Todmorden Harriers were on familiar ground on Saturday as Calder Valley Fell Runners’ Good Shepherd Fell Race featured in the club’s Fell Championship. The 14 mile race, which had a slight route change this year, featured over 2000 feet of ascent and descent made all the tougher by the warm sunny weather.
Starting at Dauber Bridge in Cragg Vale, the runners immediately climbed up through Spring Wood and made the first of two visits of the day to Stoodley Pike. A quick descent to Withens Clough led to the next moorland climb up to the Cloven Stone checkpoint. There was then a choice of routes taken to reach the next checkpoint at London Road, with the leading group of Horwich’s James Logue, Todmorden’s Andrew Wrench and Calder Valley’s Gavin Mulholland opting to retrace their steps back to Withens Clough and climb back up through Withens Gate, whilst much of the field took the flatter but longer option around Warland Drain. After a short section along London Road, a tough climb back up to Stoodley Pike – which allowed Logue to establish a small lead - was followed by a long descent through Sunderland Pasture and Spa Wood to Cragg Vale. The final climb of the day took the runners to Robin Hood Rocks before they returned to the finish at the Good Shepherd in Mytholmroyd.
James Logue retained his narrow lead to the Rocks before a wrong turn by the following pair allowed him to open up a 5 minute gap at the finish. Andrew Wrench finished in second place ahead of Gavin Mulholland.
Dave Collins was the next Harrier to complete the course in 7th. Andy McFie and Paul Brannigan battled to the line with McFie just edging out his teammate into 12th which helped Todmorden win the team prize just one point ahead of Calder Valley.
The situation was reversed as Calder Valley Ladies took the women’s team prize by one point ahead of Todmorden. Anne Johnson was first lady to finish with Todmorden’s Claire Duffield in 2nd. Lucy Hobbs finished 6th lady after a strong finish, with Mel Blackhurst 8th lady.
Tod Results: 2 Andrew Wrench 1:50:33; 7 Dave Collins 1:58:25; 12 Andy McFie 2:01:11; 13 Paul Brannigan 2:01:13; 17 Ben Crowther 2:02:16; 27 Paul Hobbs 2:13:05; 28 Andrew Horsfall 2:13:15; 39 Claire Duffield 2:20:33; 40 Peter Bowles 2:20:47; 45 Darren Tweed 2:21:07; 58 Dan Taylor 2:26:03; 68 Lucy Hobbs 2:33:19; 70 Richard Butterwick 2:34:22; 74 Mel Blackhurst 2:36:07; 86 Peter Marshall 2:46:32; 91 Peter Ehrhardt 2:54:51; 94 Sue Roberts 3:00:38; 96 Elise Milnes 3:04:04; 97 Moyra Parfitt 3:04:11.
Thursday, 24 September 2009
Thursday, 10 September 2009
Stainland 7 | Ben Nevis | Blackshaw Head | Hades Hill
Andrew Wrench moved into a near unassailable position at the top of Todmorden Harriers’ Road Championship after the latest qualifying round at the Stainland 7. The challenging, and well organised, race features several steep climbs in the latter stages after a long downhill start. Whilst it leaves many runners saying “never again” at the finish, it is a favourite of many who return year after year, particularly after post race reflection in race HQ, The Red Lion. Ben Mounsey of organising club Stainland Lions set a new course record as he won in a time of 40:52, in ideal warm and cloudy conditions.
Todmorden put in a strong showing and won both the men’s’ and women’s team prizes. Andy Wrench led the way in 4th place, followed by Nick Barber and Dave Collins. The ladies team, Mel Blackhurst, Lucy Hobbs and Sarah Glyde, took 4th, 5th and 6th places to repeat the club’s achievement of the previous year.
Once again the Harriers also took many of the individual prizes with Andy Wrench 1st vet40, Mel Blackhurst 1st FV40, Lucy Hobbs 1st FV35 and Elise Milnes 1st FV45. Adding to this, were respectable positions for Sarah Glyde 2nd FV35, Rachel Henthorne 2nd FV40 and Moyra Parfitt 2nd FV60.
Tod Results: 4 Andy Wrench 44:02; 8 Nick Barber 46:47; 11 Dave Collins 48:25; 17 Richard Butterwick 50:48; 21 Darren Tweed 51:25; 32 Phil Cook 54:10; 39 Dan Taylor 55:56; 41 Mel Blackhurst 56:31; 48 Lucy Hobbs 57:15; 53 Sarah Glyde 58:18; 62 Elise Milnes 59:34 ; 76 Kevin Coughlan 1:02:09; 81 Peter Ehrhardt 1:03:47; 90 Moyra Parfitt 1:05:17; 100 Graham Milnes 1:10:05; 101 Dave O'Neill 1:10:37; 104 Dave Henthorne 1:11:02; 105 Rachel Henthorne 1:11:06; 115 Ian Stansfield 1:22:42.
