Hot Toddy | Whinberry Naze

Todmorden Harriers’ Hot Toddy road race took advantage of a relative lull in the wintery weather on Sunday, attracting 250 runners. The 5.8 mile race was started by Todmorden’s Mayor, Councillor Cheryl Stovin, who also presented the prizes afterwards at new race HQ Todmorden Working Men’s Social Club.

Last year’s winner Ian Grime, of Newham and Essex Beagles, opened up an early lead as the race travelled up Rochdale Road, turning at Walsden Post Office for a long steady climb up to the Shepherd’s Rest. Runners then had to take care on the descent via Woodhouse Road, as small ice patches still remained, before returning to Todmorden Centre along Halifax Road. Grime retained his lead to the end to win in a time of 30:20. A three way battle for 2nd place was won out by Richard Howarth of Horwich RMI finishing just ahead of Mike Flatley of Middleton Harriers and local runner Alex Whittem.

Amy Green, of Keighley and Craven, went one better than last year to finish 1st female in 35:00 holding off the challenge from Rotherham’s Rose Edwards and a fast finishing Sarah Louise Cumber of Halifax Harriers. Multiple past winner Sue Becconsall followed them across the line, taking the Vet50 prize.

Alistair Rhodes-Dawson made a rare foray onto the tarmac to finish first Harrier in 18th place, followed by Shaun Pickard in 31st. Sarah May was first Todmorden lady to finish – and 5th lady overall, just 2 seconds behind teammate Mark Anderton. Karen Gray was the next Todmorden lady to finish, improving on last year’s performance by almost 5 minutes. Moyra Parfitt collected the ladies vet60 prize.

Todmorden Results: 18 Alistair Rhodes-Dawson 34:38; 31 Shaun Pickard 35:40; 34 Mark Anderton 35:58; 35 Sarah May 36:00; 45 Richard Butterwick 37:32; 48 Simon Anderton 37:41; 52 Stephen Brandwood 38:02; 61 Martin Stork 38:46; 84 Mick Craven 41:05; 94 Dan Taylor 41:43; 108 Karen Gray 42:31; 132 Wayne Morrison 44:31; 144 Emma Osenton 46:07; 154 Moyra Parfitt 46:51; 158 David Leslie 46:59; 166 Melanie Robertson 47:46; 179 Helen Wilson 49:10; 201 Jenny Ehrhardt 52:30; 208 Myra Wells 53:33; 235 Barbara Bush 58:18.


Todmorden’s top young talent Sean Carey rounded off an excellent year with his first senior fell race victory at the snowy and icy Whinberry Naze Fell Race on Boxing Day at Rawtenstall. Whilst the 4 mile race, with 750 feet of ascent and descent, traditionally entices many runners to don fancy dress, the strength of the field and tricky conditions meant this was still a serious race and an excellent and hard earned achievement. Sean finished in a time of 27:55, over 30 seconds ahead of Horwich’s James Logue.

Todmorden’s Andrew Wrench and Jon Wright finished 4th and 7th respectively, with Ben Crowther in 38th on a rewarding outing for the club.

Following The Wrong Trod

The Wrong Trod begins here... where you can find copies of the Todmorden Harriers press reports submitted to the weekly Todmorden News and featured in Tod Harriers' excellent bi-monthly~ish Torrier newsletter.

These report on the fell running, road and trail racing and occasionally other activities of the many members of Todmorden Harriers Athletic Club based in the Upper Calder Valley area of the South Pennines in Northern England.



[Earlier reports retrospectively added]

The Stoop

The wintery weather did little to deter the 13 Todmorden Harriers who trekked to Penistone Country Park near Haworth for The Stoop fell race on Sunday. With the race route adjusted for safety reasons to the old course, the 200 strong field of runners were still faced with blizzards and icy conditions during the 5 mile out and back race to the Oxenhope Stoop boundary stone.


Young Harrier Sean Carey lived with the early pace set by 6-time winner Rob Hope and 10-time winner Ian Holmes on the way out, but current British Champion Hope ploughed through the snow on the return to take the glory with his 7th victory in a time of 30:50, just 3 seconds ahead of a fast finishing Holmes. Sean finished the day in 6th place, taking the under18 prize with ease.

Sean Pickard was the next Harrier to finish in 40:21 followed by Simon Galloway and Paul Cotton. Clive ‘Spiderman’ Greatorex had no problem scaling the gate hurdle at the finish and was pursued in by Andrew Bibby and Richard Butterwick, with Phil Hodgson and Dan Taylor following in quick succession.

A festive looking Chris Preston, nosed ahead of Richard O’Sullivan at the finish, and was the first of three Todmorden ladies in 45:34, ahead of Karen Gray and Louise Abdy.



The Hot Toddy road race takes place at 11am on Sunday 27th December 2009, with a 1 mile fun run starting at 10:30am. Whilst the course is unchanged, Todmorden Working Men’s Social Club on Halifax Road has stepped in to host registration on the day. The race always attracts a good turnout of runners, of all abilities, to the 5.8mile route.

After the race all finishers, aged over 18, will receive a free ‘hot toddy’ at the Club, where runners and spectators are welcome for the prize giving ceremony.

Calderdale Way Relay

Todmorden Harriers entered four teams into last Sunday’s Calderdale Way Relay, magnificently organised by Halifax Harriers, joining over 1000 of the country’s top fell runners on the scenic trail.


