Noon Stone Fell Race

The Noon Stone Fell Race attracted a large field of 251 hardy runners to Todmorden on Saturday. Whilst the morning mist had lifted considerably by the start at 12 noon, grey and cloudy skies remained throughout in perhaps the kindest weather experienced for several years. However, with the 9 mile race incorporating a total of 2,300 feet of ascent and a sizeable unmarked navigational section, it was still a serious undertaking.

Starting from Mankinholes, the race quickly rose up the first steep climb of the day to Coldwell Hill, before plunging back down to London Road losing much of the 600 feet height just gained. The route then immediately climbed back up past Stoodley Pike and then down again to Withens Clough. The third and longest gradient of the day took the strung out field across pathless open moorland and bog to the highest point of the race at the Little Holder Stones. After very briefly following the Pennine Way from Warland Reservoir runners were soon back onto rough ground as they descended over Langfield Edge. The final short climb of the day then took them back up to Coldwell Hill and a steep testing decent returned them to the finish at Mankinholes.

The early pace was set by Calder Valley’s Shaun Godsman and Alex Whittem, as they opened up a small lead on the first climb with Sheffield University’s Callum Gilhooley and Todmorden Harriers’ Sean Willis leading the chasers.

Whittem initially took up the lead on the muddy descent to London Road as Willis was dropped from the leading group. As the race progressed further a two way battle ensued between Godsman and Gilhooley, with the Sheffield student looking favourite as he opened up a small gap in the latter stages. However the local man’s experience showed in the run in as he went one better than last year, crossing the line in 1:11:15, to take the win by 7 seconds, with Whittem ultimately finishing a further minute behind in 3rd place.

First Harrier home was Willis in 6th closely followed by Chris Smale in 7th, taking 1st and 2nd in the Vet40 category respectively. The men’s team prize went to Calder Valley Fell Runners edging out Todmorden.

Zanthe Wray of Sheffield University quickly established herself as first lady and a strong run all the way round ensured that she comfortably remained so to the finish, with a 4 minute advantage over her nearest rival Heather Dawe of Ilkley. First Todmorden lady was Kath Brierley in 6th overall and 2nd Vet40. Along with Emma Osenton and Helen Hodgkinson, Todmorden comfortably won the ladies team prize.

After the extensive prize giving, a Todmorden Harriers spokesman thanked the land owners for their help putting the race on, the landlord and staff of the Top Brink Inn for their excellent hospitality throughout the day, and the many volunteer marshals and other helpers.