Blackstone Edge Fell Race | Cowm Reservoir 5k

Todmorden Harriers Ladies took first and second places at the 3.75 mile Blackstone Edge Fell Race on Wednesday evening. Starting from Lydgate Hamlet the race climbed almost straight up to the Trig point with the terrain increasingly steep. After a brief traverse along the top, runners were then faced with a sharp and tussocky descent back to the finish.

After a close contest for much of the race, Kath Brierley won in 40:30 after she managed to open up a gap in the last mile to finish a minute ahead of team mate Jane Leonard. Andrea Marshall was the ladies 3rd counter to take the team prize.

The men’s team finished 2nd behind Calder Valley with Sean Carey in 4th, and first U18, and Jon Wright just 2 seconds behind in 5th leading the way. Wright had held the upper hand on the climb up to Blackstone Edge but once past the trig point, Carey made a move and held the advantage to the line despite being pushed all the way. Newcomer Jackson Cowie showed considerable promise with 14th place, and 3rd junior, finishing ahead of Dave Collins in 18th place.

Geoff Read made the not inconsiderable trip all the way from Japan to finish in 42nd place just ahead of Phil Cook.


On the same evening at Whitworth four Harriers tackled the 5km Ian Casey Memorial Cowm Reservoir Race. James Riley finished in 30th in a time of 20:07 with Mel Siddall finishing 5th lady in 22:22. Ian Stansfield finished 101st and Jon Newby in 106th place.

Mearley Clough | Littleborough 5k | Churn Milk Chase

Todmorden Harriers had an excellent week with the men claiming three 3rd places, and Sarah May claiming an outright win for the ladies.

The club’s Fell Championship visited Pendle Hill for the Mearley Clough Fell Race on Tuesday evening. The 3.5mile race features 1200 feet of climb as it ascends from the village of Worston on the north side of the hill. A fast dash across fields led to a steep climb up to the Scout Cairn. After a flat traverse along the top, runners plunged back down the hill to the finish back at the village.

Clayton le Moors Andy Brown took the win in 31:11 with Todmorden’s Andrew Wrench in 3rd, just behind Wharfedale’s Jack Smith. Nick Barber continued his recent run of fine form with 9th position. Sarah May also had an excellent run to comfortably win the ladies race in 36:23, with Jane Leonard finishing 5th lady.


At the same time on Tuesday, Jon Wright also clinched 3rd place at the Geoff Doggett 5k in Littleborough. D Luckett of Salford won in a time of 16:14 after establishing an early lead as the race travelled towards Rochdale and then through Smithy Bridge to Hollingworth Lake.

Salford had put out a strong showing in the race eventually taking five of the first seven places and despite lying in 4th place as the runners turned for home from the lake, Wright managed to gain a place in the push for the line, narrowly missing out on 2nd place. Mel Siddall was the first of three Todmorden ladies in a time of 22:43, with Mandy Goth in 26:13 and Myra Wells in 27:50. Jon Newby finished 2nd V75 in a time of 38:12.


Sean Carey completed the hat trick on Friday evening at the Churn Milk Chase Fell Race at Midgley above Mythomlroyd. Starting from the recreation ground the 3.8mile race picked its way out of the village to join the Calderdale Way climbing up 700 feet, around the landmark Churn Milk Joan standing stone, then across to Crow Hill and back down.

Karl Grey of Calder Valley won in a time of 22:28, in a race where Calder Valley took five of the first seven places. The coincidences to the earlier race continued as Carey was lying in 4th place at the standing stone behind James Logue and narrowly missed out on 2nd place to Gavin Mulholland. Andrea Marshall also claimed 3rd place for the ladies in a time of 36:39.

Flower Scar Fell Race

Todmorden Harriers put on a good performance with four runners in the top ten at the Flower Scar Fell Race last Wednesday, with Sean Carey going closest of the home runners to adding another win to his collection. However, it was Todmorden postman and Calder Valley runner Alex Whittem who triumphed for the second consecutive year at the finish.

The four mile race features a tough 1400 feet of ascent as the race climbs from Todmorden High School grounds up to Flower Scar Hill and back, via Robinwood.

