Fleetwood Half Marathon | Stan Curran Cowm Reservoir 5k

A handful of Todmorden Harriers braved unseasonable conditions at the Fleetwood Half Marathon on Sunday.  They battled around the 13 mile course through gale force winds with frequent heavy rain and hail showers.

The race was the latest round of the club’s road championship.  Robin Tuddenham ran a strong race to finish in 7^th place and first vet40 in a time of 1:17:57 closing the gap on current championship leader, Martin Stork who finished in 14^th place.

Darren Graham completed the course in 67^th, with Simon Galloway finishing in 90^th.

Mel Robertson was the sole female Todmorden runner in 181^st place

 Todmorden Results: 7 Robin Tuddenham 1.17.57; 14 Martin Stork 1.22.04; 67 Darren Graham 1.32.17; 90 Simon Galloway 1.36.45; 181 Mel Robertson 1.49.11

On Tuesday evening, a trio of Todmorden runners enjoyed calmer conditions at the Stan Curran Cowm Reservoir 5k.    A sizeable entry from Salford Harriers saw the course records for men and women both fall with Joe Bailey winning in a time of 15:11, over one minute ahead of 2^nd place, and Hayley Kuter setting a new women’s mark of 18:00.

Simon Anderton completed the two lap course of the reservoir in 19:53 for 30^th place overall and first vet50.  James Riley was hot on his heels in 32nd place and a time of 20:05.

Myra Wells finished in 89th place for Todmorden in 28:47.

Sedburgh Hills | Burnsall Feast Sports | Golf Ball Fell Race

The Sedburgh Hills Fell Race on Sunday marked the final race in this year’s English Fell Championships. The 16 mile race featured over 6500 feet of ascent and was also a counter in this year’s British Fell Championships.


Whilst Todmorden Ladies were safe in the gold medal position for the English Championships, the race was still an important chance to add to their score as they pursue a British Championship medal.

Lauren Jeska had already secured the individual ladies championship so opted not to race, but Sarah May led the Todmorden charge as she also sought to improve her own position. Starting the day in joint 8thplace, Sarah ran a strong race to finish in 8th place in the ladies race on the day. That result moved her up to 7th place in the overall standings for the year.

Gemma Kendall was the next Todmorden lady in 25th followed by Mel Blackhurst in 44th place, to take the ladies into 4th team on the day and keep them in 3rd place in the British Championships, with just one race to go.

Jane Leonard kept her hopes of an English Championship V50 medal alive with 52nd lady, and is currently second in the overall standings.

Alistair Rhodes-Dawson returned from injury to lead in the Todmorden men in 65th place, with Dwane Dixon finishing in 97th place.

Todmorden Results: 65 Alastair Rhodes-Dawson 2:30:40; 97 Dwane Dixon 2:39:09; 122 Nick Barber 2:47:58; 129 Sarah May 2:50:03; 130 Dave Collins 2:50:31; 180 Andrew Bibby 3:06:05; 190 Gemma Kendall 3:07:11; 247 Melanie Blackhurst 3:23:10; 275 Jane Leonard 3:33:46; 295 Peter Ehrhardt 3:43:39.


On Saturday, several Harriers took part in the Burnsall 10 road race in the Yorkshire Dales which featured in this year’s club road championship.

Paul Brannigan finished the course in 8th place, with Martin Stork in 13th and John Lloyd in 15th, winning them second placed team prize.

Richard Blakely crossed the line in 74th, with Peter Ehrhardt in 79th and Mel Robertson in 82nd place.

Todmorden Results: 8. Paul Brannigan 1:02:23; 13. Martin Stork 1:04:12; 15. John Lloyd 1:04:46; 74. Richard Blakeley 1:24:12; 79. Peter Ehrhardt 1:27:14; 82. Melanie Robertson 1:28:49.


The race formed part of the Burnsall Feast Sports Day and was followed with the classic Fell Race, which a trio of Todmorden runners entered.

James Riley completed the 1.5mile course which features a lung busting 900 feet climb and a precipitous descent in 19:46 for 41st place, with Peter Clarke in 77th in a time of 22:24. Sue Roberts claimed the 10th lady position with 25:44.


Sean Carey enjoyed a titanic battle with Eryri’s Matthew Roberts at the Golf Ball Fell Race on Wednesday as the pair left the rest of the field trailing in the distance, with Sean eventually losing out on the line by one second.

James Riley in 75th and Kevin Booth in 84th place were the Harriers other representatives.

