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Tuesday 27 November 2012

Wesham 10k

Todmorden Harriers Club Grand Prix came to a close with the final road championship fixture featuring the Wesham 10k.


A strong contingent of Harriers joined almost 500 runners for the gently undulating loop on the Fylde peninsular.

It was fitting that John Lloyd rounded off a successful year on the roads with a personal best for the distance, of 34:48 and 7th place overall, as he was confirmed the winner of this year’s road championship.

Last year’s road champion Robin Tuddenham was next over the line in 14th position, followed by Paul Brannigan sealing his place at the top of the club’s grand prix table with 23rd place, and first vet 45 on the day. Trail champion Paul Hobbs was next to finish in 38th place.

Mel Blackhurst was the first Todmorden lady to finish in 44:17, as she claimed the ladies grand prix crown.

Todmorden Results: 7 John Lloyd 34:48; 14 Robin Tuddenham 35:43; 23 Paul Brannigan 37:08; 38 Paul Hobbs 38:21; 57 Darren Graham 39:32; 75 Richard Butterwick 40:52; 82 Dan Taylor 41:07; 143 Melanie Blackhurst 44:17; 152 Kevin Coughlan 44:42; 160 Phil Hodgson 45:09; 219 Chris Drinkwater 47:22; 242 Mel Siddall 48:46; 274 Julie Wyant 50:43; 287 Peter Ehrhardt 51:40; 293 Elise Milnes 51:49; 299 Moyra Parfitt 52:03; 366 Helen Hodgkinson 57:37; 370 Myra Wells 57:49.





Todmorden Harriers festive Hot Toddy Race takes place on Sunday 30th December, with a new race HQ this year at Todmorden Cricket Club on Burnley Road.

The 8.9km hilly route remains unchanged for the main race at 11am, but the one mile fun run will now be held in Centre Vale Park at 10am.

Entries are open and further information can be found on the club’s website www.todharriers.co.uk



Tuesday 20 November 2012

Tour of Pendle | Abbey Dash | Preston 10 | Barnsley 10k

Todmorden Harriers enjoyed perfect running conditions at the Tour of Pendle Fell Race. The 17 mile route weaved its way around the hillside featuring almost 5000feet of ascent over several tough climbs.


Craig Stansfield was the first Todmorden runner to finish in 35th place, in a time of 2 hours 49 minutes.

There was a close battle between four Harriers behind with just 6 minutes separating them at the end, as Dan Taylor crossed the line in 89th position in 3 hours and 3 minutes just ahead of Darren Graham. Ben Crowther was next to finish, followed by Andy McFie.

Chris Drinkwater and Elise Milnes were also well matched as they finished just either side of the four hour mark.



At the Leeds Abbey Dash 10k race Guy and Mel Whitmore joined 9000 entrants, with Guy finishing the 10km course in 44:03 and Mel in 51:28.



Mel Robertson was the sole Todmorden entrant in the Preston 10 mile road race, where she finished 5th v50 and 220th overall, improving on her time of a year before by two minute to complete the course in 1:19:14.

  Lucy Hobbs was also the only Todmorden runner amongst almost 800 runners at the Barnsley 10k as she completed the hilly route in 292nd position in a time of  48:33.

Thursday 15 November 2012

Hyndburn Cross Country | Wadsworth Half Trog

Todmorden Harriers enjoyed another fine outing in Hyndburn at third round of the Red Rose Cross Country League, on a muddy woodland course.


The ladies were sixth placed team with Sarah Warburton, Mel Blackhurst and Kath Brierley all finishing in quick succession.

All three also counted towards the ladies veteran’s standings, where they were 3rd placed team. Moyra Parfitt once again finished first v65.

Todmorden Ladies: 21 Sarah Warburton 24:22; 23 Mel Blackhurst 24:30; 24 Kath Brierley 24:37; 59 Mel Robertson 27:45; 63 Bev Wright 28:15; 71 Moyra Parfitt 30:01; 78 Mandy Goth 30:58.



