Blisco Dash | Todmorden 5k | Towneley 10k

Several Todmorden Harriers were in the Langdales for the Blisco Dash, the latest counter in both the British and English Fell Running Championships.

Jane Leonard was the sole representative in the women’s race, as the club was hit by absences due to injuries and holidays, and finished in 58:02 for 32^nd place and 2^nd v55 to keep alive her individual medal prospects.

In the men’s race, a trio of Harriers battled it out with Nick Barber the first back across the line in 45:54 for 71^st place, with John Lloyd in 77^th and Craig Stansfield in 79^th position.

Richard Blakeley finished first v70 to keep him in the running for a medal also.

Todmorden results: 71 Nick Barber 45:54; 77 John Lloyd 47:10; 79 Craig Stansfield 47:30; 104 Dave Collins 51:55; 130 Peter Bowles 54:22; 168 Andrew Bibby 58:38; 182 Mark Whitaker 1:03:28; 188 Richard Blakeley 1:04:08; 200 Peter Ehrhardt 1:14:03; 205 Paul Brannigan 1:22:08.

The Todmorden 5k series switched to a new route on Wednesday for the second of four races in Centre Vale Park.  The improved circuit made for faster running with Gary Shaw of Burnley AC setting the pace at 15:57.  Max Wharton running for Halifax Harriers crossed the line in 16:25 just ahead of Calder Valley’s Alex Whittem in 16:37.

Martin Stork continued his return from injury to finish first Todmorden Harrier in 18:46, chased in by Dan Taylor in 16^th and Rob Gray in 19^th position.

Mel Siddall finished 5^th woman and 47^th overall in a time of 22:41, with Bev Wright and Andrea Marshall in finishing 8^th and 11^th women respectively.  Myra Wells finished 14^th woman, and first v55.

Ian Stansfield won the v70 prize, finishing in 75^th place.

Todmorden Results: 14 Martin Stork 18:46; 16 Dan Taylor 19:01; 19 Rob Gray 19:10; 24 Darren Tweed 19:29; 26 Paul Alexander 19:52; 27 Ben Crowther 20:02; 36 Mark Anderton 21:02; 37 Simon Anderton 21:04; 47 Mel Siddall 22:41; 54 Richard  Butterwick 23:55; 57 Bev Wright 24:19; 63 Andrea Marshall 27:03; 66 Myra Wells 28:21; 75 Ian Stansfield 34:33.

Robin Tuddenham finished first at the weekly Burnley parkrun on Saturday, recording 17:45 for the 5km route in Towneley Park.

Towneley Park was also the focus for the Towneley 10k on Sunday with Richard Butterwick completing the new course based upon the former Cliviger 6 route in 48:25 and Myra Wells in 1:01:31.

Wasdale Horseshoe | Ian Terry 5k | Todmorden 5k | Widdop Fell Race

The Wasdale Horseshoe Fell Race proved a suitable test as it formed the latest round of the English Fell Championships.  The 35 km route that traverses several high Lakeland Peaks including Scafell Pike and Great Gable, already had a reputation as one of the hardest events in the calendar, and was made all the tougher by the high temperatures that led to around 100 runners dropping out from the 300 that chose to start.

Craig Stansfield revelled in the conditions to complete the route in 4:59:47 for 41^st place, with Dwane Dixon not far behind in 54^th place, in a time of 5:08:30.

Ben Crowther completed the distance in 5:43:31 for 101^st position, followed by Andy McFie in 199^th with a time of 5:56:24 and Peter Bowles in 128^th place in 6:01:51.

Jane Leonard finished in 6:16:26 for 26^th woman, and 3^rd v55, and Clare Harris was 33^rd woman in 6:45:05 and 4^th v50.

On Tuesday evening John Lloyd claimed first place at the Ian Terry Memorial 5k in Littleborough in a time of 17:15, with Myra Wells crossing the line in 30.27 for 82^nd place.

Photo by Keith Parkinson

The following evening John was back in action, but this time as race organiser of the Todmorden 5k, the first in a series of weekly evening races in Centre Vale Park. 

Former Todmorden runner Chris Smale, now running for Bingley Harriers, won in a time of 17:15, with Robin Tuddenham in 3^rd place for the Harriers at 17:40.

Dan Taylor and Martin Stork ran a close race, crossing the line in 7^th and 9^th places respectively, with Dan just 5 seconds ahead in 18:52, as Todmorden won the team prize.

Darren Tweed crossed the line in 14^th position with 19:40, with the same advantage over Paul Alexander 15^th place.   Simon Anderton finished in 20^th place in 21:05, a couple of places and 10 seconds ahead of brother Mark Anderton.

Mel Siddall was the first Todmorden woman to finish in 23:34 collecting the women’s v50 prize in the process.  Andrea Marshall completed the distance in 26:21 with Myra Wells first v55 in 28:29 as the trio also won the women’s team prize.

