Flower Scar Fell Race | Ilkley Moor Fell Race

The Flower Scar Fell Race moved to a new venue of Todmorden Cricket Club and a new route on Saturday.


The longer 10.4km course climbed up Todmorden Edge from Centre Vale Park, and on to Flower Scar Hill. A woodland descent then led runners back along the valley, with a sting in the tail climb before a final descent to the finish at the Cricket Club.

Calder Valley Fell Runners claimed the first three places with Karl Gray edging out Tim Ellis by one second to win in a time of 45:59. Alex Whittem followed over three minutes later in third place.

Photo by Keith Parkinson

Lauren Jeska was comfortably the first lady in a time of 54:25, and the first Todmorden Harrier, with many of the club’s runners assisting race organiser Jon Wright.

Hannah Rhodes Patterson, of Durham University finished over four minutes behind Lauren to claim second place ahead of Horwich’s Lindsey Brindle.

Todmorden also won the ladies team prize, with Jane Leonard and Clare Kenny combining with Lauren to pip Clayton Le Moors by just one point.

Dan Taylor was the first Todmorden man to finish in 36th place, followed by Rob Tyson in 60th and Simon Hollows in 78th position.

Todmorden results: 10 Lauren Jeska 54.25; 36 Dan Taylor 57.22; 60 Robert Tyson 60.06; 78 Simon Hollows 61.38; 111 Nick Ward 66.40; 132 Derek Donohue 68.56; 154 James Riley 72.06; 158 Mick Craven 72.24; 169 Jane Leonard 73.29; 191 David Leslie 76.15; 192 Clare Kenny 76.22; 221 Sue Roberts 85.04.

Keith's Flower Scar Photos...

Woodentops Flower Scar photos...

Steve Bateson's Flower Scar Photos...

The following day Jon Wright had his running shoes back on for the 8.4km Ilkley Moor Fell Race, finishing in 4th place. Claire Duffield was the only Todmorden lady and finished in 136th position.

Ovenden Moor Fell Race

Todmorden Harriers enjoyed some early spring sunshine at Ogden Reservoir at the weekend, but there were still plenty of snow patches to negotiate underfoot at the Ovenden Moor Fell Race.

The 8.1m circular moorland route was the second fixture in the club’s Fell Championship, and there was another large turnout of 30 runners from the club.

Jon Wright led the way for the Harriers with a hard fought third place, followed by John Lloyd in eleventh position.

Ivan Gee was next over the line, closely followed by Paul Brannigan and Craig Stansfield.

Mel Blackhurst was the first Todmorden lady, followed by Issy Pollard and Jane Leonard.
3 Jon Wright 59.01; 11 John Lloyd 63.15; 16 Ivan Gee 64.16; 19 Paul Brannigan 64.57; 23 Craig Stansfield 65.34; 34 Dan Taylor 68.20; 48 Martin Roberts 72.34; 51 Darren Tweed 72.59; 54 Dave Collins 73.10; 56 Darren Jugroop 73.30; 82 Andrew Bibby 78.24; 84 Joe Daniels 79.00; 85 Phil Cook 79.03; 99 John Killerby 82.09; 102 Simon Galloway 82.24; 106 Mel Blackhurst 83.30; 115 Peter Clarke 85.44; 124 Wayne Morrison 87.49; 126 Richard Leonard 89.11; 128 Chris Preston 89.32; 129 Issy Pollard 89.40; 137 Jane Leonard 92.48; 149 David Leslie 96.30; 150 Graham Milnes 96.37; 154 Helen Wilson 97.09; 155 Sue Roberts 97.17; 165 Dave Wilson 99.40;173 Peter Ehrhardt 105.14; 180 Louise Abdy 111.29.

This weekend, Jon Wright turns his hand to race organiser for the Flower Scar Fell Race on Saturday 23rd February. 

Starting at 11am, with registration on the day at Todmorden Cricket Club, the race takes a new longer route of 10.4km.

Full details on the club’s website – www.todharriers.co.uk

Winter Warmer 10k | Winter Hill | Wadsworth Trog

Todmorden Harriers Road Championship opened with the Blackburn Winter Warmer 10k on Sunday, but with sleet quickly turning to snow there was little warmth to be found on the hilly course for the twenty Harriers who made the trip.


John Lloyd continued his strong start to the year with sixth position out of the 400 runners. Paul Brannigan was the next Harrier to finish, despite nursing fractured ribs, completing the course in 19th place with Trevor Davis coming across the line in 31st position.

