Vera Hirst 5k | Salford 10k | Rivington Pike | Outerside Chase

On Wednesday evening three Todmorden Harriers were in Littleborough for the Vera Hirst 5k.


Michael Harper finished in 25th position with a time of 19:44 whilst Richard Butterwick was 37th in 20:17 and Myra Wells completed the course in 28:38 for 100th position.



The Salford 10k on Good Friday attracted a high quality entry, with Robin Tuddenham recording a season best time for the distance of 34:22 for 31st position and 3rd v40.

Richard Butterwick registered a new personal best for the distance, with 39:17 taking him into 139th place and Myra Wells finished in 502nd with 57:58.



At the Rivington Pike Fell Race on Saturday, James Riley completed the distance in 28:03 for 202ndplace. Jack Crummett finished 23rd in the Under 16’s race which formed the first round of the English Junior Fell Championship.



Also on Saturday, Michael Harper finished in 82nd position at the Outerside Chase Fell Race in the Lake District.



Rounding off the weekend action, Simon Galloway finished in 23rd position at the Carr Hill Triathlon near Kirkham on the Fylde Peninsular.

Caldervale 10 | Salford 10k | Ken Taylor Cowm Reservoir 5k

The Caldervale 10 was dominated by Todmorden Harriers on Good Friday, with four Harriers in the first seven places led in by race winner Robin Tuddenham.

The race formed the latest round of Todmorden Harriers’ Road Championship on Good Friday. The undulating course, near Garstang, was made all the harder by the hot sunny weather with many of the 214 runners struggling with the heat.

Robin Tuddenham and John Lloyd showed no signs of difficulty as they headed the field with first and second places for the club.

Paul Brannigan completed the course in 6th place, just ahead of Martin Stork in 7th.

Lucy Hobbs was the first Todmorden lady in 88th, and 10th lady, with Julie Wyant and Mel Siddall crossing the line together for 158th and 160th respectively.

On Easter Sunday, Julie also took part in the Fleetwood 10, showing tremendous consistency by completing that course just 3 seconds slower.

Todmorden Results: 1 Robin Tuddenham 1:00:31; 2 John Lloyd 1:02:54; 6 Paul Brannigan 1:05:25; 7 Martin Stork 1:06:08; 42 Kevin Booth 1:14:50; 60 Mick Craven 1:16:50; 88 Lucy Hobbs 1:22:19; 109 Simon Galloway 1:24:56; 159 Julie Wyant 1:33:34; 160 Mel Siddall 1:33:35.


Lauren Jeska experienced similarly hot conditions at the very competitive Salford 10k, also on Good Friday.

In her debut entry in a 10k race, Lauren finished 3rd woman, to set a respectable time of 35:25 after a race long battle with Tess Walker of Salford Harriers, that drew them to just a few seconds behind 2nd placed lady Sarah Tunstall of Kendal.

First lady was Lauren Howarth of Leigh Harriers who set a sizzling pace to record the fastest women’s 10k so far this year, with 32:33.

Mick Hall's Salford 10k and Fleetwood 10 photo's...

On Wednesday, four Harriers made the short trip to Cowm Reservoir for the Ken Taylor 5k.

Robin Tuddenham was again the first Harrier, finishing in 4th place with a time of 16:59, with Martin Stork recording 18:01 for 8th. Richard Butterwick set a new personal best for the distance with 19:04 for 19th and Myra Wells finished in 68th in 28:23.

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.