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