Fiendsdale | Burnley 10k

Todmorden Harriers had a full weekend with races featuring in both the club’s fell and road championships taking place.
First up, on Saturday, was the Fiendsdale fell race with a 7.5 mile route that took in 2,500 feet of ascent and descent. Sunny skies greeted the race which was restricted to a select field of 100 entrants.
Danny Hope of Pudsey and Bramley was in a class of his own, setting a new course record of 1:03:57, on his way to a win by almost 6 minutes. First Todmorden Harrier to finish was Alistair Rhodes-Dawson with a solid performance to take 8th place. Dave Collins continued his rich vein of form with another vet50 win, and 13th place overall.
The ladies were not to be outdone with Lauren Jeska and Kath Brierley finishing 5th and 6th ladies, after a close nip and tuck battle throughout the race with just 3 seconds between them at the line. Jane Leonard won the vet50 category and together the trio took the ladies team prize.

Todmorden Results: 8 Alistair Rhodes - Dawson 1:13:07; 13 Dave Collins 1:17:34; 40 Roger Howarth 1:25:22; 50 James Riley 1:27:43; 53 Lauren Jeska 1:27:56; 54 Kath Brierley 1:27:59; 68 Jane Leonard 1:33:40; 84 Richard Leonard 1:39:27; 89 Peter Marshall 1:43:32.



On Sunday, the second round of the club’s road championship persuaded 26 Harriers to make the short trip to Burnley for Blessed Trinity Sports College’s well organised 10k race.
After a fast start past Turf Moor the 222 strong field climbed gradually past Townley Park, before turning back along Todmorden Road. A sharp climb up Mount Lane at the mid-way point punished those who had started too quickly and a further climb up Red Lees Road followed before a fast final 2 miles returned runners back to the finish. James Reed won the race in 33:16, a minute and a half ahead of the next runner.
With just over a minute separating the first 5 Harriers to finish, the men’s road championship is already shaping up to be extremely competitive this year. First to finish was Scott Lapish with a strong run in 20th, holding off Joe Stansfield to the end. Next Harrier over the line was David Baldaro, followed by Duncan Ritchie.
The ladies road championship is also looking to develop into an exciting battle, with Lucy Hobbs recording an outstanding performance to finish 3rd lady. Kerry Edwards also had an excellent day finishing 5th, and Bev Wright completed another winning performance for the ladies team.
Prizes also went to Moyra Parfitt, 1st ladies vet60 and Derek Clutterbuck, 1st vet75 on a day when several Harriers recorded personal best times for the distance, despite the hilly nature of the course.

Todmorden Results: 20 Scott Lapish 39:07; 23 Joe Stansfield 39:16; 28 David Baldaro 39:44; 30 Duncan Ritchie 40:12; 32 Richard Butterwick 40:25; 42 Dan Taylor 41:41; 57 Lucy Hobbs 43:28; 58 Keith Parkinson 43:32; 70 Kerry Edwards 44:31; 71 Darren Tweed 44:31; 81 Paul Brannigan 45:17; 110 Beverley Wright 47:34; 124 Elise Milnes 48:53; 128 Peter Ehrhardt 49:10; 138 Paula Haworth 50:09; 155 Moyra Parfitt 51:37; 161 Helen Hodgkinson 52:48; 177 Julie Wyant 54:12; 184 David Henthorne 55:27; 186 Mandy Goth 55:43; 187 Barry Chapman 55:46; 188 Rachel Henthorne 55:50; 198 Myra Wells 58:08; 203 Rachel Allen 59:03; 204 Derek Clutterbuck 59:04; 205 Graham Milnes 59:38.