Flower Scar Fell Race - FREE ENTRY

The Flower Scar Fell Race takes place on Wednesday 2nd May 2012.

Registration on the night is FREE - at the Hare & Hounds, Burnley Road, Todmorden.

The race starts at 7pm across the road at Todmorden High School.

The well flagged 4 mile route starts with a dash across Todmorden High School’s playing field before beginning the relentless climb up to Flower Scar Hill on grassy paths, muddy tracks and open moorland.

On turning at the summit the route takes a tussocky line down into the valley and then traverses a woodland path back, with a short sting in the tail climb above Robinwood to test tiring legs.

After hurdling the school wall, there's a final sprint across the field to the finish.

Flower Scar Route Map (Brown Line clockwise)

Further details on the Tod Harriers website.

Three Peaks Fell Race | Manchester Marathon

Todmorden Harriers faced two very different long distance challenges at the weekend.


On Saturday, five Harriers completed the classic Three Peaks Race. The 24 mile route took in the iconic Yorkshire peaks of Ingleborough, Pen Y Ghent and Whernside.

Nick Barber led the way for the club with Dwane Dixon keeping the pressure up all the way round as they finished in 3:38:13 and 3:46:51 respectively.

Peter Bowles completed the course in 4:13:51 with Andy McFie and Ben Crowther following over the line just seconds behind.



Almost 5000 runners braved the heavy rain and strong winds as the Manchester Marathon made a return on Sunday.

John Lloyd finished his first attempt at the marathon distance of 26.2 miles in a time of 2:55:31 for 38th position.

It was also a first marathon for Kevin Coughlan who completed the course in 3:40:41 with Mel Robertson finishing not far behind in 3:41:58, beating her London Marathon time from a year ago by over 30 minutes, to claim 5th vet50 female.

London Marathon | Boston Marathon | Ras Y Moelwyn

Two Todmorden Harriers joined the thousands at the London Marathon at the weekend.


John Medcalf and Jayne Williams both ran well paced efforts to finish in 3:34:55 and 3:45:21 respectively.



The previous Monday, Robin Tuddenham had undertaken the Boston Marathon in high temperatures that forced thousands of runners to drop out.

Robin showed great determination as he completed the course in 3:04:08.



Lauren Jeska continued her current record breaking pace this spring at the Ras Y Moelwyn Fell race, where she finished the 17km course in 1:28:31 to claim another ladies course record by 3 minutes.



Mel Siddall was also in fine form as she won her age group and finished 4th female overall at the Stonyhurst Triathlon, near Clitheroe, on Sunday. Lying in 6th position after the swim, Mel rode a strong cycle section to move up the standings, and finished with a solid run.



Also adding to the Todmorden club’s successes recently, were Mandy Goth and Sue Roberts who won the ladies score class at the two day Highlander Mountain Marathon.

London Marathon Live Tracking and Results 2012

Follow runners progress live, and results, from the Virgin London Marathon 2012  at the following link http://results-2012.virginlondonmarathon.com/2012/index.php?pid=start

Coledale Horseshoe | Wardle Skyline | Steve Rothwell Memorial 4

Lauren Jeska claimed a course record breaking victory, in the British and English Fell Running Championships, for Todmorden Harriers at the Coledale Horseshoe Fell Race on Saturday.


The 9 mile circular route from Braithwaite near Keswick featured over 3000’ feet of ascent.

Lauren reached the top of the main climb to Grisedale Pike, with just Sarah O’Neil of Hunters Bog Trotters for company.

After a brief respite with a short downhill section, the two runners then reached the highest point of the course at Crag Hill.

The pair stayed clear of the field on long descent back to the village, before Lauren was finally able to extend a winning lead on the final climb over Barrow, to complete the course in 1:22:40. That time was well inside the former course record and over half a minute ahead of second placed O’Neill, with Catriona Buchanan of Ochil heading the rest of the challengers a further three minutes behind.

Lucy Burnett was Todmorden’s next finisher in 31st with Jane Leonard in 70th position.

Todmorden Ladies results: 1 Lauren Jeska 1:22:40; 31 Lucy Burnett 1:39:01; 70 Jane Leonard 1:51:10; 77 Becca Marshall 1:52:34; 83 Melanie Blackhurst 1:55:19; 95 Helen Hodgkinson 1:59:47; 98 Fiona Armer 2:01:43; 119 Helen Wilson 2:13:13.



In the men’s race, Sean Carey had a fine run to finish in 71st position and 5th under 23 runner.

Dwane Dixon was the next to complete the course in 91st with John Lloyd in 132nd position.

Todmorden Men’s results: 71 Sean Carey 1:20:51; 91 Dwane Dixon 1:23:09; 132 John Lloyd 1:27:40; 192 Marcel Ellison 1:34:00; 211 Dave Collins 1:36:38; 251 Phil Hodgson 1:41:00; 310 Richard Leonard 1:51:21; 352 Chris Drinkwater 2:02:06; 358 Richard Blakeley 2:05:44; 371 David Wilson 2:21:26; 375 Peter Ehrhardt 2:23:46.



Closer to home on Saturday, a number of Harriers tackled the 7 mile Wardle Skyline Fell Race.

Todmorden Results: 33 Clive Greatorex 57:11; 40 Rob Gray 57:59; 55 Michael Harper 59:45; 60 Geoff Read 1:00:04; 75 Mick Craven 1:01:44; 98 James Riley 1:03:58.



On Wednesday evening, the focus was on the club’s Road Championship with the Steve Rothwell Memorial 4 mile road race near Rochdale.

John Lloyd set the pace from the off eventually finishing in 3rd place, with Nick Barber in 6th and Robin Tuddenham in 10th place.

