Todmorden Harriers made a spectacular start to 2009 with three stellar individual performances and a team victory, before most runners had time to recover from their festive indulgences.
First off the mark was Andrew Wrench in the Giant’s Tooth fell race at Ogden Water on a cold clear New Year’s Day.
Attracting a field of 91 runners, including six Harriers, the three mile woodland and moorland circuit of Ogden Water, with 400 feet of ascent, was being organised for the first time by Chris & Kathryn Smale.
After quickly opening up a lead from the start, it was a lonely run as Wrench finished nearly a minute ahead of his nearest rival in 17 minutes and 21 seconds.
Todmorden ladies took the team prize led in by Claire Duffield who was 4th lady overall, behind Holmfirth’s Lisa Lacon who knocked 30 seconds off her own record. Bev Wright and Louise Abdy, who was making a welcome return to racing, made up the rest of the winning team.
At the same time in Kirby Stephen, sole Todmorden entrant Lauren Jeska was 1st lady in the Nine Standards fell race which attracted a field of 68 runners to the eight and a half mile course featuring 1800 feet of ascent that covers an out-and-back course over road, track and fell to the Nine Standards landmark starts from the Market Square.
On Saturday, Jon Wright continued the club’s perfect start to the year by winning the Hebden 22 in 3hours 33 minutes. Amongst several other Harriers tackling this navigational test were Derek Donohue who finished in 22nd and Colin Duffield in 35th.
This event, organised by the Long Distance Walkers Association, attracted over 300 runners and walkers to a choice of the full 22 mile distance or a shorter route of 14 miles around the hills above Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd.
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