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.