The race follows the 50 mile route of the Calderdale Way, with an additional side loop to take in Stoodley Pike, and totals over 12,000 feet of climbing. The distance is split into 6 legs which are each run by a pair of runners within teams of 12.

With relatively mild temperatures and good visibility throughout the day, all four Todmorden teams posted improved times on last year.

After Dark Peak had made the early running, Calder Valley briefly headed the race on leg 2, before Dark peak regained it on leg 3. Salford then took up the lead on leg 4 and held off a strong challenge from Dark Peak to win with a narrow 2 minute margin, in a time of 5:54:08.

Todmorden’s men’s ‘A’ team finished in 14th place, with Andrew Wrench and Sean Carey setting the fastest time of the day on leg 3. The short, mainly uphill, leg started in Centre Vale Park and rose up to Blackshawhead past Great Rock.

The men’s ‘B’ team finished in 44th, with team captain Simon Galloway and Peter Bowles having a tremendous run on leg 2 to move up 21 places. Starting from Cragg Vale this leg climbed over Stoodley Pike and featured a tough climb past Dobroyd Castle before dropping down to the Park.

The ladies finished the day as 6th placed ladies team just 3 minutes behind local rivals, Calder Valley, after Sarah May and Lauren Jeska had set them off with a flying first leg. Starting from North Dean Woods, the longest leg of the day crossed Norland Moor before dropping down into Ripponden and then back up past Sowerby Crow Hill on its way to Cragg Vale.

The mixed ‘Allstars’ team also had an excellent first leg from Andrew Bibby and Lee McCluskey and continued to work hard throughout all the legs to finish in 81st overall.

Leg 4 started at Blackshaw Head and made it way across to Whipstalls via Heptonstall and Hardcastle Crags. The pick of the Todmorden performances was Ben Crowther and Paul Hobbs who ran an excellent leg against strong competition to hold onto a then 11th place.

After a change over at Wainstalls leg 5 headed east to the final changeover at Shelf. Ladies team captain Chris Preston and ladies club captain Kath Brierley made a formidable pairing on this leg to move the ladies up 7 places.

‘B’ Team runners Dan Taylor and Kevin Booth also made good time on this leg to gain a place and set up their final runners Simon Anderton and Nick Wigmore who took another 3 places on leg 6.

2009 Annual Presentation

Todmorden Harriers took the opportunity to celebrate 2009’s successes at their Annual Awards Presentation Evening, held at Todmorden Cricket Club on Saturday.
Prior to the awards, Ray Poulter led a moving tribute to long time member Dr George Barrow who had sadly recently passed away.
Andrew Wrench, who had started the year as he meant to go on with a win on New Year’s Day, at the Giant’s Tooth Fell Race, dominated the evening’s awards winning the men’s Fell Championship, the overall Grand Prix, the Club Champion and, for the first time, the club’s Road Championship.
Lauren Jeska, who had also won on New Year’s Day, at the Nine Standards Fell Race, received the ladies Fell Championship trophy in her first full year with the club.
Also receiving prizes in the clubs fell championship were runner up Alistair Rhodes-Dawson, Dave Collins (1st vet50), Peter Marshall (1st vet60), Claire Duffield (1st lady vet35), Chris Preston (1st lady vet40) and Kath Brierley (1st lady vet45).
Kath also received the Eric Stuttard Award for the best performance in the English Fell Championships, where she claimed a hard fought bronze medal in the ladies vet 45 category. After a vote on the night, Kath added the Clubman of the Year trophy to her haul.
In addition to 13 team wins at various road and fell races across the year, the ladies team once again set a new best performance in the English Fell Championships with a 5th placing, narrowly missing out on 4th to Clayton le Moors. The ladies vet40 team matched that with a 5th place in the final tables. Another highlight for the ladies team was a 2nd place in the Pennine Bridleway Relay in January.
The men’s team also improved upon last year’s English Championship performance to finish in the top 10, with the vet40 team and vet50 teams both finishing in 7th in their respective categories.
Ben Crowther received the ‘Most Improved Runner’ trophy having recorded some excellent performances in the English Championships, and together with Nick Barber, finished 2nd pair in the two day OMM event.
Peter Ehrhardt and Paul Brannigan were the first recipients of commemorative tankards to mark the completion of 10 club Grand Prix qualifications. The 2009 Grand Prix had attracted a record 96 participants, with 19 achieving the qualifying minimum.
Lucy Hobbs was the awarded the ladies Road Championship, after season long battle with runner up Sarah Glyde and 3rd placed Mel Blackhurst, who finished 1st lady vet40. Also taking prizes home for the road championship were Ian Stansfield (1st vet65), Peter Ehrhardt (1st vet 60), David Henthorne (1st vet50) and Moyra Parfitt (1st lady vet60).

Entries are now open for the Hot Toddy 5.8mile road race on Sunday December 27th which welcomes runners of all abilities. The run starts at the Dale Street car park and follows a testing route, first along Rochdale Road to Walsden Post Office, then doubling back along Hollins Road, up to the Shepherds Rest and finally down Halifax Road back to Todmorden town centre. All finishers, over 18 years old, will be rewarded with a hot toddy drink.
Alternatively, there is the mile-long fun run which follows a safe, off-road route close to Todmorden town centre. The Hot Toddy starts at 11am and the fun run gets underway at 10.30am. Entries are accepted on the day. Full details are on the club’s website www.todharriers.co.uk