Turnslack Fell Race | Snowden Race | Ian Terry 5k

Todmorden Harriers were out in force at the Turnslack Fell Race on Saturday, with twenty five of the eighty five finishers coming from the club, and they were rewarded with an armful of prizes including first men’s and first ladies teams.


Summer in the Pennines can be unpredictable



The race is run over one of the toughest local routes, with the 8 mile course starting at Calderbrook and tracing a circular route up and over Freehold’s Top, with two steep climbs on the return to the finish at the church steps.

Dwane Dixon led the way for Todmorden finishing in 3rd place behind Calder Valley’s Tim Ellis and Shaun Godsman. The race was the first since Dwane attained veteran status and he comfortably claimed the v40 prize.

Nick Barber finished in sixth place, with John Lloyd in 15th and Sean Carey 17th, and first u23, making up the winning team.

Dave Collins added to the prize haul with second v55.

Melanie Blackhurst was 6th lady, with Maria Prescott 7th lady as they claimed second and third v45 prizes respectively. Elise Milnes finished 8th lady and Chris Preston 10th lady ensuring the ladies team prize also went to the club.

Elise Milnes rounded off a successful day with the first v50 prize.

Todmorden Results: 3 Dwane Dixon 1:09:56; 6 Nick Barber 1:14:27; 15 John Lloyd 1:17:53; 17 Sean Carey 1:17:59; 18 Paul Brannigan 1:18:00; 19 Dave Collins 1:18:06; 20 Ivan Gee 1:18:31; 29 Darren Tweed 1:23:18; 30 Clive Greatorex 1:24:38; 33 Rob Gray 1:25:03; 35 Dan Taylor 1:26:53; 44 Phil Cook 1:32:02; 49 Melanie Blackhurst 1:33:44; 51 Maria Prescott 1:35:27; 59 Chris Drinkwater 1:38:50; 60 Elise Milnes 1:40:01; 61 Simon Galloway 1:40:20; 66 John Preston 1:43:55; 67 Richard Butterwick 1:44:44; 68 Chris Preston 1:45:00; 72 Helen Wilson 1:48:44; 75 David Wilson 1:51:06; 77 Helen Hodgkinson 1:51:38; 78 Graham Milnes 1:54:29; 84 Louise Abdy 2:05:21.


A trio of Harriers were in Wales for the Snowdon International Mountain Race, with Andrew Wrench finishing in 59th and second v45 completing the 10 mile route to the mountain summit and back to Llanberis in 1:24:00.

Paul Hobbs finished in 117th with a time of 1:32:02, with Lucy Hobbs completing the course in 1:58:58 to take her to sixth v40.

Snowdon Race highlights on S4C... expires 26 August


At the Ian Terry Memorial 5k in Littleborough on Tuesday, Martin Stork continued his return from injury with 5th place, finishing in a time of 18:54.

Paul Alexander finished in 20th in 20:14 with Maria Prescott winning the ladies v45 prize in 41st place overall with a time of 22:30.

Chris Drinkwater crossed the line in 23:58 for 64th, with Myra Wells in 117th in 30:45 and Ian Stansfield’s time of 34:56 taking him to 132nd place.

Steve Bateson's Ian Terry Photos...

Eccup 10 | Royton Trail Race

Todmorden Harriers Road Championship continued with the Eccup 10 mile race on Sunday, in fine conditions.


John Lloyd led the way for the club in 12th position, consolidating his lead in the club standings, with Paul Brannigan in 67th position.

Sarah Glyde ran a strong race to finish in 162nd, strengthening her lead in the ladies standings.

Todmorden Results: 12th John Lloyd 59:45; 67th Paul Brannigan 1:05:49; 162nd Sarah Glyde 1:12:42; 386th Fiona Armer 1:25:05; 413th Julie Wyant 1:26:47; 427th Peter Ehrhardt1:27:21; 571st Louise Abdy 1.39.07.



A quartet of Harriers enjoyed some evening sunshine at the Royton Trail Race last Wednesday, a 5.5 mile multi terrain loop around Tandle Hill Country Park.

Paul Alexander completed the course in 38:34 for 51st, with Mark Anderton stopping the clock at 38:59 and Simon Anderton finishing in 39:19 for 57th and 62nd places respectively.

Ian Stansfield finished in 182nd place in 1:06:11.

Stoodley Pike Fell Race | Helen Windsor 10k | Heptonstall Festival Fell Race | Arrochar Alps

The Stoodley Pike Fell Race on Tuesday attracted a field of 165 runners to the 5km course, with Ian Holmes of Bingley Harriers winning in a time of 19:46 despite wet conditions.