Conditions were far from ideal on Saturday for the 9 Harriers who took on the challenge of the Ben Nevis Fell Race. Despite the sub zero temperatures on the summit and freezing rain and poor visibility, there was a record 464 finishers. With the 10 mile race featuring in the Skyrunning World Series a high quality international field assembled to tackle the 4400 feet climb up to the highest point in Britain and straight back down to Fort William.
Bingley’s Rob Jebb and Spanish runner Augusti Roc were together at the summit, before a fall by the Spaniard allowed Jebb to pull away and complete the course in a time of 1:32:33, three minutes ahead of Pudsey and Bramley’s Danny Hope.
Not far behind was the first Todmorden runner, Jon Wright, who finished in an excellent 18th place winning the Wallace Plaque in the process, in a time of 1:44:28. Andrew Horsfall was next home, in 118th, just past the 2 hour mark.
Lauren Jeska celebrated her birthday in style with 12th lady in a time of 2:14:12, and along with Sue Roberts and Mandy Goth, helped the Todmorden Ladies team into an excellent 3rd place.
Closer to home on Saturday several Harriers took part in the Blackshaw Head Fell Race, organised by Harrier Patsey Reilly. The 5.5 mile course featured 900 feet of ascent and was comfortably won by James Logue of Horwich RMI Harriers in a time of 37:28, exactly 3 minutes clear of Steve Oldfield in 2nd. First Harrier to finish was Paul Hobbs in 10th, followed by Scott Lapish in 20th and Dan Taylor in 30th.
On Thursday evening, it was Derek Clutterbuck in the organising role for the ever popular Hades Hill Fell Race. Despite starting in torrential rain and with high winds and hail to contend with on the 1200 feet climb up and down Hades Hill, 86 runners braved the conditions with Rossendale’s Ashley Holt victorious over the 5 mile route in a time of 33:35. Sean Carey was the first Todmorden runner in 4th place in a time of 35:01. Paul Burnett edged out Scott Lapish as they finished 17th and 18th respectively, with Dan Taylor in 25th, with Peter Ehrhardt in 79th.
Todmorden put in a strong showing and won both the men’s’ and women’s team prizes. Andy Wrench led the way in 4th place, followed by Nick Barber and Dave Collins. The ladies team, Mel Blackhurst, Lucy Hobbs and Sarah Glyde, took 4th, 5th and 6th places to repeat the club’s achievement of the previous year.
Once again the Harriers also took many of the individual prizes with Andy Wrench 1st vet40, Mel Blackhurst 1st FV40, Lucy Hobbs 1st FV35 and Elise Milnes 1st FV45. Adding to this, were respectable positions for Sarah Glyde 2nd FV35, Rachel Henthorne 2nd FV40 and Moyra Parfitt 2nd FV60.
Tod Results: 4 Andy Wrench 44:02; 8 Nick Barber 46:47; 11 Dave Collins 48:25; 17 Richard Butterwick 50:48; 21 Darren Tweed 51:25; 32 Phil Cook 54:10; 39 Dan Taylor 55:56; 41 Mel Blackhurst 56:31; 48 Lucy Hobbs 57:15; 53 Sarah Glyde 58:18; 62 Elise Milnes 59:34 ; 76 Kevin Coughlan 1:02:09; 81 Peter Ehrhardt 1:03:47; 90 Moyra Parfitt 1:05:17; 100 Graham Milnes 1:10:05; 101 Dave O'Neill 1:10:37; 104 Dave Henthorne 1:11:02; 105 Rachel Henthorne 1:11:06; 115 Ian Stansfield 1:22:42.
Conditions were far from ideal on Saturday for the 9 Harriers who took on the challenge of the Ben Nevis Fell Race. Despite the sub zero temperatures on the summit and freezing rain and poor visibility, there was a record 464 finishers. With the 10 mile race featuring in the Skyrunning World Series a high quality international field assembled to tackle the 4400 feet climb up to the highest point in Britain and straight back down to Fort William.
Bingley’s Rob Jebb and Spanish runner Augusti Roc were together at the summit, before a fall by the Spaniard allowed Jebb to pull away and complete the course in a time of 1:32:33, three minutes ahead of Pudsey and Bramley’s Danny Hope.
Not far behind was the first Todmorden runner, Jon Wright, who finished in an excellent 18th place winning the Wallace Plaque in the process, in a time of 1:44:28. Andrew Horsfall was next home, in 118th, just past the 2 hour mark.
Lauren Jeska celebrated her birthday in style with 12th lady in a time of 2:14:12, and along with Sue Roberts and Mandy Goth, helped the Todmorden Ladies team into an excellent 3rd place.
