Todmorden to host the English Fell Championships

The country’s finest fell runners will be picking their way around the hills of Todmorden on Saturday after Todmorden Harriers’ Noonstone Fell Race was selected as the prestigious opening counter for this year’s English Fell Championship.

Whilst many Todmorden Harriers will be busy helping out race organiser Andrew Horsfall, those taking part in the race will hope that the advantage of being on home ground will start off their 2010 Championship campaign on the right foot as the club seeks to build on past triumphs.

Many of the biggest names in the sport will be present, including current British and English Champion Rob Hope, as well as the upcoming talent of U23 Men’s Champion James Kevan and Ladies U23 Champion Emma Clayton. Ladies Team Champions Calder Valley will also be hoping their local knowledge will set them on their way to further success this year.

The 9 mile race, which features 2300 feet of ascent and descent, will start at noon on Saturday 27th February from Mankinholes. The first steep climb up Coldwell Hill should spread out the expected 500 competitors before they drop back down to London Road.

A climb up past Stoodley Pike will lead onto the fast descent to Withens Clough Reservoir. The third and longest gradient of the day takes the runners out onto private ground over the pathless Turley Holes and Higher House Moor with only the Two Lads Stones and the Little Holder Stones to assist with navigation.

After briefly following the Pennine Way from Warland Reservoir, a descent over Langfield Edge will lead to the final climb of the day past the Noon Stone on the way back up to Coldwell Hill and a steep testing decent to the finish at Mankinholes.

The presentation ceremony will be held after the race at the Top Brink Inn, Lumbutts.

Ilkley Moor Fell Race

Several Todmorden Harriers braved snowy and icy conditions at the Ilkley Moor Fell Race on Sunday. Immaculately organised by Ilkley Harriers, the circular 5 mile route features 1260 feet of ascent and an early morning fall of wet snow added to the difficult reputation of the race.

Starting from Wells Road, the runners climbed up past the Cow and Calf Rocks to the Pancake Stone. A treacherously steep descent followed with numerous fallers sliding down on the compacted snow that at times bore a stronger resemblance to an Olympic bobsleigh track than a fell race. After a bridge crossing of Backstone Beck the height lost was soon regained with a long climb back up the other side of the beck. A relatively flat section took the field across to a further steep ascent to the Badger Stone at the highest point of the race, where poor visibility led several runners astray. The final long precarious descent then took the runners to the welcome sight of the finish.

Pudsey and Bramley’s Graham Pearce was in class of his own in the 224 strong field and completed the course in a respectable 39:52, over 2 minutes ahead of his nearest rival. Paul Brannigan was the first Todmorden Harrier in 26th position, half a minute ahead of 28th placed Paul Hobbs, with Dave Collins not far behind in 33rd.

Earlier Jack Crummet was the sole Todmorden representative in the junior races, where he finished 5th – and 1st non-Ilkley runner - in the U12 race.

Todmorden Results: 26 Paul Brannigan 47:42; 28 Paul Hobbs 48:10; 33 Dave Collins 48:45; 42 Steve Brandwood 50:49; 53 Clive Greatorex 53:02; 122 Richard Butterwick 1:00:52; 190 Peter Ehrhardt 1:11:53.

Liversedge Half

Todmorden Harriers 2010 Club Road Championship opened with the Liversedge Half Marathon on Sunday. Twelve Harriers tackled the 13.1 mile race which followed an undulating hilly course starting and finishing at Roberttown, travelling through Liversedge, Bailiff Bridge and Brighouse.


Mark Anderton continued his fine start to the year to finish in 35th place in a quality field of over 400, with the race won by Edward Mitchell in a quick time of 1:13:16.


Martin Stork and David Baldaro battled throughout with just 12 seconds separating them at the finish.


Karen Gray – completing her 2nd half marathon in successive weekends – was Todmorden’s first lady finisher winning the 2nd vet45 prize, finishing just 6 seconds behind club mate Richard O’Sullivan.

Mel Blackhurst followed them home, to also take 2nd prize in the vet40 category.

Todmorden Results: 35 Mark Anderton 01:29:57; 52 Martin Stork 01:32:10; 54 David Baldaro 01:32:22; 79 Richard Butterwick 01:36:01; 111 Richard O'Sullivan 01:40:00; 112 Karen Gray 01:40:06; 130 Mel Blackhurst 01:41:56; 238 Bev Wright 01:53:50; 305 Wayne Morrison 2:02:19; 314 Mel Robertson 2:04:45; 394 Myra Wells 2:24:39.

Wadsworth Trogs

Todmorden Harriers 2010 Club Fell Championship opened with the Wadsworth Trog on Saturday. The local 20 mile race features 4000 feet of ascent as it weaves its way across the moors above Hebden Bridge.
A formidable undertaking under any circumstances, this year’s runners also had to contend with hill fog over much of the course testing navigational skills to the limit.

First Harrier to finish was Dave Collins in 19th place, with Phil Hodgson next across the line just ahead of first Harrier lady Chris Preston.

Todmorden Results: 19 Dave Collins 03:40:13; 40 Phil Hodgson 03:59:37; 41 Christine Preston 04:00:14; 56 James Riley 04:19:03; 58 Clive Greatorex 04:23:30; 78 Richard Leonard 04:28:29; 96 Melanie Blackhurst 04:35:23; 97 Richard O'Sullivan 04:35:53; 116 Helen Hodgkinson 05:19:50; 117 Elise Milnes 05:19:51.

Three Harriers tackled the 9 mile Half Trog and they combined to take 2nd place team behind host club Calder Valley. Andrew Horsfall finished in 6th place, Mark Anderton in 8th and Paul Hobbs in 26th.

Pennine Bridleway Relay

Todmorden Harriers Ladies Team were the star performers of the club’s five teams at Sunday’s Pennine Bridleway Relay. The event is organised by Rossendale Harriers and follows a full circuit of the 47 mile Mary Townley Loop. The distance is split into 5 legs which are each run by a pair of different runners, and with over 90 teams entered involved nearly 1000 runners. After some early morning mist, the day was bathed in glorious winter sunshine and light winds throughout the day.

Starting at Waterfoot, the first leg follows the trail to Holme Chapel before a climb to the finish near Coal Clough. The ladies opening pairing of Rachel Skinner and Kay Leigh put in a solid start and the club lay in third place behind Clayton Le Moors and Calder Valley.

Lauren Jeska and Sarah May then set the fastest ladies leg time of the day on the 2nd stage and handed over at Callis Bridge in 2nd place behind Calder Valley’s Helen Fines and Jo Waites who had taken up the overall lead, as Clayton slipped to third.

Clayton then set the fastest time on leg 3 but Chris Preston and Sarah Warburton kept Todmorden in 2nd place with the next best time as the race travelled across to Calderbrook.

A late personnel change on leg 4 saw Kerry Edwards brought in to partner Karen Gray and they worked hard to hold onto their position under a stiff challenge from Clayton on the shortest leg of the day.

At the final handover Clayton were just 3 seconds behind and the final tough stage over Rooley Moor and an icy descent back into Waterfoot saw Clayton overtake final Todmorden pair Mel Blackhurst and Lucy Hobbs to follow Calder Valley over the line.

The men’s’ A team finished the day in 12th place overall, with the 4th leg pairing of Sean Carey and Andrew Wrench setting the 2nd fastest leg time of the day.

The men’s’ B team set the 2nd fastest B team performance to finish in 27th place overall.

The Mixed Team were 68th and Allstars team were 80th.