Stanbury Splash

The 31st annual Stanbury Splash fell race took place on Sunday 19^th January in typically seasonal conditions, with over 400 runners turning out to take on the mud and to take home the prize of a malt loaf. 

The event certainly lived up to its name. Todmorden Harriers maintained their strong presence at this popular local event. The rain that has characterised the winter so far meant that the 7 mile senior course and the shorter Junior course promised to be very muddy – neither course disappointed. 

Both events began in the ankle deep mud at the bottom of the quarry before a short climb. The Junior course then took in the paths round the perimeter of the quarry. 

The senior route took runners across the main road and down the track in the direction of the ruined Withen’s farm. Before the farm, runners were taken down through a field to cross Sladen Beck; they would also cross the beck on the return journey) before climbing out of the valley. They were then taken on a loop around the Ponden Kirkvalley skyline, including a splash through the swollen stream at the, before dropping back into the valley. The route back in retraced the runners’ steps, including a re-crossing of Sladen Beck before the final hard to the finish back at the cricket club in Penistone County Park.

Todmorden Harriers juniors were well represented at the event. Head Coach, Ben Crowther, was on hand to make sure everyone was ready for the run. 

There were strong performances from Todmorden’s runners in all age categories. This was their first taste of a competitive fell race for some of the Juniors.

Junior results

Ollie Davidson (under 8s) 28^th 4.38

Ben Hodgkinson (under 8s) 33^rd 4.50

Rebecca Haworth (under 8s) 35^th 4.52

Rachel Davis (under 8s) 37^th 4.56

Laurie Gee (under 10s) 63^rd 9.10

Linus Mulhern (under 10s) 69^th 9.19

Oonagh Brooks (under 10s) 111^th 10.36

Thea Crowther (under 10s) 132^nd 11.33

In the senior ladies race Laura Sutcliffe had the honour of being first Toddie home, placing 312^th in 73.12. Jane Leonard (FV50) was the second Todmorden lady home in 314^th in 75.44. 

First senior male, and also first V50, for Todmorden was Martin Roberts in 102^nd place in 58.20. Dave Collins was second V50 and second senior male for Todmorden in 122^nd place (60.01). 

Kevin Booth (V40) and Roger Haworth competed hard for the honour of 3^rd senior male for Todmorden. They passed each other several times over the last 3 miles, Kevin eventually taking 3^rd senior male for Todmorden (178^th overall) in 64.27 with Roger finishing 184^th in 64.44. 

Joe Daniels, who couldn’t quite keep up pace with Kevin and Roger in the final mile of the course, finished 191^st in 65.12.

Senior results

Martin Roberts 102^nd 58.20

Dave Collins 122^nd 60.01

Kevin Booth 178^th 64.27

Roger Haworth 184^th 64.44

Joe Daniels 191^st 65.12

Laura Sutcliffe 312^th 73.12

Jane Leonard 314^th 75.44

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

JD

Stanbury Splash | The Hebden | Inskip Half

Todmorden Harriers enjoyed a snowy Stanbury Splash Fell Race on Sunday, with the course shortened to six miles due to the weather.


Rob Tyson was the first Todmorden man in 61st place, followed by Martin Roberts in 86th. Joe Daniels was 152nd, with Peter Ehrhardt in 297th place.

Jane Leonard finished in 228th position, ahead of Chris Preston for the ladies.

Todmorden Results: 61 Robert Tyson 47:51; 86 Martin Roberts 49:42; 152 Joe Daniels 53:40; 228 Jane Leonard 59:24; 282 Chris Preston 1:03:33; 297 Peter Ehrhardt 1:04:51.

In the under 8’s race two Todmorden juniors finished an excellent first and second, Joseph Hobbs just edging out Alex Duffield over the half mile course.

The Hebden 22 mile challenge event saw several Todmorden runners taking on the wintery conditions on Saturday.