Sarah Glyde set the pace for the Todmorden ladies finishing seventh lady and 91st place overall. Elise Milnes and Issy Pollard then crossed the line in quick succession for 225th and 226th positions respectively.

Todmorden Results: 6 John Lloyd 36:16; 19 Paul Brannigan 38:21; 31 Trevor Davis 39:39; 58 Richard Butterwick 42:20; 73 Paul Alexander 43:11; 91 Sarah Glyde 44:07; 94 Jonathan Daniels 44:24; 105 Andrew Bibby 45:08; 118 Phil Cook 45:45; 134 Guy Whitmore 46:30; 178 Paul Cruthers 48:53; 225 Elise Milnes 51:40; 226 Issy Pollard 51:47; 241 Julie Wyant 52:38; 265 Nigel Hanson 54:32; 275 Moyra Parfitt 55:14; 285 Mandy Goth 55:31; 308 Melanie Whitmore 57:12; 324 Graham Milnes 58:20; 344 Myra Wells 1:00:12.


A few miles down the road at Rivington, the Winter Hill Fell Race certainly lived up to its name, with cold and snowy conditions as two Todmorden Harriers took on the tough 11 mile race.

Despite poor visibility on the hill, Dan Taylor put in a strong performance to finish the course in 20th position in a time of 2:01:49, just ahead of 35th placed Andy McFie who recorded a time of 02:04:13.


On Saturday, five Todmorden runners undertook the Wadsworth Trog Fell Race, a 20 mile course from Old Town.

Craig Stansfield finished in 18th place in 3:35:59, followed by Darren Graham in 57th in a time of 3:51:11 and Rob Tyson in 89th place with a time of 4:13:55.

Elise Milnes finished 17th lady in 5:04:19 and Bev Holmes was 20th lady with a time of 5:30:47.


Ben Crowther recorded a narrow win at Calder Valley Fell Runners invitation night score orienteering event last week, beating Calder Valley’s Phil Scarfe by 2 points, whilst Mandy Goth was the top scoring lady.

Around 50 runners had to navigate themselves between the controls on the hills above Hebden Bridge and having to contend with not only the darkness but strong winds bringing wintery showers.


At the Calderdale Schools Cross Country race, one of Todmorden Harriers’ junior runners ran a well paced race to move through the field and battled across the line in first place.

Maebh Logue, a Year 3 pupil at Walsden St Peters School, was rewarded for her performance by earning selection for the West Yorkshire Schools Cross Country Race.

Mickleden Straddle Fell Race

Todmorden Harriers braved cold and windy conditions in the Peak District at the weekend, as this year’s Club Fell Championship opened with the Mickleden Straddle Fell Race.


The 14.4 mile out and back course made its way across the moors between Langsett and Howden Reservoirs.

John Lloyd finished in fourth place just over a minute ahead of eleventh placed Nick Barber. Craig Stansfield held a similar advantage over Paul Brannigan as they finished in 21st and 25th places.

Mel Blackhurst was the first Todmorden lady to complete the course, ahead of Lucy Hobbs and Jane Leonard.

Todmorden Results: 4 John Lloyd 1:50:07; 11 Nick Barber 1:51:24; 21 Craig Stansfield 1:56:20; 25 Paul Brannigan 1:57:28; 33 Ivan Gee 2:03:48; 48 Dan Taylor 2:08:50; 54 Robert Tyson 2:11:59; 70 Dave Collins 2:15:10; 90 Andrew Bibby 2:18:52; 126 Simon Galloway 2:26:31; 127 Mel Blackhurst 2:26:40; 133 Andy Glyde 2:28:18; 154 Joe Daniels 2:34:06; 156 Paul Cruthers 2:34:25; 160 Lucy Hobbs 2:36:22; 166 Jane Leonard 2:38:01; 175 Chris Drinkwater 2:39:45; 183 James Riley 2:42:11; 196 Isobel Pollard 2:47:12; 206 Elise Milnes 2:51:06; 223 Helen Wilson 3:00:36; 243 Peter Ehrhardt 3:17:40; 246 David Wilson 3:22:24; 247 Ray Poulter 3:22:25.



The previous Thursday evening had seen several Harriers take part in a night fell race in the hills above Old Town, with Peter Bowles first Todmorden runner in fourth place, followed by Paul Hobbs in fifth and Dave Swift in eighth position.

Andrew Bibby was next to emerge from the darkness in eleventh ahead of Chris Drinkwater in twelfth.

Gemma Kendall finished first lady, and 16th overall, with Geoff Read completing the Todmorden turnout in 18th place.