Ron Hill 5k | Edale Skyline | Leigh Cross Country | Thieveley Pike

Todmorden Harriers joined almost 400 runners in Littleborough to celebrate the 75th birthday of Dr Ron Hill MBE, with the annual 5k road race that is held in his honour.

Over thirty Harriers took to the hilly course along Rochdale Road, Smithy Bridge Road, along the side of Hollingworth Lake and finishing with a downhill section back into Littleborough.

Nick Barber led the way for Todmorden, finishing in fifth position with a time of 17:04, ahead of Paul Brannigan at 17:33 for 11th place and Martin Stork in 30th place stopping the clock at 18:36.

Sarah Glyde was the first Todmorden woman, collecting the v35 prize with her time of 20:36.  Kath Brierley completed the distance in 22:18 and Mel Blackhurst in 22:36.

Derek Clutterbuck enjoyed a rare race appearance and crossed the line first v80, after a race long battle that saw him claim a 13 second advantage over his nearest rival.

Todmorden results:  5 Nick Barber 17:04; 11 Paul Brannigan 17:33; 30 Martin Stork 18:36; 38 Dan Taylor 19:05; 41 Paul Alexander 19:24; 45 Robert Gray 19:28; 51 Ben Crowther 19:38; 79 Sarah Glyde 20:36; 88 Michael Harper 20:51; 97 Andrew Bibby 21:08; 104 Simon Galloway 21:31; 110 Richard Butterwick 21:34; 135 Kath Brierley 22:18; 138 Kevin Coughlan 22:26; 143 Phil Cook 22:34; 145 Melanie Blackhurst 22:36; 152 Keith Parkinson 22:59; 176 Richard Leonard 23:28; 210 Bev Wright 24:40; 224 Jane Leonard 25:28; 233 Nigel Hanson 25:41; 242 Mandy Goth 25:56; 246 David Leslie 26:02; 248 Julie Wyant 26:06; 258 Ray Poulter 26:28; 263 Andrea Marshall 26:42; 271 Peter Ehrhardt 27:03; 306 David O'Neill 29:00; 346 Derek Clutterbuck 35:26; 349 Ian Stansfield 36:21. 

Steve Bateson's Ron Hill 5k photos...

After being rearranged due to snow drifts on the original scheduled date in the spring, the Edale Skyline Fell Race was blessed with sunshine and blue skies at the weekend as the 34km Peak District race made up the final round of this year’s English Fell Championships.

Nick Barber recorded his highest finish in a Championship race, with 29^th place after 3:09:01, with Paul Brannigan finishing in 49^th position in 3:22:27.  Rob Tyson completed the route in 3:58:09 for 129^th place.

Mel Blackhurst was the first Todmorden woman in 160^th with a time of 4:08:01, followed by Kath Brierley in 201^st in a time of 4:21:37 and Jane Leonard in 251^st at 4:51:00.

David Leslie completed the Todmorden finishers with 270^th position in a time of 5:35:20.

A trio of Todmorden runners were present at the first fixture of this year’s Red Rose Cross Country League held on a fast dry course at Leigh Sports Village.

Martin Stork completed the course in 62nd place in a time of 38:59, followed by Dan Taylor in 85th with a time of 40:23.

Andrea Marshall was 83rd in the women’s race, with a time of 27:45.

There was a large entry for the Thieveley Pike Fell Race, with Andrew Wrench finishing in 6th place, and first v45.

Stephen Pullin just edged out Jamie Wrench as they finished 27th and 29th respectively, with Jamie claiming the first u18 prize.

Martin Roberts was 41st, with James Riley 59th and Phil Cook in 81st place.

In the junior races, Mayah Brooks finished first U12 girl, whilst Jaden Riley was second U12 boy.

Todmorden runners dominated the U8 boys race with Alex Duffield finishing first.  Noah Lane was second, with Harvey Riley third and William Beresford in fourth place.

Leigh Cross Country | Kielder Blast | Thieveley Pike Fell Race

Todmorden Harriers were spoilt for choice at the weekend, with the opening fixture of the Red Rose Cross Country League high on the agenda.


The venue, for the first of four rounds, was Leigh Sports village and Todmorden Ladies finished 10th team, and 8th veteran team, over the 5km course.

Todmorden ladies results: 20 Sarah Glyde 22:38; 34: Mel Blackhurst 23:41; 63: Mel Robertson 26:16; 75: Moyra Parfitt 28:14.

Ray Poulter finished second v65 on the same course in 27:00.

The men’s team then tackled the longer 10km course finishing in 5th place, and 2nd veteran team.

Todmorden men’s results: 11: John Lloyd 35:47; 15: Andrew Wrench 35:59; 17: Jon Wright 36:11; 29: Robin Tuddenham 37:28; 50: Paul Hobbs 39:31; 82: Michael Harper 41:57; 92: Simon Anderton 42:25.