The club had a good turnout of runners in the 100+ entry taking advantage of the free entry, in addition to many other Harriers assisting race organiser Jon Wright.

Whittem won the race in a time of 28:54 with Carey pushing him all the way. Calder Valley’s James Logue was third, in 29:45, with Todmorden’s Andrew Wrench 4th. After Clayton le Moors Jack Dugdale had crossed the line in 5th, the local domination continued with Calder’s Steve Smithies 6th and Todmorden’s Nick Barber 7th, and Paul Hobbs 10th.

Halifax’s Carole Fryer finished first lady ahead of Calder’s Clare Kenny. Todmorden’s first lady was Jane Leonard, ahead of Jeanette Dowling and Issy Pollard.

Todmorden Results: 2 Sean Carey 29.18; 4 Andrew Wrench 30.00; 7 Nick Barber 31.06; 10 Paul Hobbs 32.20; 13 Andy McFie 33.16; 18 Ben Crowther 33.43; 25 Peter Bowles 34.59; 28 Alastair Rhodes-Dawson 35.28; 29 Dave Collins 35.33; 39 Martin Stork 37.15; 48 Lee McLuskey 39.24; 49 Peter Clarke 39.27; 69 Jane Leonard 42.13; 73 Richard Blakeley 43.57; 74 Jeanette Dowling 44.16; 79 Isobel Pollard 46.49; 80 Peter Ehrhardt 47.06; 83 Maria Prescott 47.15; 84 Fiona Armer 48.00; 85 Louise Abdy 48.40; 87 Paula Haworth 48.45; 91 Barry Chapman 49.33; 93 Hannah Godden 50.50; 94 Amanda Jackson 50.51; 95 Petra Davey 50.57; 97 Melanie Robertson 51.28; 98 Andrea Marshall 51.50; 100 David O'Neill 54.15.

Coniston Fell Race | Bluebell 10 Trail

It was a busy Bank Holiday for Todmorden Harriers starting with the English Championship Fell Race at Coniston. The 9 mile race is always a favourite and once again saw a strong turnout from the club.
The race started in the village in brilliant sunshine and quickly climbed up the steep Mouldry Bank on its way up the relentless ascent of Wetherlam. After a fast descent the runners then scrambled up to Swirl How and followed the ridge across to the summit of the Old Man of Coniston. Increasing cloud then gave way to a brief hail shower, followed by rain that made the steep rocky descent all the more treacherous. It was here that Bingley’s Ian Holmes – who been outside the leading ten until then - made a decisive move to take an optimum line down the mountain and move into a lead that he retained to the end, crossing the line for his 9th victory on the course.

Jon Wright was Todmorden’s first finisher, closing fast on Calder Valley’s Alex Whittem to the line. Andrew Wrench was next to complete the course, followed by an in form Lauren Jeska who took 3rd lady behind Scunthorpe’s Emma Clayton and Altringham’s Olivia Walwyn, who lost her lead after a fall in the last mile.

Alistair Rhodes-Dawson was the next Harrier followed by Andrew Horsfall and Dave Collins. The ladies team had a strong showing with Sarah May and Rachel Skinner also achieving high places.

On Sunday, the outskirts of Halifax were the setting for the 10.3 mile Bluebell Trail Race organised by Stainland Lions. The popular course follows an undulating route along trails, tracks, minor roads and bluebell woods and has a unique river crossing to finish. Paul Hobbs led the way for the Todmorden club with 20th place

Todmorden Results: 20 Paul Hobbs 1:17:12; 38 Mark Anderton 1:19:49; 39 Martin Stork 1:19:50; 49 Darren Tweed 1:21:17; 53 Kevin Booth 1:22:32; 137 Phil Cook 1:33:02; 144 Paul Cruthers 1:33:27; 200 Elise Milnes 1:39:36; 209 Peter Ehrhardt 1:41:28; 259 Graham Milnes 1:48:49; 273 Melanie Robertson 1:50:42; 307 Nigel Hanson 1:55:04; 382 Katy Moore 2:09:44.