In the subsequent men’s race, the Todmorden men finished in fourth place; with the vets’ team finishing in second place, led in by Andrew Wrench who was also first v45.

Richard Blakeley finished first v65, with Ray Poulter fourth v65.

Todmorden Men: 12 Andrew Wrench 37:25; 14 Jon Wright 37:37; 19 John Lloyd 38:15; 27 Nick Barber 39:02; 57 Ivan Gee 41:54; 62 Robin Tuddenham 42:18; 81 Dan Taylor 44:34; 118 Richard Butterwick 47:51; 135 Phil Hodgson 49:32; 162 Chris Drinkwater 54:01.



On Sunday, several Harriers took on the Wadsworth Half Trog on the hills above Hebden Bridge. The 9 mile fell race featured over 1400 feet of ascent.

First Todmorden runner back was Paul Hobbs in 9th place, with Dave Collins finishing 19th overall and second v50.

Darren Graham finished in 21st place, just ahead of Robert Tyson in 24th and Clive Greatorex in 31st place.

Richard and Jane Leonard completed the course together in 77th and 78th positions, with Chris Preston in 89th position.



Monday 5 November 2012

Shepherd's Skyline Fell Race | Through the Villages

The Shepherd’s Skyline Fell Race attracted 272 runners to the hills above Todmorden on Saturday in chilly conditions.


The race climbed up from the Shepherd’s Rest Inn to Langfield Edge and then along the skyline to Stoodley Pike. A brief descent to London Road then lead into a stiff climb back up to the ridge and a return to the finish.

Calder Valley Fell Runners claimed the first three places with Karl Grey winning in a time of 44.56, followed by James Logue and Max Wharton.

Jon Wright was the first Todmorden runner in tenth place, followed by Sean Carey in 13th and Ivan Gee in 17th place.

Chorley’s Lynne Clough won the ladies race in a time of 56:01, ahead of Holmfirth’s Lucy Needham and Wharfedale’s Gill Myers.

Sarah Warburton held off a late challenge from Kath Brierley to finish first Todmorden lady.

Todmorden Results: 10 Jon Wright 48.48; 13 Sean Carey 49.13; 17 Ivan Gee 49.41; 30 Jackson Cowie 51.38; 32 Paul Hobbs 52.12; 34 Marcel Ellison 52.4; 40 John Lloyd 53.31; 47 Steve Pullan 54.24; 71 Martin Roberts 57.38; 101 Simon Galloway 60.45; 122 Sarah Warburton 62.53; 123 Kath Brierley 62.54; 198 Jane Leonard 70.28; 214 Emma Osenton 72.5; 257 David O'Neill 89.23.

My Shepherd's Skyline photo's...

Keith's Shepherds Skyline Photos...

Sport Sunday Shepherds Skyline Photos...





The Through the Villages road race was the penultimate round of Todmorden Harriers’ Road Championship on Sunday.

The 8.5 mile hilly route from Wheelton passed through the West Pennine villages of Brinscall, Abbey Village and Withnell.

Nick Barber finished in fourth place for the club, behind a strong performance by Andi Jones who won in a time of 44:17.

Andy Glyde crossed the line in 80th position followed by Mel Blackhurst who finished first v45 lady, and 91st overall with Phil Hodgson making a rare foray onto the roads in 109th place.

Chris Drinkwater finished 3rd v65 man, whilst Moyra Parfitt was first v65 lady.

Todmorden Results: 4 Nick Barber 49:40; 80 Andrew Glyde 1:03:08; 91 Melanie Blackhurst 1:04:12; 109 Phil Hodgson 1:06:10; 119 Chris Drinkwater 1:07:03; 153 Nigel Hanson 1:12:50; 162 Elise Milnes 1:13:47; 164 Moyra Parfitt 1:14:05; 171 Mandy Goth 1:15:30; 176 Ray Poulter 1:16:25; 190 Peter Ehrhardt 1:19:03; 195 Graham Milnes 1:21:34.