Andrew Wrench was the first Todmorden runner in sixth place, closely followed by Ivan Gee in eighth place, with Trevor Davis finishing in 46th position.

Gemma Kendall was the first Todmorden lady in 67th overall, followed by Hatty Nylan and Sarah Warburton.

Todmorden Results: 6 Andrew Wrench 20.47; 8 Ivan Gee 21.21; 46 Trevor Davis 25.23; 67 Gemma Kendall 27.03; 81 Garry Quested 27.41; 82 Hatty Nylan 27.45; 99 Sarah Warburton 28.55; 114 Peter Clarke 29.34; 117 John Medcalfe 29.41; 124 Maria Prescott 30.12; 132 John Preston 30.52; 136 Kevin Coughlan 31.17; 151 Peter Marshall 33.44.



The following evening saw drier but humid conditions for the Helen Windsor 10km road race at Greetland.

John Lloyd led the way for the club in fourth position, followed by Paul Brannigan and Trevor Davis.

Sarah Glyde finished fifth lady, taking home the v35 prize and Maria Prescott was sixth lady, winning the v45 prize. Mel Robertson held off a challenge from Elise Milnes as they finished second and third v50 respectively.

Todmorden Results: 4 John Lloyd 36:08; 17 Paul Brannigan 39:28; 19 Trevor Davis 39:39; 44 Darren Tweed 42:55; 52 Richard Butterwick 43:48; 54 Paul Alexander 43:57; 57 Sarah Glyde 44:26; 65 Andy Glyde 45:42; 69 Maria Prescott 46:14; 89 Phil Cook 48:15; 114 Richard O'Sullivan 50:21; 119 Melanie Robertson 50:58; 126 Elise Milnes 51:30; 136 Fiona Armer 52:30; 143 Julie Wyant 53:28; 148 Ray Poulter 55:01; 155 Moyra Parfitt 56:06; 169 Peter Ehrhardt 58:19; 177 Graham Milnes 59:09; 207 Ian Stansfield 1:14:39.

The Heptonstall Festival Fell Race on Saturday was blessed with blue skies and sunshine.

Andrew Wrench was first Todmorden runner back in fifth position, with Dave Collins in 23rd position ahead of close battle between Joe Daniels and Clive Greatorex who finished 32nd and 34th respectively.

Kath Brierley was the sole Todmorden lady, finishing fifth lady on the day.

Todmorden Results: 5 Andrew Wrench 54:03; 23 Dave Collins 1:01:20; 32 Joe Daniels 1:04:33; 34 Clive Greatorex 1:04:59; 56 Garry Quested 1:11:09; 65 Kath Brierley 1:12:59; 85 Paul Cruthers 1:18:37; 109 Reg Czudek 1:38:18.



Further afield several Harriers were in attendance at the Arrochar Alps Fell Race in Scotland, the latest round of the British Fell Championships, with Lauren Jeska keeping her medal hopes alive with a third place in the ladies race.

Cragg Vale Fell Race | Skiddaw Fell Race

Todmorden Harriers joined 119 runners last Wednesday evening for the Cragg Vale Fell Race.


The race started at Cragg Vale Church and climbed Bell House Moor and Dicks Lane. The route then descended via Sunderland Pasture and Swan Bank.

John Lloyd finished first Todmorden runner in 10th place, with Paul Hobbs in 15th place. Joe Daniels was next over the line in 42nd position, with Mark Whitaker in 58th.

Sarah Warburton was 10th lady followed by Issy Pollard as 15th lady. Becca Marshall just edged out Elise Milnes as they finished 18th and 20th ladies respectively.

Paul Cruthers in 96th and Graham Milnes in 107th position completed the Todmorden turnout.

Todmorden Results: 10 John Lloyd 30:08; 15 Paul Hobbs 32:12; 42 Joe Daniels 37:21; 58 Mark Whitaker 39:57; 62 Sarah Warburton 40:20; 79 Issy Pollard 42:08; 87 Becca Marshall 43:12; 89 Elise Milnes 43:38; 96 Paul Cruthers 44:01; 107 Graham Milnes 46:13.



On Sunday a quartet of Todmorden runners were in attendance at the Skiddaw Fell Race, a 9 mile up and down race from Keswick up to the mountain summit, which was shrouded in cloud.

Paul Hobbs finished in 30th in 1:27:20, with Nick Barber a minute behind in 35th place.

Lucy Burnett was 5th lady, and 75th overall, in 1:37:45, and Simon Anderton finished in 1:39:12 for 81st place.