Diane Modahl Sports Foundation 5K Trail Race

by PB

Todmorden Harriers placed 7 of their athletes in the top 11 of the Diane Modahl Brownhouse trail race in Rochdale. Tod's Kath Brierley took top honours winning the ladies race with Paul Brannigan placed second in the men's race. 

Four time Olympic 800m runner Diane Modahl took part in the race. A steep start on the road, turned into a rough ascent then 2 laps of Brownhouse Reservoir before a hurtle back down to the finish. 

Tod's Craig Stansfield set the early pace, which was then taken up by Tod's Ivan Gee and then eventual winner Alex McVey of Kestrel Super Flyers opened up a significant gap, which Brannigan closed to just 9 seconds in the second half of the race. 

Gee was 1st V40, Stansfield 1st V45, Brannigan 1st V50, David Leslie 1st V60, Peter Erhardt 1st V65, Myra Wells 1st lady V55 and former English Fell Champion Moyra Parfitt 1st lady V65. 

Tod's male performance of the night came from Rob Gray who was in touching distance of much faster runners on paper. The race raised around £400 for the Diane Modahl Sports Foundation.

Results:

2	P. Brannigan	16.43
3	I. Gee	17.26
5	C. Stansfield	17.34
6	R. Gray	17.36
7	D. Tweed	17.44
10	D. Taylor	18.19
11	J. Allan	18.26
15	M. Harper	19.10
17	R. Butterwick	19.30
20	J. Riley	20.28
21	S. Galloway	20.47
23	Kath Brierley	21.04
26	P. Cook	21.14
27	Mel Blackhurst	21.32
37	D. Leslie	22.48
49	Helen Wilson	23.43
55	D. Wilson	24.28
59	Louise Abdy	25.05
61	P. Ehrhardt	25.32
63	Moyra Parfitt	26.04
70	D. O'Neill	29.06
74	Myra Wells	29.34
90	I. Stansfield	37.04

Todmorden Harriers welcome and look after runners of all ability. Check out www.todharriers.co.uk for details.

 

Orchan Rocks Fell Race

Tuesday 29^th April saw the first running of a new event in the valley The Orchan Rocks Fell Race, organised by Tod Harrier Dan Taylor. The race HQ was at the The Staff of Life Pub, Burnley Road.

53 runners from near and far enjoyed a quick race on a lovely warm evening. 

The route went up Knotts Cliff, past Hartley Royd, a loop around Orchan Rocks then a quick descent back to the finish.

Local Fireman and current BOFRA champion Shaun Godsman was pushed all the way by Darren Kay from Pudsey and Bramley. Shaun managed to finish in a very fast time of 21.59 setting a record that will be hard to beat in years to come, Darren was just 7 seconds behind. Joe Crossfield finished 3^rd,  and along with first local John Lloyd in 4^th place and Shaun they took home the team prize for Calder Valley. 

First lady was Rebecca Patrick from Tod Harriers, a couple of minutes ahead of Sharon Godsman and first local Rachel Hudson. Everyone enjoyed the fast grassy route, especially the fast descent back down Knotts Cliffs. 

Dan thanked Tim and Kate from the Staff of Life for hosting the event and all the runners for turning and making his his first ever race a great success. With all the good feedback Dan is hoping to run the event annually and also has another race ’Bridestone Fell Race’ scheduled for 17^th June, see www.fellrunner.co.uk for further details.    

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