Ian Stansfield finished in 46^th and Jim Smith in 47^th place. 

On the same evening, there was another sizeable Todmorden entry at the Widdop Fell Race, which followed a 7 mile moorland loop.

Steve Pullan was the first Harrier to finish in 1:00:01 for 21^st place, with Rob Gray in 31^st with a time of 1:01:46 and Dave Collins half a minute behind in 35^th place. Paul Cruthers finished in 94^th position in 1:11:51.

Kirsty Pattern was the first Todmorden woman, and 11^th woman overall, in 1:20:05, with Sarah Hughes and Jackie Holden completing the distance in the same time of 1:22:31 for 15^th and 16^th women.

Peter Ehrhardt was the next to finish in 1:27:47, followed by a trio of Harriers in 1:32:06 as Claire Duffield, Moyra Parfitt and Mel Blackhurst came in together.

In the Widdop junior races, Jack Crummett finished in 2^nd place in the under 16’s race.

Joe Hobbs and Alex Duffield battled it out at the front of the under 8’s race, finishing in 2^nd and 3^rd place, with Ben Hodgkinson in 11^th place.

On Saturday, Robin Tuddenham finished in 104^th position at the Snowdon Mountain Race in a time of 1:34:08 for the 10 mile race up and down Wales’ highest mountain.

A pair of Harriers were in Middleton for the Moonraker 10k on Sunday, in slightly cooler conditions than of late, with Myra Wells finishing in 107^th and Richard Butterwick in 108^th place, just under the hour mark.

Bohuslav Barlow completed the Pudsey 10k in a time of 57:05 for 207^th position.

Stoodley Pike | Royton Trail | Radcliffe 3 Day Challenge

The fine weather enticed many Todmorden Harriers out racing in the last week, starting with the club's own Stoodley Pike Fell Race on Tuesday evening.

The 5km race climbed up from the Top Brink Inn, along the skyline to the Pike. A steep descent down to London Road then took the runners back to the finish.

Andrew Wrench was the first Harrier in fifth place, followed by John Lloyd in sixth, then an outstanding run by Jack Crummett taking him into 14th and second under 16 runner.

Hatty Nylan finished third woman, with Rebecca Patrick in sixth and Clare Harris tenth.  Madeleine Rolinson Lord collected the under 18 prize for the club.

Todmorden Results: 5 Andrew Wrench 20.51; 6 John Lloyd 21.27; 14 Jack Crummett 22.24; 29 Steve Pullan 23.37; 32 Robert Tyson 23.44; 43 Simon Hollows 24.22; 52 Jon Wright 25.03; 66 Hatty Nylan 26.25; 70 Benjamin Beckwith 26.31; 91 Rebecca Patrick 28.03; 94 Henry Artemes 28.38; 97 Paul Cruthers 28.48; 105 Clare Harris 29.13; 116 John Killerby 29.59; 123 Mark Williams 30.18; 126 Jackie Holden 30.26; 136 Graham Milnes 31.06; 153 Kirsty Patten 32.11; 155 Madeleine Rolinson Lord 32.36; 157 Laura Sutcliffe 32.55; 184 David O'Neill 40.12; 185 Myra Wells 40.56; 186 Ian Stansfield 50.43.  

On Wednesday evening the club’s Trail Championship was the focus with the 5.5 mile Royton Trail Race. 

Trevor Davies consolidated his lead at the top of the men’s standings with 11th place in a time of 34:53, followed by Robert Gray in 23rd place and Andrew Bibby in 70th place.

Mel Blackhurst was the first Todmorden women home in 89th position, followed by current ladies leader Issy Pollard in 114th place and Moyra Parfitt in 138th position.

Todmorden Results: 11 Trevor Davis 34.53; 23 Robert Gray 36.24; 70 Andrew Bibby 40.08; 77 Andy Glyde 41.26; 89 Mel Blackhurst 42.47; 110 David Leslie 45.28; 114 Issy Pollard 45.58; 138 Moyra Parfitt 49.25; 149 David Henthorne 50.55; 165 Ray Poulter 53.45.

 

A trio of Todmorden Harriers tackled the Bull Hill Fell Race at Hawkshaw on Thursday evening, where Marcel Ellison finished in 49th place in a time of 45:36.  Richard Butterwick finished just past the hour mark for 155th position and Myra Wells completed the 5.5 mile course in 190th place.

 

The race also formed the first day of Radcliffe Athletic Club’s Three Day Challenge, and the following evening  Richard and Myra moved on to the Giant’s Seat Summer Cross Country, with Myra winning the v55 prize on the night. 

The final event, the VLA Events Radcliffe Trail Race took place on Saturday afternoon, with Richard ending the series in 44th and Myra in 54th position and 2nd v55.

