Page Navigation

Monday 30 January 2012

Northern Cross Country Championships | Meltham 10k

Todmorden Harriers sent a men’s team to the Northern Cross Country Championships in Pontefract, finishing in a respectable 19th place to round off a successful return to cross country running this season, after a break of several years.
The 8 mile course attracted a highly competitive field of over 600 senior men from with Stockport’s Steve Vernon eventually recording a narrow win.

Todmorden Results: 132 Jonathan Wright 46:24; 145 John Lloyd 46:57; 163 Nick Barber 47:32; 216 Dwane Dixon 48:53; 229 Robin Tuddenham 49:08; 426 Darren Graham 54:32.

Videos of all Northern Cross Country Races by Bethany Murray on Athleticos...





The club’s Road Championship got underway on Sunday in icy conditions at the hilly Meltham 10k, with both of last year’s club champions leading the way.

The reigning men’s road champion Robin Tuddenham shrugged off the previous day’s efforts to lead the club in with fifth place overall, followed by Paul Brannigan in 38th position.

Darren Graham also showed good recovery to edge out Darren Tweed for 46th and 47th places respectively.

The first Todmorden lady to finish was last year’s ladies trophy holder Sarah Glyde in 97th place, and third v35 lady.

Richard Blakely was next over the line in 169th position, taking the men’s v65 prize.

Mel Robertson had an excellent run to complete the distance as first v50 lady half a minute ahead of Elise Milnes who was second v50 lady.

Todmorden Results: 5 Robin Tuddenham 36.59; 38 Paul Brannigan 41.53; 46 Darren Graham 42.21; 47 Darren Tweed 42.29; 61 Clive Greatorex 43.31; 96 Simon Galloway 46.42; 97 Sarah Glyde 46.50; 169 Richard Blakeley 50.53; 176 Melanie Robertson 51.24; 178 Elise Milnes 51.54; 189 David Wilson 52.27; 198 Helen Hodgkinson 52.45; 226 Nigel Hanson 54.41; 245 Helen Wilson 56.18; 276 Graham Milnes 61.20.

Meltham 10k photos by FlamingPhotography...

Sunday 22 January 2012

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.

Tuesday 17 January 2012

Todmorden Harriers' Mini Moorland Marathon 2012

Crisp blue skies made for perfect conditions for Todmorden Harriers’ Mini Moorland Marathon on Sunday, attracting 64 competitors to the 3 hour orienteering score event.

This year the base was the Roebuck Inn, Portsmouth, and there were twenty three controls placed around the hillsides of the Cliviger Valley area.

Competitors were given a map showing their location only at the start and quickly had to plan an efficient route to visit as many as possible in their allotted time, with severe penalties for those who returned late.

Calder Valley Fell Runner James Logue defended his title with remarkable speed and navigational skill, visiting 18 out of the 23 checkpoints in just over 3 hours to score 251 points, well ahead of his nearest rival and club mate Phil Scarf on 195 points, with Rob Rawlinson third on 175 points.

Jackie Scarf was the highest scoring solo lady, and fourth overall with 160 points. In fifth place, also scoring 160 points, were the first trio of Ben Crowther, Dwane Dixon and Paul Weinreich.

First pair were Barbara Lonsdale and Sarah Rowell also scoring 160 for sixth place overall, with Jeff Walker and Rachel Skinner the first Todmorden pair on 145 points.

The first Todmorden solo runner was Kevin Booth on 145 points with Mandy Goth scoring 135 to be the first Todmorden lady.

Despite having over 150 years of experience between them, Todmorden’s Derek Clutterbuck and Preston Harriers George Arnold saw most of their points eroded away by a late return and they took home the coveted golden pigeon award.

The prize giving ceremony was held in the Roebuck Inn, and many thanks went to Phil Hodgson and his team of helpers for the organisation of the event.

Full Results...

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Ovenden Moor Fell Race | Hit the Trail

Todmorden Harriers returned to Ogden Reservoir for the second consecutive weekend, this time for the 8 mile Ovenden Moor Fell Race which attracted a record entry of almost 200 runners.


Sean Carey upped his distance, after recently joining the senior ranks, and was the first Harrier to finish in 13th place, just past the hour mark.

Andrew Bibby was the next Todmorden runner across the line in 70th place, followed by Phil Hodgson in 99th position.

Chris Preston was the first Todmorden lady, followed by Sue Roberts and Jane Leonard.

Todmorden results: 13 Sean Carey 1-02-36; 70 Andrew Bibby 1-14-10; 99 Phil Hodgson 1-19-05; 121 Christine Preston 1-22-26; 138 Richard Leonard 1-25-23; 157 Chris Drinkwater 1-28-49; 170 Sue Roberts 1-31-09; 173 Jane Leonard 1-33-20.



David Henthorne was the only Harrier to make the trip to South Manchester for the Hit the Trail 5 mile race. The popular race followed a varied route through Reddish Vale, with David finishing in 126th in a time of 42:41.

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Auld Lang Syne Fell Race | Giant's Tooth | Joe Salt New Year Awakener | Nine Standards

Todmorden Harriers enjoyed a muddy and wet end to the year at the Auld Lang Syne Fell Race at Haworth, where the 400 runners were treated to a dominant performance by Olympic triathlon medal prospects Alistair and Jonathon Brownlee.


The pair quickly opened up a lead from the start at Penistone Quarry and were two minutes ahead of their nearest challengers by the finish, with Alistair taking the win over his brother by a few seconds in 40.28.

The first Todmorden Harrier was Simon Galloway in 147th, completing the 6 mile course in 59:29 with Darren Graham next in 178th place.

Sue Roberts finished in 320th followed by Julie Wyant in 355th, and Peter Ehrhardt in 358th position.

Clive Greatorex and Phil Cook proved four legs are not necessarily better than two, as they completed the course in a reindeer outfit, pulling a sleigh.



Clive was back in solo action the following day, on faster form at the Giant’s Tooth Fell Race on New Year’s Day, finishing the 3 mile loop above Ogden Water in 22:52 for 42nd place.



Maria Prescott was the sole Harrier at Cowm Reservoir, for the Joe Salt New Year Awakener, completing the 4.2 mile trail route in 32:29 to finish 7th lady.



A trio of Todmorden runners travelled to Kirby Stephen for the Nine Standards Fell Race, with Lauren Jeska finishing joint ladies winner with Keswick’s Pippa Maddams just past the hour mark.

Chris Preston finished in 81st position in 1:20:54, with John Preston completing the 8 mile course in 1:27:02 for 95th place.