Paul Hobbs was the first Harrier home in 3 hours and 43 minutes. Dan Taylor finished strongly crossing the line just ahead of Robin Tuddenham as they both beat the 4 hour mark.

Mel Blackhurst was the first Todmorden lady in 4 hours 40 minutes, just ahead of Bev Holmes.

Todmorden Results: 18 Paul Hobbs 3:43; 29 Dan Taylor 3:58; 30 Robin Tuddenham 3:58; 49 Darren Graham 4:18; 73 Melanie Blackhurst 4:40; 81 Bev Holmes 4:50; 94 Phil Cook 4:57; 121 Elise Milnes 6:14; 124 Julie Wyant 6:14.

Several Harriers chose to tackle the shorter 15 mile course, all finishing just a few minutes apart.

Todmorden Results: 29 Sue Roberts 03:35; 33 Christine Preston 03:42; 35 John Preston 03:43; 36 John Metcalf 03:43.


A trio of Todmorden runners headed for slightly milder climes, as they tackled the Inskip Half Marathon on the Fylde Coast.

Paul Alexander was the first Harrier to complete the thirteen mile course in 1:32:32, with Paul Cruthers and Nick Ward just seconds apart as they finished 124th and 126th respectively in 1:41:11 and 1:41:26.

Stanbury Splash Fell Race | Brass Monkey Half Marathon | The Hebden

Twenty nine Todmorden Harriers took part in the first race of the club's 2012 Fell Championship on Sunday.


The 7 mile race from Penistone Hill Country Park near Haworth attracted nearly 400 runners despite cold and breezy conditions.

The course features three stream crossings and several climbs adding up to 1200 feet of ascent.

Dwane Dixon led the way for the Harriers in 14th place in 50:21, with John Lloyd a minute behind in 21st position.

Marcel Ellison was next over the line holding off a challenge from Paul Brannigan.

Hatty Nylan was the first Todmorden lady in 1:07:27, just ahead of Mel Blackhurst.

Todmorden Results: 14 Dwane Dixon 50:21; 21 John Lloyd 51:37; 59 Marcel Ellison 57:26; 62 Paul Brannigan 57:54; 95 Darren Tweed 1:00:44; 126 Simon Galloway 1:03:18; 137 Kevin Booth 1:04:18; 143 Darren Graham 1:04:38; 177 Joe Daniels 1:07:26; 178 Hatty Nylan 1:07:27; 179 Andy Glyde 1:07:34; 184 Mel Blackhurst 1:07:55; 190 Richard Leonard 1:08:44; 206 Derek Donohue 1:09:56; 228 Chris Preston 1:11:30; 262 Jane Leonard 1:14:29; 266 Elise Milnes 1:15:06; 279 Helen Hodgkinson 1:16:20; 282 Richard Blakeley 1:16:27; 287 Ray Poulter 1:17:07; 288 John Preston 1:17:08; 290 Helen Wilson 1:17:15; 291 John Medcalfe 1:17:19; 295 Sue Roberts 1:17:35; 315 David Leslie 1:20:27; 321 Graham Milnes 1:22:06; 325 David Wilson 1:22:39; 328 Peter Ehrhardt 1:23:04; 331 Mandy Goth 1:23:49.

Stanbury Splash 2012 results...

Photo by Joolz

Also on Sunday, Robin Tuddenham finished 38th of the 1700 runners at the Brass Monkey Half Marathon in York completing the 13.1 miles in 1:18:50.


Several Harriers had warmed up on Saturday with The Hebden, a 22 mile route from St Michaels Church Hall in Mytholmroyd via valleys around Hebden Bridge passing through Hardcastle Crags, Colden Clough, and Cragg Vale.

Paul Hobbs was the first Todmorden man in 3 hours 43 minutes, closely followed by Darren Graham and Ozzy Kershaw.

Bev Holmes was the first Todmorden lady in 4 hours 25 minutes.