Dave Collins finished in 21st place at the Addingham Gala Fell Race, covering the 6 mile route to Beamsley Beacon and back in 31:17.

 

On Sunday, Robin Tuddenham finished in 27th place at the Jane Tomlinson Leeds 10k in a time of 35:56.

Paul Alexander was in Lytham for the Windmill Half Marathon where he completed the two lap course in 1:35:42 for 69th position. 

Lauren Jeska finished 5th overall, and set a new women’s record of 1:16:13 at the Tal Y Fan Race in North Wales.

Rochdale 10k | Cragg Vale Fell Race | Helen Windsor 10k

There was a good turnout of twenty-one Todmorden Harriers at the Rochdale 10k last week, with heavy rain throughout failing to dampen the spirits of the 340 runners.

John Lloyd was the first Harrier to finish in 5^th place with a time of 35:28, followed by Robin Tuddenham in 10^th place in 36:21.

Trevor Davies was the next Todmorden man across the line in 24^th position, with Michael Harper 48^th and Rob Gray in 56^th place.

Sarah Glyde improved on her best time for the distance to finish 6^th woman overall, and first v35.

Jane Leonard made a rare foray onto the roads to finish 41^st woman, followed by Helen Wilson 49^th woman.

Richard Blakeley claimed the first v70 prize for the club.

Todmorden results: 5 John Lloyd 35:28; 10 Robin Tuddenham 36:21; 24 Trevor Davis 37:58; 48 Michael Harper 40:34; 56 Robert Gray 40:57; 93 Sarah Glyde 42:57; 146 Phil Cook 46:44; 155 Paul Cruthers 47:04; 156 Richard Blakeley 47:09; 178 Richard Leonard 48:18; 218 Jane Leonard 50:30; 219 Richard Butterwick 50:38; 230 Helen Wilson 51:26; 249 Nigel Hanson 52:34; 252 David Wilson 52:41; 253 David Leslie 52:44; 277 Ray Poulter 55:28; 280 Jilly Davidson 55:31; 284 Moyra Parfitt 55:45; 299 Louise Abdy 58:22; 305 Myra Wells 59:19.

 

The following evening saw Robin Tuddenham lead home another sizeable Todmorden contingent at the Cragg Vale Fell Race, finishing in 8^th position in a time of 31:47 for the 4 mile course.

He was followed over the line by Peter Bowles in 15^th place and Jack Crummett in 21^st place, and first under-16 runner, taking the men into 3^rd placed team.

Todmorden’s women were in dominant mood, easily winning the team prize with Gemma Ford in first place and Rebecca Patrick in third place, and first v40, and Clare Harris fifth woman, and first v50.

Todmorden results: 8 Robin Tuddenham 31:47; 15 Peter Bowles 32:37; 21 Jack Crummett 33:59; 26 David Baldaro 34:30; 27 Dave Collins 34:41; 40 Gemma Ford 36:08; 41 Andrew Bibby 36:13; 57 Rebecca Patrick 39:45; 73 Clare Harris 41:42; 78 Elise Milnes 42:33; 81 Graham Milnes 42:59; 98 Peter Ehrhardt 47:34; 104 Reg Czudek 52:04. 

Two Todmorden runners tackled the hilly Helen Windsor 10k, with David Leslie finishing in 106^th and Ian Stansfield in 151^st place. 

Photo courtesy of woodentops.org.uk

On Saturday, the weather had taken a warmer and dryer turn for the 6 mile Heptonstall Festival Fell Race, making for a tough race. 

After leading early on in the race Nick Barber had to settle for fifth position, with full results yet to be published.

Woodentop's Heptonstall Photos... and more
 

At the two day Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon, Sue Roberts teamed up with daughter Annie to finish 3^rd women’s pair.

Darren Holloway Memorial Race | Darwen Triathlon

Three Todmorden Harriers travelled to the Lake District for the Darren Holloway Memorial Race on Saturday.

The 34 km route looped around the hilltops surrounding the Buttermere Valley, incorporating a total climb of almost 3000 metres.

Craig Stansfield was the first Harrier to complete the epic route in 5 hours and 21 minutes, just ahead of Dan Taylor in 5 hours and 38 minutes.

Mandy Goth finished in 90^th position in 7 hours and 17 minutes.

 

On Sunday, Simon Galloway took part in the Darwen Triathlon, comprising of a 600 metre pool swim, a 23km cycle and an 8km run up to Darwen Tower to finish.

Simon finished in 1:48:59 for 51^st place and fifth position in his age category. 

The club’s popular Stoodley Pike Fell Race takes place on Tuesday 9^th July at 7:30pm, with entry on the night at the Top Brink Inn.  The route follows a 5km loop up to the Pike; full details are on the club website www.todharriers.co.uk