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).