The Caldervale 10 was dominated by Todmorden Harriers on Good Friday, with four Harriers in the first seven places led in by race winner Robin Tuddenham.
The race formed the latest round of Todmorden Harriers’ Road Championship on Good Friday. The undulating course, near Garstang, was made all the harder by the hot sunny weather with many of the 214 runners struggling with the heat.
Robin Tuddenham and John Lloyd showed no signs of difficulty as they headed the field with first and second places for the club.
Paul Brannigan completed the course in 6th place, just ahead of Martin Stork in 7th.
Lucy Hobbs was the first Todmorden lady in 88th, and 10th lady, with Julie Wyant and Mel Siddall crossing the line together for 158th and 160th respectively.
On Easter Sunday, Julie also took part in the Fleetwood 10, showing tremendous consistency by completing that course just 3 seconds slower.
Todmorden Results: 1 Robin Tuddenham 1:00:31; 2 John Lloyd 1:02:54; 6 Paul Brannigan 1:05:25; 7 Martin Stork 1:06:08; 42 Kevin Booth 1:14:50; 60 Mick Craven 1:16:50; 88 Lucy Hobbs 1:22:19; 109 Simon Galloway 1:24:56; 159 Julie Wyant 1:33:34; 160 Mel Siddall 1:33:35.
Lauren Jeska experienced similarly hot conditions at the very competitive Salford 10k, also on Good Friday.
In her debut entry in a 10k race, Lauren finished 3rd woman, to set a respectable time of 35:25 after a race long battle with Tess Walker of Salford Harriers, that drew them to just a few seconds behind 2nd placed lady Sarah Tunstall of Kendal.
First lady was Lauren Howarth of Leigh Harriers who set a sizzling pace to record the fastest women’s 10k so far this year, with 32:33.
Mick Hall's Salford 10k and Fleetwood 10 photo's...
On Wednesday, four Harriers made the short trip to Cowm Reservoir for the Ken Taylor 5k.
Robin Tuddenham was again the first Harrier, finishing in 4th place with a time of 16:59, with Martin Stork recording 18:01 for 8th. Richard Butterwick set a new personal best for the distance with 19:04 for 19th and Myra Wells finished in 68th in 28:23.
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Sunday, 17 April 2011
London Marathon 2011
Three Todmorden Harriers joined 35,000 other runners at the London Marathon. John Medcalf and Mel Blackhurst ran similar paced efforts to finish just 11 seconds apart, despite rarely seeing each other on the way round.
John crossed the line 10 minutes faster than his previous attempt two years ago, in 3:33:15.
School teacher Mel donned a school uniform for her 3:33:26, which subject to verification may be a new Guinness World Record for the outfit. Mel Robertson ran a well paced race to cross the line in 4:16:52.
Also on Sunday, Darren Graham and Julie Wyant joined a 750 strong field for the Bolton 10k, with Darren completing the winding course in 44:45 for 100th position and Julie finishing in 53:08 for 298th place.
Mick Craven and Peter Ehrhardt tackled the Hyndburn 10k trail race, finishing in 19th and 35th respectively.
On Wednesday, the Steve Rothwell Memorial 4 mile race in Norden attracted nearly 200 entrants, with Richard Butterwick completing the circular course in 35th place in a time of 25:26, whilst Myra Wells’ time of 37:02 earnt her 150th place.
At the second of the weekly Bunny Runs at Haworth on Tuesday, Sean Carey led a handful of Harriers in for 10th place, with Robin Tuddenham in 23rd.
Paul Hobbs finished in 32nd, with Jack Crummett in 90th and Christine Preston in 178th.
Helen Hodgkinson was the sole Todmorden entrant at the Coledale Horseshoe Fell Race in the Lake District. The 9 mile course featured over 3000 feet of climb as it passed over Grisedale Pike and Crag Hill.
John crossed the line 10 minutes faster than his previous attempt two years ago, in 3:33:15.
School teacher Mel donned a school uniform for her 3:33:26, which subject to verification may be a new Guinness World Record for the outfit. Mel Robertson ran a well paced race to cross the line in 4:16:52.
Also on Sunday, Darren Graham and Julie Wyant joined a 750 strong field for the Bolton 10k, with Darren completing the winding course in 44:45 for 100th position and Julie finishing in 53:08 for 298th place.
Mick Craven and Peter Ehrhardt tackled the Hyndburn 10k trail race, finishing in 19th and 35th respectively.
On Wednesday, the Steve Rothwell Memorial 4 mile race in Norden attracted nearly 200 entrants, with Richard Butterwick completing the circular course in 35th place in a time of 25:26, whilst Myra Wells’ time of 37:02 earnt her 150th place.
At the second of the weekly Bunny Runs at Haworth on Tuesday, Sean Carey led a handful of Harriers in for 10th place, with Robin Tuddenham in 23rd.
Paul Hobbs finished in 32nd, with Jack Crummett in 90th and Christine Preston in 178th.
Helen Hodgkinson was the sole Todmorden entrant at the Coledale Horseshoe Fell Race in the Lake District. The 9 mile course featured over 3000 feet of climb as it passed over Grisedale Pike and Crag Hill.
