31 jul 08

With no major Championship races last weekend, many Todmorden Harriers took the opportunity to have a break from racing whilst others found alternatives ways of enjoying the sunshine.

There was no slacking off, however, for the three Harriers who competed in the Turnslack Fell Race near Summit on Saturday. This tough 8 mile course features over 2000 feet of ascent and is considered one of the most testing of the local fell races with several streams, stiles and bogs to negotiate. Starting from Calderbrook Church the race climbed up Turn Slack Hill before making its way across open moorland to reach Freeholds Top. The return route descended via Ramsden Wood Reservoir before taking in a couple of steep climbs over Ramsden Hill and Noon Hill, at times requiring runners to resort to scrambling up the grassy inclines on all fours.

The day was made even more challenging by the hot sunny weather which may have accounted for a smaller than normal field of just 65 runners, who were rewarded at the finish with a refreshing cold hose down. One man who revelled in the heat was Salford International runner John Brown who came home in 63:24, nearly 7 minutes ahead of second placed Karl Grey of Calder Valley.

Todmorden’s Andy McFie put in an excellent run to finish in 12th place overall and 4th V40 in a time of 81:02. He was followed in by Mick Craven who put in a solid performance with a strong finish that pushed him up the field to 33rd in 90:26, ahead of Richard Butterwick in 39th.


The following day a trio of Todmorden runners travelled to Middleton for the Moonraker 10k which attracted a field of 188 runners. In a race won by Ian Grimes of Newham & Essex Beagle, Bohuslav Barlow was first local man home in 102nd place in a time of 50:01. He was followed in by newcomer Carl Heald competing in his first road race in 132nd and Ian Stansfield in 178th.
Meanwhile, Eric Emerson completed the Chernobyl 10k at Preston in a creditable time of 43:32 to finish 66th out of 310 finishers.


At Mytholmroyd several Harriers took on an endurance test in the ‘Moors the Merrier’ challenge. Organised by the Long Distance Walkers Association entrants had the option of walking or running either along route of 27 miles, or a ‘short’ option of 21 miles.

Starting from the Community Centre, both routes took participants around the moors above Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge. Whilst Elise Milne, Graham Milnes and Rachel Lockley took on the shorter route, itself a major undertaking, Colin Duffield battled against the difficult conditions to complete the long route in 5 hours 57 and finish in 8th place.


The previous Saturday had seen another trio take on the Oxenhope Village Fete Race. The scenic 3 mile route followed a wet circuit around the village and nearby reservoir.
Martin Roberts had a fine run crossing the line in 3rd place just 13 seconds behind the winner and also took the first local male award. Sue Roberts won the corresponding prize as first local lady finisher. The third Todmorden runner was Ian Stansfield in 20th place overall and first V60.

24 jul 08

Todmorden Harriers once again battled against the best runners in the country as they travelled to the Lake District for the Kentmere Horseshoe Race, which this year formed round four of the English Fell Running Championships.

This classic 12 mile circular route takes in over 3000ft of total ascent including a steep unrelenting climb up Ill Bell and the summits of High Street and Kentmere Pike. The dry but breezy weather made near ideal conditions with good visibility for the 500 plus runners who were led home by John Heneghan of Pudsey and Bramley.

Chris Smale continued this year’s solid form with 15th place to reinforce his position in the overall standings. He was followed in by teammates Alistair Rhodes Dawson in 77th with Dave Collins rounding off a busy week in 108th.

Ali Richards used her local Lakeland knowledge to good advantage on the way to crossing the line as 11th lady, just a few seconds over the 2 hour mark, with Kath Brierley and Claire Duffield not far behind to sustain the Ladies team’s strong showing in this year’s championships.


The previous weekend had seen 16 Harriers make a shorter trip for the Oakworth Haul. This 6 mile race, held in conjunction with the Oakworth Gala, was the latest instalment in the club’s own fell championship.

Despite some tricky navigational challenges, Dave Collins put in a strong performance to take first in the V50 category and 5th place overall, pursued home in 9th, and 2nd V50, by Martin Roberts and Simon Galloway in 13th place.

Kath Brierley was first Todmorden lady in 25th place and winner of the LV40 category, with Mel Blackhurst taking 2nd place in the same category.

The club’s sizeable prize haul was added to further by Derek Clutterbuck, first V70, and Ian Stansfield, first V60.

Full Todmorden results: 5 Dave Collins (41.33); 9 Martin Roberts (42.25); 13 Simon Galloway (43.33); 18 James Riley (45.33); 24 Andrew Bibby (46.42); 25 Kath Brierley (46.47); 28 Jeremy Godden (48.27); 29 Lucy Hobbs (49.40); 30 Richard O'Sullivan (49.42); 32 John Metcalf (49.59); 33 Melanie Blackhurst (50.07); 34 Kevin Coughlan (51.07); 38 Steven Burnip (55.48); 41 David O'Neil (1.03.58); 42 Derek Clutterbuck (1.08.16); 43 Ian Stansfield (1.21.33).


On Wednesday a handful of Harriers joined the near 100 strong field for the Calder Valley Fell Runners organised race at Widdop. The tough 7 mile tussock littered moorland route takes in over 1200 feet of climbing.

Dave Collins was once again first Todmorden man home in 19th place overall with Elise Milnes coming in first Todmorden lady in unseasonably unpleasant conditions for the time of year.

Full Todmorden results: 19 Dave Collins (1:00); 57 Richard O'Sullivan (1:10:38); 74 Elise Milnes (1:16:42); 84 Peter Ehrhardt (1:19:44); 87 Sue Roberts (1:21:07); 90 Graham Milnes (1:23:43).