Pendle Fell Race | Bunny Run 1 | Robinson's 5k

Todmorden Harriers put in a strong showing at the Pendle Fell Race on Saturday winning the ladies team and men’s veterans’ team prizes.

The club were set on their way after Alex Duffield had finished first in the juniors under 8’s race, and Jack Willis had finished 18th in the under 10’s category.

The 4.1 mile senior course followed an increasingly steep line towards the summit before plunging briefly down and back up the hill.  After finally reaching the trig point, a hair raising descent took the runners back to the finish at Barley village.

Jon Wright finished in 13th place for the club, followed by Ivan Gee in 18th just ahead of Craig Stansfield in 20th position.
Clare Duffield was first Todmorden lady, and 3rd v40, with Kath Brierley in 185th and Issy Pollard in 204th place.

Todmorden Results: 13 Jon Wright 35:12; 18 Ivan Gee 36:11; 20 Craig Stansfield 36:24; 38 Paul Brannigan 38:00; 55 Robin Tuddenham 39:59; 57 Dan Taylor 40:03; 78 Darren Tweed 41:33; 85 Dave Collins 42:03; 105 Michael Harper 44:14; 138 Andrew Bibby 46:47; 157 Claire Duffield 48:09; 180 Jonathan Daniels 49:32; 183 Mick Craven 49:46; 185 Kathleen Brierley 49:53; 204 Issy Pollard 51:22; 226 Wayne Morrison 52:43; 228 Jane Leonard 52:47; 230 Keith Parkinson 52:53; 231 Clare Kenny 52:59; 238 Elise Milnes 53:40; 265 Graham Milnes 55:51; 277 Richard Blakeley 56:48; 284 David Wilson 57:25; 287 Ray Poulter 57:40; 290 David Leslie 57:47; 307 Peter Ehrhardt 1:00:29; 321 Louise Abdy 1:03:36.


Darren Graham and Dan Taylor fought it out for the honour of first Todmorden man at the first of the weekly Spring Bunny runs on Tuesday, with Darren eventually crossing the line in 43rd with a time of 19:28, and Dan following on 15 seconds behind.

Jack Crummett finished in 20:33 for 70th position on the 3 mile course at Dimples Quarry, Haworth.

Mark Whitaker finished in 126th position, followed by Eleanor Lang in 150th and Andrea Marshall in 228th place.

On the same evening, Clare Kenny was at Marl Pits for the Liver Hill Fell Race, where she finished first v50 lady.


On Wednesday evening, several Harriers were in Littleborough for the Colin and Brenda Robinson 5k. 

Jon Wright finished in 4th position and first v40 with a time of 16:45. A trio of Harriers enjoyed a tight battle with Richard Butterwick finishing in 19:17 for  31st place, closely followed in by Michael Harper in 19:30 and Paul Alexander in 19:42, with both setting personal bests for the distance.

Bev Wright was the first Todmorden lady in 87th, with a time of 24:15 and Myra Wells crossed the line in 28:28.

On Sunday, Richard Butterwick followed that up with a new personal best time at the Lottie Wilcocks 5k in Rochdale, finishing in 12th place with a time of 18:42, with Myra Wells finishing 59th, and first v55, in 26:57.

Bent & Bongs 10k | Midgley Moor Fell Race | Llantysilio Fell Race | Liver Hill Fell Race | Vera Hirst 5k

The arrival of Spring left Todmorden Harriers spoilt for choice with club members in action on many fronts.

The club's 2012 Trail Championship continued on Sunday with a new race at Astley, the Bent and Bongs 10k.

A four way battle to be the first Todmorden runner quickly developed with Simon Galloway heading the closely grouped quartet for the first 3 miles.

Richard Butterwick then took up the lead position, before Paul Brannigan made a decisive move at the 5 mile mark developing a significant gap to cross the line first from the club, and 27th overall.

Richard then held off a late challenge from Michael Harper as they finished 31st and 33rd respectively, with Simon Galloway in 40th position.

Helen Wilson was the only Todmorden woman, finishing in 84th place, just over a minute ahead of Peter Ehrhardt in 94th place.

Todmorden Results: 27 Paul Brannigan 42:33; 31 Richard Butterwick 43:23; 33 Michael Harper 43:37; 40 Simon Galloway 44:25; 84 Helen Wilson 50:49; 94 Peter Ehrhardt 51:55.

Myra's Bent and Bongs photos...

Steve Bateson's Bent and Bongs photos...

On Saturday, several Harriers tackled the Midgley Moor Fell Race organised by neighbouring Calder Valley Fell Runners.


