Midsummer Madness [Whicken Hill Whizz, Reservoir Bogs,Tom Tittiman] | Hendon Brook 13.5

Todmorden Harriers were well represented at the Midsummer Madness Series, organised by Calder Valley Fell Runners, with five Harriers completing all three races, which took place on consecutive days. Starting from Mytholmroyd on Friday evening the opening race was 3 mile Whicken Hill Whizz, a steep climb up to the Sheepstones trig point and back down.

Sean Carey finished in 4th, and 1st U18, for the Harriers with Paul Hobbs in 9th and Jackson Cowie 14th, and 1st U16. Todmorden Ladies added another team prize, with Jane Leonard 3rd lady, Fiona Armer 7th and Louise Abdy 9th.

The following day saw a move to Chiserley for the 7.5 mile Reservoir Bogs race, which was also a counter in the club’s fell championship. The race route was unmarked and runners did not find out the location of the checkpoints until the morning of the race. They were then faced with a quick decision as to which route to take between the checkpoints.

This time it was the turn of the Todmorden Men to take the team prize with Jon Wright in 2nd, Andrew Wrench in 4th and Andrew Horsfall in 7th.

The ladies finished 2nd team with Chris Preston 3rd lady, Jane Leonard 4th and Louise Abdy 8th, leading the way. Sean Carey continued his challenge as he won the U18 race.

The final race on Sunday was the 4 mile Tom Tittiman Race from Chiserley, with Sean Carey finishing 3rd to take the Series U18 win and new Harrier Robin Tuddenham made a flying start with the club in 7th. Paul Hobbs finished 11th to place him 3rd in the senior Series ahead of Ben Crowther in 5th.

Jane Leonard finished the ladies Series in 3rd, with Fiona Armer narrowly pipping Louise Abdy for 6th.

On Sunday, the 13.5 mile Hendon Brook road race was a counter for the club’s Road Championship. The hilly race is highly rated as one of the most scenic, and toughest, races and despite a change of date this year once again was run in hot and sunny conditions.

Darren Tweed and Kevin Booth ran a close race with Darren eventually crossing the line in 1:44:30, a half minute ahead of his team mate as they finished 32nd and 33rd respectively.

Keith Parkinson was the next Harrier in 51st with Mel Blackhurst just behind, winning the FV45 category. Elise Milnes finished 2nd LV50, followed by Nigel Hanson and Ian Stansfield 1st V65.

Ennerdale Horseshoe | Hebden Bridge Fell Race | Otley 10

Todmorden Harriers’ Ladies won the team prize at the English Fell Championships on Saturday. The Ennerdale Horseshoe Fell Race was the third of the six races that make up the championship, and was also the longest at 23 miles, with over 7,500 feet of ascent and descent. Starting and finishing at Ennerdale Scout Camp the epic route travelled over the many peaks surrounding Ennerdale Water, with warm weather adding to the challenge.

Lauren Jeska maintained her challenge for a medal with 5th place, in what is unfolding as one of the most competitive ladies championships in recent years. The next counter is in a fortnight with the first short race in the series at Sedburgh, but the destiny of the medals is not likely to be settled until the final race in September.

Jane Leonard continued her comeback from injury with 15th place, and 2nd V50, with Sarah Warburton and Kath Brierley the other victorious team prize winners.

Rob Jebb of Bingley won the men’s race, holding off Dark Peak’s fast finishing Lloyd Taggart. Jon Wright was Todmorden’s first counter in 14th, with Alistair Rhodes-Dawson and Nick Barber in 61st and 67th respectively.

Todmorden Results: 14 Jonathan Wright 4:03:02; 61 Alastair Rhodes-Dawson 4:36:38; 67 Nick Barber 4:40:16; 74 Lauren Jeska 4:44:25; 108 Oz Kershaw 5:02:04; 136 Phil Hodgson 5:13:00; 137 Dave Collins 5:14:04; 151 Clive Greatorex 5:19:11; 157 Jane Leonard 5:22:42; 195 Sarah Warburton 5:38:16; 221 Kath Brierley 5:48:05; 239= Ben Crowther 5:55:56; 239= Richard Leonard 5:55:56; 247 Kevin Booth 5:59:36; 267= Louise Abdy 6:47:45; 278 David Wilson 7:28:23.

The Hebden Bridge Fell Race, organised by Todmorden Harriers, took place in cool and breezy conditions last Thursday evening. Starting and finishing at Calder Holmes Park the 5.8 mile race followed a looping route over Erringdon Moor up to Stoodley Pike taking in 1150 feet of ascent.

The race quickly developed into a two way battle between Calder Valley’s Karl Gray and Alex Whittem, with Gray eventually pulling out a 40 second lead on the descent to win in a new course record time of 42:41.

