This year the Tinker Cup is dedicated to Kevin Johns, a very popular and longstanding member, who sadly died earlier this year.
Kevin had been a member of the club since 1993 and, having moved into officiating from running, worked his way up to achieve the highest level as a timekeeper. He was appointed Chief Timekeeper at many National Championship events as well as the 2022 Commonwealth Games - yet still turned out year on year to record at our club events, including the Tinker Cup.
It is fitting that this year the race will be called The Kevin Johns Memorial Tinker Cup, before which we will hold a round of applause in his memory.
2023 Event (102nd running) - Saturday 23rd December
First run in 1908, the Tinker Cup Handicap Trophy is the oldest race in the history of the Club. The race also incorporates the Norman Haigh Memorial Trophy, for the fastest female competitor, and the Ian Roberts Memorial Trophy, for the fastest competitor overall.
This challenging cross country handicap race of approximately 6 miles, requires competitors to negotiate walls, fences, gates & Wickins Dike, along a route from Honley Cricket Club via Nethertong, Hill Lane (checkpoint), Upperthong, Upperthong Lane, Binns Lane & Hill, before returning to the Cricket Club.
A map(s) showing the approximate route is shown below and will also be on the noticeboard at Neiley Pavillion (the Club HQ) from early November. Runners are allowed to make slight deviations from the official route, and those with previous experience of the race may be able to gain a few seconds at some points, which is all in the spirit of the event. However, some sections of the course will be marked with flags placed on the instructions of the landowners, and in these sections, the route must be strictly adhered to. All competitors must pass the checkpoint at Hill Lane on the way out and on the way back. Marshalls will be present at all road crossings.
Please note that last minute course variations may occur if landowner permissions change.
The section between marshalling points 4 and 5 is the section that is likely to change due to a new fence
Registration and changing is at Honley Cricket Club (HD9 6NS) from 12.45pm. Registration closes at 1.30pm.
The Race starts at 2.00pm.
Entry is free but donations are welcome. Please collect your race number on the day.
Bar, refreshments and presentation after the race. Contributions of food and prizes would be appreciated.
History
Our most prestigious race is the Tinker Cup, this year being run 115 years after the race was first contested in 1908.
The Tinker Cup was provided by Henry William Cossart Tinker, who was a founder member and Vice President of Holmfirth Harriers AC when the club was formed in 1907. He donated the “Tinker Cup” trophy in 1908 when he was 23 years of age. The first race took place on Saturday 26 December 1908 and has been contested annually ever since apart from two years during the Great War, nine years during World War II and immediately afterwards, one year in the early 1950’s when there were no competitors and in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
There have been 102 races to date with 75 different winners and sixteen people have won the race on more than one occasion. The first person to win the trophy three times was Frank Beaver in the 1920’s and a replica of the trophy was made and presented to him. After his death the trophy was given back to the club and is now awarded to the handicap winner of the Club’s Summer Championship. Three other members have won the trophy three times, Bob Asquith, Les Bailey and Trevor Ramsden, but Laurie Liles won the trophy an unprecedented six times in the 1950’s, although it should be noted that the numbers contesting the race were usually in single figures, apart from his first win in 1950-51 where 11 started the race and 10 finished. He did however run the fastest time on eight occasions and was no doubt a worthy winner.
The first lady to win the race was our Ladies Captain, Helen Berry in 2002 and the only person to win both the Tinker Cup and the Ian Roberts Trophy for the fastest time is Mark Buckingham in 2003 who was the youngest ever winner at 18 years of age and has since won the Ian Roberts Trophy on 11 occasions.
Race Entry, Race Day & Volunteers
Please enter via the Registration Section at the foot of this page – this makes sure your entry goes directly to one of the Race organisers. At the same time provide a recent representative 10k race time and, also, advise in the message section if you have competed in the Tinker Cup race before.
Alternatively you can place your details on the sheet to be posted on the notice board at Neiley.
Entry is possible on the day but please arrive early.
All members of HHAC over 17 years of age on the day of the race are entitled to compete. Juniors (U18) must provide a completed parental consent form at race registration.
Please note that members with insufficient indication of form may not receive a handicap. No handicaps will be given after 1.30pm. Guests and unaffiliated runners are no longer eligible to enter the race.
Novices are not allowed to take the Tinker Cup, as an accurate handicap can not be given, but prizes are awarded to the fastest male and female novices.
No practising on the course please, as it could result in a refusal of permission from landowners for future races.
Volunteers
We do need about 30 Marshals at various points on the course, so anyone who does not want to take part in the race, please offer to help and let us know as soon as possible. Volunteers can put their name forward via either of the link at the top of this page, or contact Diane Lee
For any further information contact Helena Croft – 07818 886640 – helena_croft2007@hotmail.com or WhatsApp.
