19 feb 09

Todmorden Harriers continued their strong start to the year with two top ten placings and individual and ladies team winners at the weekend.
The opening race in the Harriers’ 2009 Road Championship was the Radcliffe Trail Race with barely a stretch of tarmac in sight. The race makes its way through an area of rejuvenated Lancastrian industrial heartland to the south of Bolton, following nature trails, former railway lines and canal paths.
As with previous occasions when the race has been included in the championship, it tempted some of the club’s runners who are more usually associated with success on the fells, as well as newer members making their debut in a championship race. With the recent thaw, conditions underfoot were very muddy and made for sapping progress around the 12 mile course for the 220 finishers.
Jon Wright was first Todmorden finisher in 4th place less than a minute behind the winner, Wilmslow’s Damien Nicholls. Andrew Wrench was 2nd Harrier across the line in 8th place followed by Sarah May who had a tremendous run to finish 27th overall, and first lady overall. Along with Lucy Hobbs and Bev Wright, this meant that the club comfortably took the honours for first ladies team.

Todmorden results: 4 Jonathan Wright 1:14:51; 9 Andrew Wrench 1:19:49; 27 Sarah May 1:26:49; 38 Duncan Ritchie 1:30:15; 46 Kevin Booth 1:31:43; 79 Mick Craven 1:36:57; 81 Lucy Hobbs 1:37:40; 84 Dave Collins 1:38:12; 86 Dan Taylor 1:38:37; 95 Richard O'Sullivan 1:41:03; 122 Gareth Vickers 1:45:24; 135 Beverley Wright 1:47:43; 142 Jeremy Godden 1:49:09; 144 Helen Wilson 1:49:52; 153 Elise Milnes 1:52:27; 163 Melanie Siddall 1:55:10; 171 Paula Haworth 1:56:59; 214 David Henthorne 2:13:15; 215 Rachel Henthorne 2:13:15; 217 Derek Clutterbuck 2:23:51.