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Mourne Peaks [British Champs] | Wardle Skyline Fell Race
Todmorden Harriers sent a quartet of runners to the Mourne Peaks in Northern Ireland for the first round of the British Fell Championships at the weekend and were rewarded with third place in the ladies team competition.
The opening race in this year’s championship was a demanding rollercoaster route over 10 mountain peaks, racking up over 6,300 feet of ascent and descent over a 12.5 mile course. A strong breeze in the hot and sunny conditions added to the challenge.
Kath Brierley led the way for the club, finishing 14th lady and second v45 in a time of 3:15:02. Jane Leonard was the first v50 lady to finish, seven minutes later, in 3:22:29.
Sue Roberts completed the course in 3:52:18 and Mandy Goth in 4:19:57.
Whilst the ladies were away, Todmorden’s men chose to stay local as eight Harriers took on the Wardle Skyline Fell Race in equally hot and sunny conditions.
The 7.2 mile race, organised by Rochdale Harriers, started with a climb from Wardle village, past Watergrove Reservoir, to the summit of Brown Wardle Hill. It then followed an undulating route over Hades Hill, Rough Hill and Crook Hill.
A long descent towards Shore led onto a cobbled section and the final climb of the day on the track back to Wardle.
John Lloyd and Alistair Rhodes-Dawson enjoyed a race long battle, with John crossing the line in 5th place to take the honour of first Todmorden finisher.
Alistair finished 6th, and first v40, with Robin Tuddenham closing rapidly on the pair towards the line for 7th place, to win the team prize for Todmorden.
Clive Greatorex finished in 56:20 for 31st place, half a minute ahead of Martin Roberts in 39th.
Richard Butterwick finished fast to squeeze in just under the hour mark for 57th, with Simon Galloway in 67th and Simon Anderton crossing the line in 74th place.
Monday, 4 April 2011
Liver Hill Fell Race | Vera Hirst 5k | Lad's Leap Fell Race | Pendle Fell Race
On Tuesday, the start of Spring was marked with the first evening fell race of the year with Rossendale Harriers’ 5.1 mile Liver Hill Fell Race.
Starting from Marl Pits, the race quickly gained height before a flattish section across the Moors and a final climb up and around Liver Hill.
Returning by the same route, it proved a lottery at the many stiles to negotiate as the leading runners crossed paths with those still climbing up.
In drier than usual conditions, the race was won by Pudsey’s Danny Hope in a new course record of 31:56.
Sean Carey led the way for Todmorden in 4th place in 33:31. Richard Butterwick finished in 58th, with Kath Brierley 6th lady, in 74th overall, and Derek Donohue in 84th.
Jack Crummett put in a strong showing in the U14 junior race, finishing in 2nd place.
Liver Hill photos by Dave Haygarth...
On Wednesday, the Vera Hirst Littleborough 5k marked another tradition of spring as local race organiser Andy O’Sullivan returned with the first of his mid week races.
Martin Stork recorded a personal best time for the distance with 17:52 taking him into 12th place out of over 200 runners. Martin then added another new best time for 10k, with 36:54 at the Wakefield 10k at the weekend.
Paul Brannigan was 2nd Todmorden man at Littleborough in 16th, with Dan Taylor also recording a new personal best of 18:59 for 35th.
Richard Butterwick followed them in with 64th, with Keith Parkinson crossing the line 85th.
Maria Prescott was first Todmorden lady in 126th, with Andrea Marshall in 47th – with another personal best of 24:36 - and Myra Wells in 187th.
The Lad's Leap Fell Race at weekend formed the latest round in the club’s Fell Championship and 12 Harriers made the trip to Crowden Campsite for the 5.9 mile race.
After a quick starting dash past the youth hostel, the runners were faced with a tough steep climb up to Lads Leap Rocks. They then crossed the moors and plunged down a steep slope, losing much of the height initially gained. A second climb looped them back up to rocks and a downhill return the finish via the initial route.
Jon Wright finished in 2nd place, a minute behind Dark Peak’s Mark Tuckett, with John Lloyd in 7th place. Paul Brannigan crossed the line in 25th place, just ahead of a fast finishing Dave Collins who gained several places on the final descent.
Kath Brierley won the ladies race in a time 1:04:42, with Jane Leonard finishing 3rd lady.
Todmorden Results: 2 Jon Wright 49:17; 7 John Lloyd 53:15; 25 Paul Brannigan 00:57:20; 26 Dave Collins 00:57:36; 50 Simon Galloway 01:03:26; 55 Kath Brierley 01:04:42; 58 Richard Butterwick 01:05:52; 66 Jane Leonard 01:09:14; 75 Richard Blakeley 01:10:44; 80 Richard Leonard 01:11:48; 107 Barry Chapman; 111 Peter Ehrhardt.
LL photos by Myra...
LL photos by Shaun...
Lauren Jeska was crowned Lancashire Ladies Fell Champion at the 4.5 mile Pendle Fell Race on Saturday, completing the course in 37:11, a minute ahead of her nearest rival.
The day also saw the first round of the Fell Running Association Junior Championship Series with several Todmorden juniors taking part.
Pendle photos by Steve Bateson...
Robin Tuddenham recorded his third win at the weekly Heaton parkrun 5k on Saturday to add to the club’s excellent start to spring.
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