Todmorden Results: 19 Paul Hobbs 03:43; 24 Darren Graham 03:45; 28 Ozzy Kershaw 03:48; 42 Phil Hodgson 04:05; 64 Bev Holmes 04:25; 144 Julie Wyant 05:42; 145 Elise Milnes 05:42; 170 Chris Drinkwater 07:05.

Tackling the shorter 14.5 mile route, Clive Greatorex was second to finish in 2 hours and 42 minutes with Chris Preston 7th in 3 hours 10 minutes and Sue Roberts 21st in 3 hours 32 minutes.

Stanbury Splash Fell Race

Todmorden Harriers turned out in force for the first race in the club’s 2011 Grand Prix.

Penistone Hill Country Park was the venue for the 7 mile Stanbury Splash Fell Race.

The race featured three stream crossings and several climbs adding up to 1200 feet of ascent.

Pictures by Myra Wells

After a muddy scramble out of the quarry the course followed road and track to a grassy descent to the first stream crossing. Despite the relatively mild conditions the water was icy cold.

A steep climb, followed by a further track section led onto a loop of the moors with several climbs and descents before a return via the route out.

Bingley’s Ian Holmes had his incredible 14 year winning run ended as he finished in 3rd place behind winner Chris Steele of Borrowdale and Stuart Pond of Dark Peak.

Sean Carey led in the thirty Todmorden runners in 10th place, with Nick Barber in 17th and Dwane Dixon in 32nd.

Sarah May finished 5th lady in 102nd overall, with Hatty Nylan in 271st and Emma Osenton crossing the line in 290th.


Todmorden Results: 10 Sean Carey 47:14; 17 Nick Barber 48:01; 32 Dwane Dixon 49:37; 53 Paul Hobbs 51:54; 69 Martin Stork 53:12; 73 Dave Collins 53:23; 85 Martin Roberts 54:32; 86 Ben Crowther 54:50; 90 Shaun Pickard 55:07; 102 Sarah May 56:25; 131 Marcel Ellison 59:02; 142 Simon Galloway 59:36; 181 Andrew Bibby 1:02:12; 185 Richard Butterwick 1:02:58; 198 Andy Glyde 1:03:46; 206 Derek Donohue 1:04:13; 223 Keith Parkinson 1:05:10; 241 Phil Hodgson 1:06:37; 271 Hatty Nylan 1:08:48; 277 Phil Cook 1:09:03; 290 Emma Osenton 1:09:40; 305 Peter Ehrhardt 1:11:04; 316 Mick Howard 1:11:58; 340 Louise Abdy 1:15:16; 360 Mandy Goth 1:17:16; 362 Ray Poulter 1:17:22; 376 Barry Chapman 1:21:31; 383 Dave O'Neill 1:24:40; 399 Kathy Bridger 1:33:09.

Stanbury Splash

Todmorden Harriers’ returned to racing action on Sunday with the Stanbury Splash Fell Race. Featuring 1200 feet of ascent, the 7 mile course started with a mad dash out of the quarry at Penistone Hill Country Park. A short road and track section led the 300 runners onto to a steep grassy descent to the first of several icy stream crossings. After a sharp rise through muddy fields, further height was gained on another track before a turn off for an undulating boggy loop of the moors. Runners then retraced their steps back to the quarry for a finish at the cricket club.

Bingley’s Ian Holmes maintained his fantastic record in the race as he recorded his 15th consecutive win.

Shaun Pickard was the first Todmorden runner to finish in 51st with Dave Collins a few seconds behind, taking the 2nd vet50 prize. Martin Roberts and Simon Galloway followed, both finishing in the top 100.

Dan Taylor marked the anniversary of his first fell race by knocking 7 minutes off his time from last year crossing the line just behind Kevin Booth.

The first Todmorden lady was Sarah Warburton, who also finished 3rd vet35 to take home an armful of prizes. John Preston and Louise Abdy rounded off the Todmorden entry.