August 2025 and still rather warm!
First up, it was a short hop over the hill to Uppermill for the BS Chip Chase race on Sunday 3rd, where we had 15 Harriers on the start line, all hoping to safely negotiate the 10km/400m course & pick up their free chip butty! Conditions were dreich (as they say in Scotland) & visibility was limited, so the promised views of Manchester never materialised & the photos on the top were a little blurred! Continuing his great recent form, Patrick Needham was first back for the club, finishing 3rd overall in 46.52, just over a minute behind the winner, Saddleworth Runners’ Nick Sheard. Close behind, we had a tight battle between Adam Sunderland and Paul Sammonds, with Adam edging it on this occasion, 12th in 51.01 and Paul 13th in 51.25. Helen Haigh continues her impressive comeback from injury & stormed round to finish 17th overall & 1st lady in 52.18, staying ahead of Mark Wilson (19th in 53.09), James Washington (21st in 53.39) & Tom Heap (22nd in 53.43). Helena Croft also had a strong race, finishing 25th overall & 2nd lady in 54.40 and with Helen already back, she was backed up by Fran Whitworth (47th overall & 7th lady in 60.26) and Hannah Austin (63rd in 63.40) in scooping the Ladies team prize for Holmfirth. Elsewhere, we had Craig Sheard in his 2nd fell race of the year, finishing a very respectable 49th in 61.06, Kath Farquhar (69th in 65.03) and Rob Kersey, 80th overall & 1st MV70 in 68.43. It was great to see Anna Dobson in her first fell race for the club, and she was still smiling at the end as she finished 117th in 82.06, whilst Bill Hunter continues to belie his years, finishing 130th overall & 3rd MV75 in 86.22. In total, there were 138 finishers & Holmfirth were one of the best represented clubs on the day, which is very encouraging.
We then had our 2nd trip to Cartworth Moor, for the AS Denis Stitt race on Thursday 14th, organised for what will be his last time by John Ewart. In perfect running conditions, we had an excellent turnout of 21 Harriers amongst the 60 runners (with plenty more helping out on the night). John has reported elsewhere on the race itself, but pick of the results included Ben Kellett (2nd overall), Tim Street (3rd overall), Adam Sunderland (6th overall & 1st MV50), Helen Haigh (7th overall & 1st lady), Mark Wilson (1st MV40), Amy Sanderson (2nd lady) & Helen Ilsley (3rd lady). We also picked up both of the 1st team prizes – Ben, Tim & Patrick Needham for the Men and Helen H, Amy & Helen I for the Ladies, so well done to all! As ever, the prize-giving was suitably bonkers and I just want to take this opportunity to thank John for his contribution over the many years he’s been organising the race – he’ll be a hard act to follow, but hopefully we already have a willing volunteer lined up to take over in 2026.
And hot off the press, it was then a trip over the border into deepest Lancashire on Saturday 30th for the AS Whittle Pike race, which was also the final race in the year’s English Championships, so attracted a strong field, with everyone hoping to finish off their season in style. Now that we’re getting down to the business end of the Harriers champs, this was the last Short race in the series, so there were still a couple of challengers needing to complete it to qualify! Successfully achieving this objective, Tim Brook was first back for the club, finishing 71st overall & 23rd MV40 & completing the 8.9km/550m course in 48.35. Michael Sanderson also needed to bag his second short race & had a decent run, finishing 108th in 53.03, whilst Bob Dickinson also chalked up his quota, coming back 142nd in 56.16. Andy Shortt has had a frustrating season with injuries, but had a great race & was 171st overall in 58.50, whilst Keith Baird also ran strongly & enjoyed the terrain (“proper fell running”), finishing 205th in 63.14. Paul Fearns is another on his way back from injury & will be pleased with his run, clocking 66.08 to finish 218th & 21st MV65, whilst not to be out-done, Rob Kersey also ran well, finishing 227th & 8th MV70 in 69.00. Completing the Holmfirth contingent, super-vet Bill Hunter finished 243rd & 3rd MV75 in 86.43. Overall, there were 247 finishers (with 3 DNF’s) & the race was won by Finlay Grant of Dark Peak in 37.08, with the ladies race winner being Sara Willhoit of Mercia in 43.57 – speedy!
In terms of the senior Fell Champs, after 13 races, the men are currently being led home by Patrick Needham, who has completed 9 races, plus the Calderdale Way Relay, so is on 229 points. Close behind is Adam Sunderland, on 214 points from 9 races, although he needs to complete the remaining Long race at Three Shires to qualify (and we all know how he loves a Long race)! Also currently qualifying are Curtis Firth (on 149 points from 7 races) & Bob Dickinson (144 points from 7 races). For the ladies, Fran Whitworth has completed 7 races, plus the Calderdale and is on 171 points, although she too needs to complete Three Shires to qualify. Very close behind, Sophie Cromwell is on 168 points from 7 races, whilst Helen Haigh is making a late charge & is currently on 146 points from 6 races & will also be at Three Shires to ensure qualification! All very exciting!
Coming up in September, the seniors have Three Shires on Saturday 20th, as well as the Cross Keys Fell & Road relay on Saturday 6th, whilst the juniors have another month off. If you want to race at Cross Keys, please let Adam Sunderland know ASAP – we’ve already got 5 teams going, but there’s always room for more! I’ve already started rounding up volunteers for the 2 fell relays in October – the Hodgson Brothers on Saturday 4th, where we definitely have 2 teams accepted, plus the UKA/British Fell Relays in Meirionnydd, Southern Snowdonia on the 20th, where, remarkably, all the teams entered were successful in the ballot, so we potentially have 6 teams to fill (Mens Open, Ladies Open, MV40, LV40, MV50 & V60), which would be amazing! Don’t go booking anything else for that Saturday (or Friday evening for that matter) – I’ll be in touch!
Elsewhere, good to see those out & about, including a fantastic run by Annie Garside, this time at Borrowdale, which this year was an English Championship race and where she finished 14th lady in a top-quality field. We also had Helen Ilsley at Farleton Knott, where she was 1st lady, Mark Henderson at Cracken Edge, Annie Garside at Turner Landscape (where she was 2nd lady), Helen Ilsley at Arncliffe Gala, Jamie Wood going all continental on us en France at the UTMB Meribel Trail 25km (where he was 65th out of 416 starters), Ben Jarvis at Not Round Latrigg (where he was 5th overall & 1st MV40), Phil Hinchcliffe & Bob Dickinson at Piethorne (where Phil was 3rd overall), Helen Ilsley at Grasmere Guides (where she was 6th lady & 2nd FV40), Annie Garside having another amazing run at Grisedale Horseshoe, where she was 1st lady, Elspeth Taylor at the Dig Deep Half, Mark Henderson at Blackshaw Head Fete, Kevin Yewlett, Janet Foreman, Karen Sinkinson & Elaine Stewart at Trunce 7 and Patrick Needham, Janet Foreman & Sophie Clarson at Trunce 8.
Finally, some local(ish) races to have a go at in September:
Groovy Kinder Love (AL) – Hayfield – Saturday 6th
Trunce 9 (BS – the fancy dress one!) – Oxspring – Monday 8th
Fat Boys Stanage Struggle (BS) – Hathersage – Sunday 21st
John Hewitt Memorial Shelf Moor (AS) – Glossop – Saturday 27th
Ilam Three Peaks (AS) – Ilam Hall – Sunday 28th
See you on a hill sometime (it’s getting closer)!
Cheers,
Phil Hobbs