The race was the fourth and final race in Rossendale’s Mid Week Fell Series and second place on the night was sufficient for Sean to claim a comfortable win in the series overall.

Worsthorne Moor Fell Race | Borrowdale Fell Race | Hailstorm Hill Fell Race

Todmorden Harriers made a short trip to the Worsthorne Moor Fell Race on Sunday. In wet conditions, the 7 mile race followed a loop around the moor on a variety of terrain.

The race featured in the club’s inaugural trail championship and Dwane Dixon strengthened his hold at the top of the table with 4th place in a time of 41:50.

Paul Brannigan edged out Robin Tuddenham on the line for 11th place, with only one second separating them, with Martin Stork in 14th.

Mel Robertson was the only Todmorden lady to tackle the course, finishing in 98th place.

Todmorden Results: 4 Dwane Dixon 42.48; 11 Paul Brannigan 44.24; 12 Robin Tuddenham 44.25; 14 Martin Stork 45.09; 42 Simon Galloway 50.04; 49 Andrew Bibby 51.06; 55 Mick Craven 52.37; 64 Dan Taylor 54.04; 85 Richard O'Sullivan 58.05; 95 Kevin Coughlan 59.57; 98 Melanie Robertson 61.02.



On Saturday, a quartet of Harriers entered the classic Borrowdale Fell Race. Over 300 runners tackled the 17 mile route which features over 7000 feet of ascent.

Phil Hodgson was the first Harrier to finish in 153rd in a time of 4:24:56. Jane Leonard finished 2nd lady vet50, and 204th overall, in 4:45:58 with husband Richard completing the course in 5:15:03 for 267th place. Mandy Goth finished in 314th in 6:01:51.



Three Todmorden runners entered a new race at Bacup on Wednesday, with 117 runners taking advantage of the free entry offered by organisers Rossendale Harriers.

The imposingly named Hailstorm Hill Fell Race, which fortunately did not live up to its name, saw Marcel Ellison lead the way for the Harriers in 26th place. Simon Anderton finished in 35th position just ahead of James Riley in 38th place.

Whittle Pike [English Champs] | Harakiri Mountain Race | Lakeland 100 | Cowm Reservoir 4.2m

Todmorden Ladies clinched the English Fell Championship team gold medal at the Whittle Pike Fell Race on Saturday. With one race to go in the six race series they now hold an uncatchable lead.

The 5.1 mile race started with a half mile road section, before the first of three steep climbs, the second of which took the runners to the high point of Whittle Pike.

In hot and sunny conditions Sarah May led the way for the Harriers in the ladies race finishing in an excellent 5th place, behind Holmfirth's Katie Walshaw who won in a time of 45:47.

Jane Leonard was the next Todmorden lady in 44th place.  After a close battle Lucy Hobbs edged out Fiona Armer on the final run in to finish 51st and 54th respectively.  Karen Gray completed the course in 69th place.

In the men's race, Dark Peak's Lloyd Taggert won in a time of 37:30 after catching the early leader Rob Jebb, of Bingley Harriers, who retired after a late fall.  Jon Wright was the first Todmorden runner in 28th, ahead of Sean Carey in 49th, who was also 2nd U18. 

A strongly finishing Paul Brannigan edged out Alistair Rhodes-Dawson as they finished 59th and 68th respectively.
 
Todmorden men's results: 28 Jon Wright 42:38; 49 Sean Carey 44:59; 59 Paul Brannigan 45:49; 68 Alastair Rhodes-Dawson 46:36; 90 Dave Collins 48:46; 102 Peter Bowles 50:19; 122 Marcel Ellison 53:27; 125 Andrew Bibby 53:36; 141 Mick Craven 56:17; 161 Richard Blakeley 59:34; 167 Phil Cook 1:00:22; 184 Peter Ehrhardt 1:05:15; 188 Kevin Coughlin 1:07:30.

Ladies results: 5 Sarah May 48:23; 44 Jane Leonard 59:18; 51 Lucy Hobbs 1:00:38; 54 Fiona Armer 1:01:38; 69 Karen Gray 1:09:02.


Lauren Jeska was in Mayrhofen, Austria for the Harakiri Mountain Race, the fourth race in the World Mountain Running GP. In a highly competitive race, Lauren finished 12th lady, and 2nd v35, completing the tough uphill only course in 1:15:09.  
 