Dave Collins and Clive Greatorex ran a close race, with Dave eventually edging ahead for 40th place in 47:11, and Clive following him over the line 13 seconds later.

Mick Craven finished the five mile course in 50:27 for 51st place followed by Richard Leonard in 69th.

Jane Leonard was the first Todmorden lady, ahead of Helen Hodgkinson.

Todmorden Results: 40 Dave Collins 47.11; 41 Clive Greatorex 47.24; 51 Mick Craven 50.27; 69 Richard Leonard 54.11; 83 Jane Leonard 56.14; 102 Helen Hodgkinson 60.03.


Lauren Jeska won the women's race and set a new course record by 3 minutes at the Llantysilio Fell Race in Wales.

On Tuesday several Harriers enjoyed a sunny evening at Marl Pits for the Liver Hill Fell Race.
Marcel Ellison finished in 11th place in 35:34, with Darren Graham a minute behind in 17th position.

Robert Gray completed the up and down course in 48th, with Simon Galloway in 68th position.
Elise Milnes crossed the line in 132nd and Graham Milnes was 162nd.

Todmorden Results: 11 Marcel Ellison 35:34; 17 Darren Graham 36:31; 48 Robert Gray 39:36; 68 Simon Gallaway 41:53; 132 Elise Milner 49:47; 162 Graham Milnes 57:23.


John Lloyd led the way for the Harriers at Vera Hirst 5k in Littleborough on Wednesday with his time of 17:01 taking him into 7th place, whilst Paul Hobbs finished in 14th position with 18:23.

Dan Taylor finished in 20:29 for 59th place, with Andy Glyde stopping the clock at 21:39 for 77th and Andrea Marshall in 128th with a time of 26:28.

Liver Hill Fell Race | Robinsons 5k | Salford 10k | Pendle Fell Race

A busy Easter week for Todmorden Harriers started off on Tuesday with the Liver Hill Fell Race. The 5mile race features 800 feet of ascent and the 140 competitors were rewarded with a crème egg for their efforts.

Sean Carey continued his recent good form with 2nd place overall, and first under 18, in the senior race with Kath Brierley finishing 7th lady, and 1st vet45.

In the junior races Jack Crummett recorded a hard fought victory in the Under 12s race narrowly edging out Calder Valley’s Tom Nelson by 5 seconds.

On Wednesday a trio of Harriers warmed up with the Colin & Brenda Robinson 5k at Littleborough. Andrew Horsfall was the first to cross the line in 18:50 and 38th place, with Keith Parkinson in 79th at 20:59 and Myra Wells in 191st with a time of 29:08.

The Club’s Road Championship took to the streets of Salford for Friday’s fast flat 10k, which attracted a high quality 600 strong field around its two lap course. Holmfirth’s Mark Buckingham won the race in 29:59; just 8 seconds ahead of team mate Matthew Pierson.

Jon Wright led the Todmorden entry with 24th place, ahead of Andy Wrench in 32nd. Martin Stork edged out Mark Anderton in the final straight to retain his position at the top of the road championship table. Sarah May led in the Todmorden ladies finishing as 7th female.

Todmorden Results: 24 Jon Wright 33:54; 32 Andy Wrench 34:22; 125 Martin Stork 39:15; 129 Mark Anderton 39:21; 140 Sarah May 39:45; 153 Richard Butterwick 40:01; 180 Darren Tweed 41:02; 272 Mel Blackhurst 44:47; 325 Mel Siddall 46:56; 453 Mel Robertson 54:16; 523 Myra Wells 59:08.


On Saturday it was the turn of the Club Fell Championship to take centre stage at Pendle Hill for the 4.5 mile short race, where both of Todmorden’s star performers of 2010 once again rose to the challenge.

Starting from Barley, the route climbed part way towards the summit before plunging down and then taking the runners up a lung busting climb back up the steep side of Big End, followed by a fast descent back to the village.

Salford’s John Brown took the win ahead of Pudsey & Bramley’s Graham Pearce as more than 200 runners turned out. Sean Carey was once again first Todmorden finisher in 12th place with Lauren Jeska recording another fine first place in the ladies race.

Todmorden Results: 12 Sean Carey 37:02; 25 Lauren Jeska 38:40; 37 Andrew Horsfall 39:55; 43 Ben Crowther 40:35; 58 Stephen Brandwood 42:13; 73 Kevin Booth 43:26; 95 James Riley 45:20; 124 Keith Parkinson 47:26; 138 Richard Leonard 49:10; 142 Peter Jackson 49:23; 158 Jane E Leonard 51:17; 204 David O'Neill 1:03:57.