Todmorden’s Sean Carey finished in 4th place narrowly losing out to Pudsey’s Colin Walker in their race long tussle for 3rd. Paul Hobbs was the next Harrier in 8th with Peter Bowles in 14th.

Chris Preston finished 2nd lady and Patsy Reilly 3rd lady for Todmorden behind Calder Valley’s Jackie Scarf.

The club’s final summer fell race is the 3.5 mile Stoodley Pike Fell Race, which takes place on Tuesday 6th July.

Todmorden Results: 4 Sean Carey 44.49; 8 Paul Hobbs 48.03; 14 Peter Bowles 50.32; 18 Martin Roberts 53.36; 22 Paul Brannigan 55.14; 28 Paul Cotton 55.47; 32 Deon Bamford 56.35; 34 Lee McCluskey 57.03; 37 Peter Clarke 57.18; 38 Andrew Bibby 57.29; 40 Paul Cruthers 57.42; 45 Richard Blakeley 60.36; 52 Chris Preston 61.58; 54 Derek Donohue 62.27; 60 Patsy Reilly 66.42.


On Tuesday, the latest round of the club’s Road Championship took place, with the Otley 10. Six Harriers tackled the 10 mile undulating scenic route with Paul Brannigan first Harrier home. Mel Blackhurst was next ahead of Nigel Hanson and 1st V65 Moira Parfitt. Mel Siddall was next to finish with Ian Stansfield completing the club entry.

Blencathra | Isle of Jura | round up...

Lauren Jeska set a new course record on her way to winning the Blencathra Fell Race last Wednesday. The Todmorden Harrier has been in fine form all year and has just been rewarded with her first call up to the England Ladies Team for the International Snowden Race next month.


The 8 mile Blencathra race followed a horseshoe route with three climbs totalling 2700 feet, as it passed over Bowscales Fell, Blencathra and Southern Fell. Lauren finished 12th overall out of 142 runners and was comfortably first lady, over 7 minutes ahead of her nearest rival. Her time of 1:10:51 knocked 25 seconds off Natalie White’s record from 2008.


The Isle of Jura Fell Race once again attracted a quality field to its legendary 16 mile course with over 7,500 feet of ascent that require runners to tackle 7 mountain summits, including the Paps of Jura. The race is one of the toughest in the calendar and with this year’s 199 runners, along with supporters, the island’s population more than doubles for the race weekend.

Rob Jebb took the win in 3:28:36 over fellow Bingley Harrier Ian Holmes. Jon Wright led the way for the Harriers in 11th place with Jane Leonard finishing first V50 lady.

Todmorden Results: 11 Jon Wright 3:53:36; 69 Phil Hodgson 4:37:54; 94 Jane Leonard 4:52:47; 109 Ozzie Kershaw 5:02:30; 139 Kath Brierley 5:21:35; 141 Richard Leonard 5:22:23; 184 John Preston 5:55:19.


Elsewhere, Todmorden Harriers were spread far and wide with Rachel and David Henthorne undertaking the first of the three Badger 10k trail races at Cuerden Valley to finish 2 seconds apart in 121st and 122nd.

James Riley tackled the 5.9mile Pen-Y-Ghent Fell Race which includes 1650 feet of ascent on the way to the summit and then back down, finishing in 42nd place.

Mick Craven finished 26th and Peter Ehrhardt 52nd at the 7.5mile Edenfield Fell Race near Ramsbottom that featured 1600 feet of ascent, including a steep climb near to the finish.

Bohuslav Barlow and Ian Stansfield completed the unique Morecambe Cross Bay Challenge, a half marathon that crosses over the sands, and occasional water channels, from Cumbria to Lancashire. Their times were 1:57:40 and 2:33:19 respectively.

Lisa & Rachel's Syke Reservoir 5k | Ilkley Trail Race

With two English Championship races to look forward to during June, it was a quiet week for Todmorden Harriers.

On Wednesday evening at Whitworth three Harriers took part in the Syke Reservoir 5k multi terrain race. Starting with a steep tarmac climb, the runners then followed an off road track leading to two laps of Brown House Reservoir and then a return back to the finish at the Red Lion.

James Riley finished in 7th in 21:29, with Myra Wells – 4th lady - in 21st and veteran Jon Newby in 23rd place.

With several Harriers making the trip for the Isle of Jura Fell race – full report next week – Mick Craven was the sole Harrier in racing action at the Ilkley Trail Race on Sunday.

The scenic 6.9 mile out-and-back route followed woodland tracks, fields and moors, with some brief road sections to the north of the town. Most of the climb was in the first half of the race allowing runners to be treated to the views over the Wharfe Valley and across to Ilkley Moor before a fast return to the finish.

Mick finished in 79th place in a time of 54:40 out of nearly 300 entrants.