Race you to the Summit | Witton Park Cross Country

Todmorden Harrier’s Club Fell Championship went to the wire at the final counter, the ‘Race you to the Summit’ Fell Race on Saturday morning.


Nick Barber overhauled Dwane Dixon to be crowned Men’s Fell Champion and Helen Hodgkinson was crowned Ladies Fell Champion after a close battle with Helen Wilson.

Nick finished in second place in the race, behind Staffordshire Moorlands’ William Neill who won in a time of 30:37. The 4 mile route climbed in glorious autumnal sunshine from the Summit Inn to the Whitehouse and back down again.

Dwane finished in fifth place, with Jackson Cowie just edging out Paul Brannigan for seventh position as the club easily claimed the men’s team prize.

Mel Blackhurst was the first Todmorden lady to finish ahead of Elise Milnes but all eyes were on the battle between the two Helens in the ladies championship.

Helen Wilson was first over the line but Helen Hodgkinson followed just 9 seconds later to hold onto her slender lead in the standings.

Todmorden Results: 2 Nick Barber 31.21; 5 Dwane Dixon 32.09; 7 Jackson Cowie 33.27; 8 Paul Brannigan 33.31; 12 Robin Tuddenham 34.32; 14 Marcel Ellison 34.45; 15 Darren Graham 35.09; 16 Darren Tweed 35.16; 24 Dave Collins 37.21; 25 Michael Harper 37.32; 30 Andrew Glyde 39.13; 31 Phil Hodgson 39.22; 35 Phil Cook 40.07; 36 Mel Blackhurst 40.27; 43 Chris Drinkwater 42.54; 45 Liam Williamson 43.26; 47 Elise Milnes 43.33; 52 Ray Poulter 45.48; 54 Graham Milnes 47.00; 56 Helen Wilson 47.03; 57 Helen Hodgkinson 47.12; 59 Julie Wyant 47.59; 60 Peter Ehrhardt 48.33; 65 Dave O'Neill 54.38.



There was little time to recover for several Harriers as they were straight back in action on Saturday afternoon, at the second round of the Red Rose Cross Country League, on a hilly course in Blackburn’s Witton Park.

Sarah May lead the way for the ladies with a fine third place, followed by Kath Brierley and Issy Pollard as they finished eighth team in the ladies race.

Mel Robertson and Bev Wright enjoyed a close battle to be the third counter for the ladies veterans’ team, with another eighth spot claimed.

Moyra Parfitt completed the ladies turnout, finishing first v65.

Todmorden Ladies: 3 Sarah May 22:23; 27 Kath Brierley 25:25; 51 Issy Pollard 28:03; 60 Mel Robertson 29:08; 62 Bev Wright 29:23; 72 Moyra Parfitt 31:02.

In the subsequent men’s race, a strong showing by the Todmorden men lifted them into third place; with the vets’ team finishing in second place lead in by Andrew Wrench and Jon Wright.

Todmorden Men: 13 Andrew Wrench 38:41; 15 Jon Wright 38:46; 18 John Lloyd 39:41; 42 Nick Barber 41:53; 51 Dwane Dixon 42:38; 58 Martin Stork 43:11; 70 Robin Tuddenham 44:37; 106 Richard Butterwick 48:18.