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.