Helen Wilson was the first Todmorden lady, followed by Mandy Goth.

Todmorden results: 3 John Lloyd 21:36; 6 Nick Barber 21:54; 10 Robin Tuddenham 22:37; 21 Paul Brannigan 23:52; 29 Darren Graham 24:39; 48 Joe Daniels 26:10; 51 Richard Butterwick 26:41; 72 Simon Galloway 28:16; 89 Richard Blackley 29:27; 105 Helen Wilson 31:47; 107 Nigel Hanson 32:02; 117 David Wilson 32:53; 124 Mandy Goth 33:42.

Caldervale 10 | Pendle Fell Race

Todmorden Harriers’ John Lloyd finished in second place for the second successive year at the Caldervale 10 mile road race, despite an impressive four minute improvement on his previous time.


The undulating race, near Garstang, formed the latest round of Todmorden Harriers’ Road Championship on Good Friday.

Last year’s winner Robin Tuddenham also improved his time but had to settle for 6th place on this occasion.

Trevor Davies finished in 22nd position, with Dan Taylor 50th and Joe Daniels in 74th place.

Simon Galloway bettered last year’s time by eight minutes for 85th place, with Peter Ehrhardt in 137th position.

Helen Wilson completed the course in 1:27:12 for 144th place, with Julie Wyant also recording a notable advance of three minutes on last year, for 154th position.

Todmorden Results: 2 John Lloyd 58:46; 6 Robin Tuddenham 59:55; 22 Trevor Davis 1:05:01; 50 Dan Taylor 1:11:09; 74 Joe Daniels 1:14:48; 85 Simon Galloway 1:16:45; 137 Peter Ehrhardt 1:25:49; 144 Helen Wilson 1:27:12; 154 Julie Wyant 1:30:38.



On Saturday several Harriers made the trip to Pendle Hill for the 4.5 mile short fell race.

Starting from Barley, the route takes runners part way to the summit, before a steep descent and a second climb back up the steep side of Big End, finishing with a fast descent back to the village.
Marcel Ellison led the way for the club with 48th place in a strong field as many used the race as a sharpener for next week’s British Championship race.

Dan Taylor shook off his efforts from the previous day for 131st just ahead of Mark Whitaker in 153rd.

Jane Leonard was the first Todmorden lady in 187th with Louise Abdy crossing the line for 250th position.

Todmorden Results: 48 Marcel Ellison 39:23; 131 Dan Taylor 46:34; 153 Mark Whitaker 48:02; 187 Jane E. Leonard 51:12; 250 Louise Abdy 1:01:53.

SportSunday Pendle Photos...

WhiteFlyer Photo's...

Bent & Bongs 10k | Midgley Moor Fell Race | Llantysilio Fell Race | Liver Hill Fell Race | Vera Hirst 5k

The arrival of Spring left Todmorden Harriers spoilt for choice with club members in action on many fronts.

The club's 2012 Trail Championship continued on Sunday with a new race at Astley, the Bent and Bongs 10k.

A four way battle to be the first Todmorden runner quickly developed with Simon Galloway heading the closely grouped quartet for the first 3 miles.

Richard Butterwick then took up the lead position, before Paul Brannigan made a decisive move at the 5 mile mark developing a significant gap to cross the line first from the club, and 27th overall.

Richard then held off a late challenge from Michael Harper as they finished 31st and 33rd respectively, with Simon Galloway in 40th position.

Helen Wilson was the only Todmorden woman, finishing in 84th place, just over a minute ahead of Peter Ehrhardt in 94th place.

Todmorden Results: 27 Paul Brannigan 42:33; 31 Richard Butterwick 43:23; 33 Michael Harper 43:37; 40 Simon Galloway 44:25; 84 Helen Wilson 50:49; 94 Peter Ehrhardt 51:55.

Myra's Bent and Bongs photos...

Steve Bateson's Bent and Bongs photos...

On Saturday, several Harriers tackled the Midgley Moor Fell Race organised by neighbouring Calder Valley Fell Runners.


Dave Collins and Clive Greatorex ran a close race, with Dave eventually edging ahead for 40th place in 47:11, and Clive following him over the line 13 seconds later.

Mick Craven finished the five mile course in 50:27 for 51st place followed by Richard Leonard in 69th.

Jane Leonard was the first Todmorden lady, ahead of Helen Hodgkinson.

Todmorden Results: 40 Dave Collins 47.11; 41 Clive Greatorex 47.24; 51 Mick Craven 50.27; 69 Richard Leonard 54.11; 83 Jane Leonard 56.14; 102 Helen Hodgkinson 60.03.


Lauren Jeska won the women's race and set a new course record by 3 minutes at the Llantysilio Fell Race in Wales.

On Tuesday several Harriers enjoyed a sunny evening at Marl Pits for the Liver Hill Fell Race.
Marcel Ellison finished in 11th place in 35:34, with Darren Graham a minute behind in 17th position.

Robert Gray completed the up and down course in 48th, with Simon Galloway in 68th position.
Elise Milnes crossed the line in 132nd and Graham Milnes was 162nd.

Todmorden Results: 11 Marcel Ellison 35:34; 17 Darren Graham 36:31; 48 Robert Gray 39:36; 68 Simon Gallaway 41:53; 132 Elise Milner 49:47; 162 Graham Milnes 57:23.


John Lloyd led the way for the Harriers at Vera Hirst 5k in Littleborough on Wednesday with his time of 17:01 taking him into 7th place, whilst Paul Hobbs finished in 14th position with 18:23.

Dan Taylor finished in 20:29 for 59th place, with Andy Glyde stopping the clock at 21:39 for 77th and Andrea Marshall in 128th with a time of 26:28.