The English Fell Championships drew to a close with the Kielder Blast Fell Race. Dwane Dixon was once again in the points as he finished the 9.5km course in a time of 75:29 for 46th place, with Paul Brannigan finishing in 51st place in 58:48.

Peter Ehrhardt finished in 135th, with Peter Marshall in 144th and Derek Clutterbuck making a rare racing appearance to finish in 150th position.



Closer to home Todmorden Ladies claimed the team prize at the Thieveley Pike Fell Race, whilst the men narrowly missed out on the team prize after finishing level on points with Calder Valley, but ht prize going to their neighbours as their forth counter crossed the line first.

Marcel Ellison led the way for the Harrier finishing in third place, with Craig Stansfield in 8th. Dave Collins and Robert Gray were the other counters finishing in 22nd and 28th positions.

The winning ladies team were Sarah Warburton, Issy Pollard and Eleanor Lang who were 4th, 5th and 6th ladies respectively.

Todmorden results: 3 Marcel Ellison 37.44; 8 Craig Stansfield 38.24; 22 Dave Collins 41.58; 28 Robert Gray 42.30; 44 Dan Taylor 44.17; 60 Paul Cook 46.26; 71 Sarah Warburton 48.13; 74 Issy Pollard 48.39; 78 Eleanor Lang 49.14; 101 Elise Milnes 51.53; 105 Graham Milnes 52.40; 106 Sue Roberts 52.57.

Good Shepherd Fell Race | Leigh Cross Country | Beefy's Nab Fell Race

Todmorden Harriers were in action on several fronts at the weekend.

The Good Shepherd Fell Race attracted over 100 runners to Mytholmroyd on Saturday morning despite the rainy weather. The 14 mile route started from Dauber Bridge and looped around the moors, passing over Stoodley Pike twice and returning via Robin Hood Rocks to the Good Shepherd Centre.

Calder Valley’s James Logue improved on his own course record to win in a time of 1:42:20.

Nick Barber was the first Todmorden runner in 8th place, with Paul Hobbs in 17th place and Dan Taylor in 28th position.

The ladies record was also bettered by Calder Valley’s Anne Johnson, with Mel Blackhurst finishing second lady for Todmorden and Bev Holmes ninth lady.

Todmorden Results: 8 Nick Barber 1:52:54; 17 Paul Hobbs 2:00:52; 28 Dan Taylor 2:11:18; 38 David Baldaro 2:18:33; 40 Melanie Blackhurst 2:19:15; 41 Kevin Booth 2:19:23; 71 Bev Holmes 2:36:05; 101 Julie Wyatt 3:22:18; 102 Moyra Parfitt 3:22:19; 103 Elise Milnes 3:22:20.


On Saturday afternoon Todmorden made a respectable return to the Red Rose Cross Country League with a seventh place for the men’s team at the opening race of the season held at Leigh Sports Village.

The fixture was the first of four in this year’s competition, and was the first time for several years that the club had entered a team. In the men’s race John Lloyd led the way for the club with 19th place, followed by Robin Tuddenham in 26th and Martin Stork in 41st position.

Sean Carey completed the course in 55th, despite a fall, with Ben Crowther in 72nd place. Simon Anderton was 101st, with Richard Butterwick finishing in 135th position.

Kath Brierley completed the ladies 5k course in 31st place, and 3rd v50, with Mel Robertson in 59th position, and 5th v50. Jack Crummett finished 12th in the U13 boys race.


On Sunday, a short trip to a very wet Oxenhope beckoned for Beefy’s Nab Fell Race, which was the final race in the club’s Trail Championship.

Dwane Dixon finished in 4th place, ahead of John Lloyd in 6th place, which was sufficient to keep him at the head of the table and win the Trail Championship.

Hatty Nylan won the ladies race, with Helen Hodgkinson finishing first v40 lady.

Elise Milnes completed the course to be crowned ladies Trail Champion.

Todmorden Results: 4 Dwane Dixon 21:52; 6 John Lloyd 22:11; 15 Dan Taylor 25:35; 19 Peter Clarke 26:27; 24 Hatty Nylan 27:32; 34 Helen Hodgkinson 29:53; 35 Richard Butterwick 31:29; 36 Kevin Coughlan 31:40; 39 Graham Milnes 32:12; 40 Andrea Marshall 32:15; 41 Elise Milnes 32:23; 43 Sue Roberts 32:36; 48 Dave O’Neill 36:46; 49 Kathy Bridger 39:18; 51 Myra Wells 44:52.


Lauren Jeska lined up on the elite women’s start for the Great Yorkshire Run 10k in Sheffield and finished in 5th place in 35:33, only 8 seconds outside a personal best time on a testing course.

Sarah May tackled the Chester Marathon, completing the 26 miles in 3:09:44 to finish 13th lady.