Elise Milnes completed the Lakeland 100 in 38 hours and 49 minutes at the weekend.  The 100 mile 'Ultra Tour of the Lake District' followed a circular route from Coniston that included over 6000 feet of ascent.  With less than half the starters finishing the full distance, it lives up to its reputation as the toughest race in the UK.

On Wednesday, Martin Stork finished 4th at the Linda Crabtree Cowm Reservoir Race.  Martin completed the 4.2 mile multi terrain race in 25:49, with James Riley in 21st place in a time of 29:44.

Mel Robertson recorded 35:03 for 47th, with Myra Wells stopping the clock at 42:48 for 65th.

Ian Terry 5k | Widdop Fell Race | Elswick Express 10 | Turnslack Fell Race | Snowden Race | Gorski tek na Grintovec

Todmorden Harriers started a busy week with success at the Ian Terry Memorial 5k in Littleborough which attracted 150 runners on Tuesday evening.

John Lloyd finished in 5th place in 17:04, with Lauren Jeska in 7th setting a new PB of 17:15. The time also represented the second fastest time by a woman on the popular hilly course.

Martin Stork recorded 18:02 for 10th place.

Todmorden Results: 5 John Lloyd 17.04; 7 Lauren Jeska 17.15; 10 Martin Stork 18.02; 25 David Baldaro19.54; 52 Richard Butterwick 22.38; 65 Mel Robertson 23.53; 112 Myra Wells 30.02.


On Wednesday night, the ladies team finished first at the Widdop Fell Race. The seven mile moorland route included 1200 feet of ascent as it looped around Gorple and Widdop reservoirs.

Alistair Rhodes-Dawson led the way for the Harriers with 6th place in 54:18. Ben Crowther finished 15th, with Shaun Pickard in 20th just under the hour mark.

Chris Preston led in the victorious ladies trio, finishing 4th lady, with Jane Leonard 6th lady and Elise Milnes was 12th lady.

In the junior races Sophie Taylor completed the 0.4 mile under eights course in 6:31 and Jack Crummett finished 4th in the under fourteens 2.6 mile race.

Todmorden Results: 6 Alastair Rhodes-Dawson 54:18; 15 Ben Crowther 58:03; 20 Shaun Pickard 59:43; 61 Chris Preston 1:11:37; 63 Paul Cotton 1:11:52; 69 Jane Leonard 1:13:48; 86 Elise Milnes 1:20:00; 89 Helen Hodgkinson 1:21:11; 102 Graham Milnes 1:30:05.



On Saturday, the club’s Road Championship returned to the fore with a new race on the Fylde Peninsular, the 10 mile Elswick Express.

Robin Tuddenham finished in 58:26 for 8th place, with John Lloyd hot on his heels in 10th. Paul Brannigan was 18th, with Sarah Glyde completing the course in 1:16:41 for 12th lady. Peter Ehrhardt rounded off the Todmorden entry in 81st.

Todmorden Results: 8 Robin Tuddenham 58.26; 10 John Lloyd 59.02; 18 Paul Brannigan 1:01.16; 63 Sarah Glyde 1:16.41; 81 Peter Ehrhardt 1:22:29.



Closer to home on Saturday, eight Harriers tackled the tough eight mile route of the Turnslack Fell Race at Calderbrook.

Darren Graham finished first Todmorden man in 1:24:04 for 34th place, with Mick Craven in 51st and Marcel Ellison in 62nd.

Chris Preston once again led the Todmorden ladies to another team prize, finishing in 1:36:05 and 4th lady. Elise Milnes, Issy Pollard and Moyra Parfitt finished together for 8th, 9th and 10th ladies respectively.

Graham Milnes completed the Todmorden entry with 97th place in a time of 1:56:33.

Todmorden Results: 34 Darren Graham 84.04; 51 Mick Craven 90:42; 62 Marcel Ellison 93.21; 68 Chris Preston 96.05; 90 Elise Milnes 113.00; 91 Issy Pollard 113.01; 92 Moyra Parfitt 113.02; 97 Graham Milnes 116.33.



A pair of Harriers were in Wales, also on Saturday, for the International Snowdon Race. Paul Hobbs finished in 95th place in a time of 1:27:19 and James Riley recorded 1:39:50 for 218th place.


Lauren Jeska was in Slovenia for the latest race in the WMRA Grand Prix on Sunday. Due to severe weather, with snowfall on the upper part of the mountain, the uphill only course was shortened to an intense 1200m climb over 6.5km. Lauren finished in 3rd place in 58:38, taking her into 3rd place in the series.