Closer to home on Saturday several Harriers took part in the Blackshaw Head Fell Race, organised by Harrier Patsey Reilly. The 5.5 mile course featured 900 feet of ascent and was comfortably won by James Logue of Horwich RMI Harriers in a time of 37:28, exactly 3 minutes clear of Steve Oldfield in 2nd. First Harrier to finish was Paul Hobbs in 10th, followed by Scott Lapish in 20th and Dan Taylor in 30th.
On Thursday evening, it was Derek Clutterbuck in the organising role for the ever popular Hades Hill Fell Race. Despite starting in torrential rain and with high winds and hail to contend with on the 1200 feet climb up and down Hades Hill, 86 runners braved the conditions with Rossendale’s Ashley Holt victorious over the 5 mile route in a time of 33:35. Sean Carey was the first Todmorden runner in 4th place in a time of 35:01. Paul Burnett edged out Scott Lapish as they finished 17th and 18th respectively, with Dan Taylor in 25th, with Peter Ehrhardt in 79th.
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Dent | Piethorne
The penultimate race in the English Fell Championships took place in Dent at the weekend and Todmorden Ladies held onto their 4th place in the overall standings despite growing pressure from Clayton le Moors. With almost 1400 feet of ascent and descent crammed into the short steep 3mile course, the race is one of the steepest in the fell racing calendar.
The ladies race was first off and was won by J Reedy of Ambleside in a time of 32:11, ten seconds ahead of Scunthorpe’s Emma Clayton and Jo Waites of Calder Valley.
Lauren Jeska led in the Todmorden challenge in 18th, followed by Claire Duffield in 25th, Mel Blackhurst in 45th and Sue Roberts in 64th.
In the subsequent men’s race, won by Simon Bailey of Mercia in 25:28, Andrew Wrench was first Todmorden man followed by Alistair Rhodes-Dawson and Dave Collins.
Todmorden Results (Ladies): 18 Lauren Jeska 36:08; 25 Claire Duffield 37:09; 45 Mel Blackhurst 41:05; 64 Sue Roberts 47:45.
(Men) 23 A Wrench 29:10; 39 A Rhodes-Dawson 30:49; 49 D Collins 31:53; 73 A Horsfall 33:38; 93 P Brannigan 35:16; 99 P Cook 35:52; 101 D Tweed 36:23; 115 S Galloway 38:25; 134 P Ehrhardt 43:11; 135 P Marshall 44:01; 147 D O'Neil 48:56; 150 I Stansfield 1:00:00.
The previous Wednesday had seen Alistair Rhodes-Dawson put in a storming performance to finish 3rd at the inaugural Piethorne Fell Race near Newhey. This new race, organised by Rochdale Harriers in memory of Mike Sadula, was a 4.5 mile circular course featuring 900 feet of ascent.
Ben Mounsey of Calder Valley won in a time of 33:50 ahead of team mate Gavin Mulholland. Alistair crossed the line in 38:48, with Scott Lapish making a return to racing in 13th. Three Harriers then crossed the line in quick succession with Dan Taylor, Derek Donohue and James Riley finishing in 18th, 21st and 24th respectively.
The ladies race was first off and was won by J Reedy of Ambleside in a time of 32:11, ten seconds ahead of Scunthorpe’s Emma Clayton and Jo Waites of Calder Valley.
Lauren Jeska led in the Todmorden challenge in 18th, followed by Claire Duffield in 25th, Mel Blackhurst in 45th and Sue Roberts in 64th.
In the subsequent men’s race, won by Simon Bailey of Mercia in 25:28, Andrew Wrench was first Todmorden man followed by Alistair Rhodes-Dawson and Dave Collins.
Todmorden Results (Ladies): 18 Lauren Jeska 36:08; 25 Claire Duffield 37:09; 45 Mel Blackhurst 41:05; 64 Sue Roberts 47:45.
(Men) 23 A Wrench 29:10; 39 A Rhodes-Dawson 30:49; 49 D Collins 31:53; 73 A Horsfall 33:38; 93 P Brannigan 35:16; 99 P Cook 35:52; 101 D Tweed 36:23; 115 S Galloway 38:25; 134 P Ehrhardt 43:11; 135 P Marshall 44:01; 147 D O'Neil 48:56; 150 I Stansfield 1:00:00.
The previous Wednesday had seen Alistair Rhodes-Dawson put in a storming performance to finish 3rd at the inaugural Piethorne Fell Race near Newhey. This new race, organised by Rochdale Harriers in memory of Mike Sadula, was a 4.5 mile circular course featuring 900 feet of ascent.
Ben Mounsey of Calder Valley won in a time of 33:50 ahead of team mate Gavin Mulholland. Alistair crossed the line in 38:48, with Scott Lapish making a return to racing in 13th. Three Harriers then crossed the line in quick succession with Dan Taylor, Derek Donohue and James Riley finishing in 18th, 21st and 24th respectively.
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