Tour of Pendle | Rivock Edge | Abbey Dash

Todmorden Harriers’ club Fell Championship came to a close at the Tour of Pendle on Saturday. The 17mile race, which includes nearly 5000 feet of ascent and descent, is one of the toughest tests in the local area. Heavy rain, gale force winds and clag covered hilltops added to the challenge.
Starting from Barley village, a short road section took the runners straight to their first ascent of the landmark peak. After a steady descent to the Nick o’ Pendle the field turned towards Churn Reservoir, where a sharp climb took runners up onto Spence Moor. The spectacular ‘Geronimo’ descent down to the checkpoint at Ogden Clough brought out a sizeable number of spectators.
Another climb up and out of the Clough then took the runners back across towards the ski centre. They then took in an undulating course along the north side of the hill before the final stiff climb back up to Big End. A long final descent back to Ogden Clough led onto the final push back to the welcome finish at Barley.
Alistair Rhodes-Dawson was the first Todmorden runner to finish, consolidating his 2nd place behind Andrew Wrench in the club’s Fell Championship. Ben Crowther followed him in, with Chris Preston first Todmorden lady ahead of Elise Milnes.


On Sunday a trio of Harriers experienced slightly better conditions for the Rivock Edge Fell Race at Silsden.
The 6.3 mile course includes over 800 feet of ascent and was won by Lewis Banton in 53:02. First Harrier to finish was Simon Galloway – fresh from his recent Lytham St Annes 5k Monsterdash win – in 1:03:12. Chasing him in were Mick Craven and Peter Ehrhardt.


Andy McFie got his London Marathon training off to a flying start at the Leeds Abbey Dash 10k with a 218th position out of the 600 runners in a time of 37:56. Melanie Robertson had a fine run to finish in 51:55 and Debbie Fawcett stopped the clock in 1:03:25.

Dunnerdale

A sizeable contingent of 19 Todmorden Harriers helped swell a record field of 276 for the Dunnerdale Fell Race in the South Western Lakeland Fells. Starting from the small village of Broughton Mills the 5 mile route steadily climbed over The Knott and Raven’s Cragg with little respite. Heavy overnight rain that saturated the ground meant that the descent that followed was underwater in many parts and deep mud for the rest.
A stiff climb up to the distinctive peak of Stickle Pike took runners briefly onto slightly rockier ground before a final boggy climb over Great Stickle took the total ascent to 1800 feet and a final muddy descent back to the village.
Tom Addison of local club Helm Hill and Lloyd Taggart of Dark Peak headed the field throughout with only 6 seconds between them at the end with Addison crossing the finish line in 39:36, a creditable time in the conditions.
Martin Roberts led in the Todmorden entry in 59th place with Jeff Walker in 81st. Claire Duffield held off a late challenge from Richard Butterwick as they finished in 103rd and 104th respectively with Phil Hodgson in 110th.
Rachel Skinner was Todmorden’s 2nd lady finisher, before Dan Taylor was followed in by Sarah Warburton and Kath Brierley in quick succession.

Todmorden Results: 59 Martin Roberts 52:12; 81 Jeff Walker 54:47; 103 Claire Duffield 56:27; 104 Richard Butterwick 56:30; 110 Phil Hodgson 56:56; 132 Rachel Skinner 58:28; 144 Dan Taylor 59:34; 146 Sarah Warburton 59:43; 147 Kath Brierley 59:45; 161 John Preston 1:01:10; 167 Christine Preston 1:01:25; 175 Mick Howard 1:02:09; 182 Richard Leonard 1:03:00; 210 Louise Abdy 1:05:41; 223 Richard Blakeley 1:08:19; 236 Mandy Goth 1:10:22; 243 Barry Chapman 1:12:28; 246 Mel Siddall 1:13:28; 252 Kirsten Airlie 1:15:15.

Lancaster Half | Shepherd's Skyline

The final race in Todmorden Harriers’ Road Championship on Sunday saw Lucy Hobbs crowned ladies champion after an excellent run at the Lancaster Half Marathon.
Paul Brannigan was the first Todmorden runner to finish in 29th out of 666 runners, securing 2nd place in the men’s championship behind winner Andrew Wrench.
Dan Taylor dipped under the 90 minute mark at Lancaster to end the year in 4th place in the final club standings behind Richard Butterwick, and ahead of Phil Cook.
Despite the pressure Lucy ran a well judged race to pip Sarah Glyde and Mel Blackhurst to the title in one of the closest championship finishes in years.
Todmorden Results: 29 Paul Brannigan 1:21:36; 91 Dan Taylor 1:29:55; 168 Lucy Hobbs 1:35:55; 196 Darren Tweed 1:37:56; 335 Mel Siddall 1:46:27; 605 Katy Moore 2:16:21.


