Hades Hill Fell Race | Ben Nevis Race

Todmorden Harriers dominated the entries at the Hades Hill Fell Race on Thursday, with twenty seven Harriers making the short trip to Whitworth for the race that traditionally marks the end of the summer fell racing season.

The forecast rain held off making for ideal conditions for the 5 mile race that climbs steeply past Brown Wardle Hill and Middle Hill to reach the highest point on Hades Hill, followed by a return by the reverse route.  The firm running allowed Josh Tighe of Northumberland Fell Runners to set a new course record of 31:04, almost 2 minutes ahead of his nearest rival. 

There was a close battle between Andrew Wrench and Nick Barber to be the first Harrier home as they finished third and fourth respectively, with Paul Brannigan finishing in seventh place.

Kath Brierley was the first Todmorden woman, finishing fourth woman, and first v55, followed by Jane Leonard seventh woman, and first v55 and Jackie Holden was twelfth woman back.

Todmorden Results: 3 A. Wrench 33.42; 4 N. Barber 33.49; 7 P. Brannigan 35.11; 15 D. Taylor 37.16; 18 J. Wrench 38.04; 19 T. Davis 38.1; 21 R. Gray 38.33; 25 J. Alan 39.08; 34 M. Roberts 40.11; 39 P. Alexander 41.12; 44 S. Galloway 41.56; 45 A. Bibby 41.58; 60 A. Glyde 43.57; 62 Kath Brierley 44.19; 63 P. Cruthers 44.3; 68 Jane Leonard 44.58; 69 R. Butterwick 44.59; 77 Jackie Holden 47.01; 82 K. Coughlan 47.48; 83 R. Leonard 48.01; 90 Kirsty Patton 48.52; 91 D. Leslie 48.53; 94 Andrea Marshall 51.34; 98 D. Collins 52.13; 103 Sue Roberts 53.56; 107 P. Ehrhardt 54.3; 116 D. O'Neill 59.59.

Jon Wright completed his 20^th consecutive Ben Nevis Race, completing the 9 mile route up and down Britain’s highest mountain in 1:52:37 for 30th place, winning the Wallace Plaque in the process for being the first police runner.

Craig Stansfield finished in 1:54:55 for 40^th position, with Andrew Horsfall in 123^rd, at 2:10:26, and Marcel Ellison in 144^th position at 2:13:14.

Clare Harris crossed the line in 2:39:57 for 318^th place, with Mandy Goth in 427^th with a time of 3:04:42 and Rhys Watkins not far behind in a time of 3:06:19 for 434^th place.