August 2026 – finally, some rain!
First up, it was a short hop over the Moss to Hayfield for the BM Cracken Edge on Wednesday 5th, where we had a very select group of 6 Harriers on the start line, all aiming to get back before sunset! Tim Brook put in another great performance, finishing 6th overall & 1st MV40 in 48.09, which is a decent time for the 7 mile/1450ft course & duly earned him some coveted Toblerone Truffles! For a self-proclaimed ‘non-fellrunner’, Paul Sammonds never disgraces himself on the hills & ran strongly to finish 19th overall in 51.24 (sadly, no Toblerone this time!), whilst Chris Beadle, who will have relished the fast downhill finish, dipped under the hour mark, coming back 51st overall in 57.42. Dave Milton has been doing plenty of speed work this year & will have been happy to finish 75th overall in 61.53, ahead of Diane Lee, who took maximum points in the Ladies Champs, finishing 137th overall in 73.27 and Mark Henderson, 145th in 75.04.
The following week, it was our very own AS Denis Stitt race on Thursday 13th, which this year was being organised for the first time by Mark Wilson (ably assisted by John Ewart). On an incredibly warm evening, we had an excellent turnout of 35 Harriers amongst the 63 runners (with plenty more helping out on the night). I’m sure Mark will be drafting a report in due course, but pick of the results included race-winner Phil Hinchcliffe, Steve McCarron (2nd overall & 1st MV50), Jordan Horrocks (4th overall), Helen Haigh (5th overall & 1st lady), Paul Sammonds (10th overall & 1st MV40), Adam Sunderland (15th overall & 1st MV55), Julian Rank (1st MV60), Annie Greenwood (2nd lady), Hannah Austin (3rd lady), Janet Foreman (1st FV60), Barbara Hinchliffe (1st FV70) & Rob Kersey (1st MV75). We also picked up both of the 1st team prizes – Phil, Steve & Jordan for the Men and Helen, Annie & Hannah for the Ladies, so well done to all! Great to see Mark carrying on the crazy prize-giving tradition, with the usual array of suitably daft prizes!
In terms of the senior Fell Champs, after 11 races, the men are currently being led home by Adam Sunderland, who has completed 7 races, plus 3 Relays and 3 English Champs races, so is on 215 points. Not too far behind are Patrick Needham (on 154 points from 6 races), Tim Brook (153 points from 5 races), Phil Hinchcliffe (149 points from 6 races) and Paul Sammonds (139 points from 6 races). For the ladies, Helen Haigh has completed 6 races, plus 3 Relays and 2 British/English Champs races & is on 213 points, staying ahead of Fran Whitworth & Sophie Cromwell, who are locked on 161 points from 6 races. Still plenty of time for things to change, particularly as there are still 3 Long races left, which will be crucial, given that Holme Moss was cancelled!
Coming up in September, the seniors have Groovy Kinder Love on Saturday 5th, as well as the Cross Keys Fell & Road Relay on Saturday 19th, 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 8 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 3rd, where we definitely have 2 teams accepted, plus the UKA/British Fell Relays in Todmorden on the 19th, where thus far we have 3 teams entered (Mens Open, Ladies Open & MV40). There’s still a chance that we might also get the MV50 & V60 teams accepted, but that will depend on other clubs not taking up their offer of a place – we shall see!
Elsewhere, good to see those out & about, including Katie Walshaw at Lee Mill (where she was 7th overall & 1st lady), Annie Garside at Borrowdale (where she was 12th lady), Damien Briscoe at the North Downs Way 100 mile Ultra, Tommy Holroyd & Annie Garside at Sedbergh Hills (where Tommy was 10th overall & Annie was 4th lady), Tim Brook & Michael Sanderson at the Peak Raid Anytime (Bradfield), Annie Greenwood at Salt Cellar, Phil Hinchcliffe at Piethorne, Lewis Byram at a very wet UTMB Mont-Blanc 100km, Jordan Millar at an equally wet UTMB Mont-Blanc 100 mile, Maggie Baird at the RedOn 12 Ultra Challenge, Helen Ilsley & Keith Baird at Grasmere Senior Guides, Laurie Smith Bodle, Diane Lee & Janet Foreman at Trunce 7 and Jamie Wood at Trunce 8.
Finally, some local(ish) & key races for September:
Blackshaw Head Fete (BS) – Blackshaw Head, nr. Hebden Bridge – Saturday 5th
Trunce 9 (BS) – Oxspring, nr.Penistone – Monday 7th
The Old Crown Round (AL) (British & English Championship) – Hesket Newmarket, nr. Keswick – Saturday 12th
Fat Boys Stanage Struggle (BS) – Hathersage – Sunday 20th
