly stamped his authority from the off, crossing the line in 19:05. Another Todmorden resident, and Calder Valley runner, James Logue finished second managing to hold off Harriers Andrew Wrench and Sean Carey as they battled for third place, with Wrench eventually edging it by just 5 seconds.

Lauren Jeska had an equally comfortable win in the ladies race, and her time of 21:24 beat the former record, held by Calder’s Jo Waites, by over a minute. Todmorden’s Sarah May finished second lady in 23:26, and with Jane Leonard eighth lady, Todmorden narrowly took the ladies team prize ahead of a strong showing by Wharfedale Harriers in third, fourth and fifth. The men’s team prize went to Calder Valley Fell Runners ahead of Todmorden.

Todmorden Results: 3 Andrew Wrench 19:58; 4 Sean Carey 20:03; 16 Lauren Jeska 21:24; 18 Dwane Dixon 21:36; 19 Paul Hobbs 21:38; 29 Ben Crowther 22:29; 46 Sarah May 23:26; 48 Dave Collins 23:29; 54 Darren Tweed 23:42; 57 Martin Stork 23:56; 98 Richard Butterwick 26:41; 102 Jane Leonard 26:52; 142 Helen Hodgkinson 29:56; 156 Dave O'Neill 32:57; 157 Sue Roberts 33:17; 159 Melanie Robertson 33:31; 161 Barry Chapman 33:48; 166 Andrea Marshall 34:27; 172 Myra Wells 37:22; 175 Alison Mills 38:25; 176 Richard Leonard 38:26.





On Sunday, the club’s Road Championship continued with the Eccup 10 mile race near Leeds. Starting and finishing in Adel, the route looped around Eccup Reservoir with Longwood Harrier Andrew Pearson recording a winning time of 52:15.

Nick Barber led the way for the Harriers in an excellent 14th place out of 536 finishers, with Paul Brannigan 45th and Martin Stork 61st.

Lucy Hobbs was the first Todmorden lady to finish in 199th place.


Todmorden Results: 14 Nick Barber 59:57; 45 Paul Brannigan 1:05:57; 61 Martin Stork 1:07:12; 199 Lucy Hobbs 1:19:08; 224 Bohuslav Barlow 1:20:43; 302 Peter Ehrhardt 1:25:58; 304 Melanie Robertson 1:26:15; 521 Ian Stansfield 1:52:38; 528 Rachel Allen 1:56:08.