21 aug 08

Todmorden Harriers sent representatives to take part in the Lakeland 100 and the Lakeland 50, a pair of ultra long distance running challenges that are sure to become landmark events in the future.
This was the inaugural running of this event and attracted 30 competitors for the 100 miler and 41 competitors for the 50 miler. It certainly lived up to the expected reputation of being the toughest race in Britain. Although it follows tracks and paths for the entire route these are often very rough and rocky. The combination of rough terrain, exacerbated by torrential rain during Saturday which made many of the paths more like rivers, navigational skills required, night running and 24,000 feet of ascent/descent added up to a gruelling test of strength and endurance.
Only 11 competitors finished the Lakeland 100 race, which was won by Steve Birkenshaw who led from the start and amazingly achieved his objective of getting under 24 hours. His phenomenal time of 23 hrs 40 mins will take some beating. Nick Gracie and Warren Bates came in joint second in 27hrs 03mins. Todmorden Harriers, Ozzie Kershaw and Phil Hodgson, had an impressive run to come in joint sixth in 29hrs 44mins.
Most of the competitors completed the Lakeland 50 despite the tough conditions. The race was won by Gerrard Moore and Phillip Pearson in 12hrs 3mins, an outstanding time in such bad weather. Over an hour separated them from the next group of 4 runners who came in together in joint third. Todmorden Harriers, Richard Leonard and Rhys Watkins were the next runners home, putting in a great performance to win the team prize in a time of 14hrs 35mins.


A pair of Harriers travelled to the Howgills on Sunday for the Sedburgh Hills Fell race, a 14 mile circuit that takes in 6000 feet of ascent with several climbs including the highest point, the Calf, and visits the impressive Black Force waterfall. Despite suffering shoe problems, Alistair-Rhodes Dawson managed to hold on for 23rd place in a time of 2 hours and 40 minutes. Kath Brierley had to contend with the mist and drizzle that came along as she finished around an hour later.