The Shepherd’s Skyline Fell Race took place on Saturday once again attracting a large field of over 260 in the main race and a record 83 for the junior races on the hills above the Shepherd’s Rest Inn in wet and muddy conditions.
The 6.25 mile senior race followed a route from the Inn up past Langfield Edge and along the skyline to Stoodley Pike. A hair raising steep descent took the runners down to London Road, for a brief flat section followed by a tough climb back up the hillside to the Stoop and a return back to the Shepherd’s Rest.
Graham Pearce of Pudsey and Bramley won the race in a time of 42:07, just over a minute ahead of Calder Valley’s Ben Mounsey. Sean Carey was Todmorden’s first finisher in 4th place, and first U18, in a time of 44:32. Alistair Rhodes-Dawson finished in 18th, with Ben Crowther just holding off a fast finishing Dave Collins in 32nd and 34th respectively.
Peter Jackson won the Vet60 prize finishing just past the hour mark with Sarah Warburton, the Harriers first female finisher, not far behind.
John Preston nobly sacrificed his race to assist an injured runner off the hills after a fall.
Todmorden Results: 4 Sean Carey 44:32; 18 Alistair Rhodes-Dawson 48:43; 32 Ben Crowther 50:49; 34 Dave Collins 51:20; 40 Paul Hobbs 51:53; 58 Martin Roberts 54:34; 68 Paul Burnett 55:33; 73 Simon Galloway 56:06; 122 Peter Jackson 1:00:32; 126 Gareth Vickers 1:00:50; 136 Sarah Warburton 1:01:33; 167 Christine Preston 1:04:29; 168 John Medcalf 1:04:31; 217 Peter Ehrhardt 1:12:46; 224 Fiona Armer 1:13:39; 234 Julie Wyant 1:16:44; 249 John Preston 1:28:05;

Through the Villages

The penultimate round of Todmorden Harriers’ Road Championship on Sunday saw Sarah Glyde hold off a strong challenge from Lucy Hobbs to consolidate her lead in the ladies championship. However, the destination of the title will go to the wire at next weekend’s Lancaster half marathon, with Mel Blackhurst also still in the mix.
The 8.45mile Through the Villages Race from Wheelton followed an undulating loop through several Lancashire villages, and despite the stormy and blustery conditions the rain held off for much of the race.
Paul Brannigan was the first Todmorden runner to finish in 20th place, and 3rd vet45. Barring any mishaps at next week’s race he should comfortably claim 2nd place behind Andrew Wrench in the men’s championship. Richard Butterwick was next over the line to finish in 45th boosting his chances of capturing 3rd place in the championship, with Andrew Bibby in 71st, and 3rd vet55.
Sarah Glyde finished just 9 seconds ahead of Lucy Hobbs after a race long tussle that may prove vital in the final standings. Mel Siddall was next Todmorden lady to finish, taking 3rd vet45.
Bev Wright resisted Peter Ehrhardt’s efforts pipping him on the line by 5 seconds and Barry Chapman completed the Todmorden contingent in 239th.
Todmorden Results: 21 Paul Brannigan 54:02; 45 Richard Butterwick 57:52; 71 Andrew Bibby 1:02:15; 104 Sarah Glyde 1:04:58; 105 Lucy Hobbs 1:05:07; 142 Mel Siddall 1:10:17; 160 Bev Wright 1:12:02; 161 Peter Ehrhardt 1:12:07; 239 Barry Chapman 1:26:38;

The Harriers turn race organisers next weekend with the popular Shepherd’s Skyline Fell Race taking place on Saturday 7th November from the Shepherd’s Rest Inn on Lumbutts Road. The main race starts at 1pm and follows a 6mile loop past Stoodley Pike. Junior races take place on the hillside above the inn and begin at 12noon. Full details can be found on the club’s website: www.todmordenharriers.co.uk