December 2025 – a little calmer than recent months, with the rain finally easing off, ahead of the forecast cold snap?!
Although not in this year’s Champs, we still had a few head over to Mytholmroyd on Sunday 7th December, as the race was once again the YVAA Fell Championship event. On a murky, dank day in the Calder Valley, we had 11 Harriers on the start line, all hoping for a chance of bagging some Toblerone to accompany their free can of Ossett Brewery beer! Reports of aimless wanderings in the clag on Midgley Moor were legion, but thankfully, it didn’t affect Richard Anderson, who had a great race, coming back 2nd overall in 50.11, whilst not too far behind, Curtis Firth also had a solid run, finishing 8th overall in 54.56. There was then a decent battle between Tom Heap & Adam Sunderland, with Tom just edging it, finishing 16th in 60.30, ahead of Adam (23rd & 2nd MV50 in 60.54). Ditching the road shoes for a day, Paul Sammonds ran a very respectable race, clocking 67.06 to finish 41st overall – but alas, no Toblerone! We were then into Super-vet territory, with plenty of prize-winners, particularly in the YVAA categories. Paul Fearns was 87th in 78.41, Kevin Yewlett was 112th & 2nd MV70 in 84.29 & Elaine Stewart was 120th & 2nd FV60 in 93.05. Close behind, Rob Kersey was 121st & 3rd MV70/1st MV75 in 94.02, followed in by Mark Henderson (122nd in 94.23) & Rob Halstead (130th in 100.49). A decent morning’s work, rounded off with some tasty soup and an entertaining prize-giving!
And hot off the press, New Year’s Eve saw the final race of the year & it was back over the Moss for Des Gibbons’ Wormstones race from The Beehive pub in Glossop. Now officially recognised as a 5-miler in the handbook, this is a popular race (240 starters), with everyone keen to shed some of their Christmas excess! It has something for everyone, with a steady uphill climb for the first 2 miles to the flagstones above Harry Hut (topping out at around 1600ft), followed by some sploshing through the peat bogs on the long descent, before a cheeky little climb just before the finish back at the pub! We had 12 Harriers racing (plus a few out supporting/sweeping) & first back, finishing off an impressive year on the fells, was Patrick Needham, 7th overall in 36.43, closely followed by Tim-Tin Brook (20th overall in 38.42). However, pride of place must go to Katie Walshaw, who had a storming race, finishing 24th overall & 1st lady in 39.26, which is a new course record! Other Harriers taking part included Paul (converting him slowly) Sammonds, Mark Wilson, Hannah Austin, Keith Baird, Sophie Cromwell, Nick (who’s got my Mudclaws) Helm, Mark Henderson, Matt Crompton and our second prize-winner, Rob Kersey, who was 1st MV75. Incidentally, the Mens record was also broken, by Dark Peak’s Tom Spencer in a very rapid 30.02 – the overnight frost had hardened the ground a little & with very little wind, conditions were ideal.
For the juniors, it was the last race in this year’s Champs, the Stoop Rat Runs, over on Penistone Moor, near Haworth, on Sunday 21st December. On a grey, murky morning, the day after the final WYXC race in Leeds, we had 2 Harriers taking part, so hats off to Arthur Gibbs (5th BU13) and Alice Parry (2nd GU17) for flying the flag. That race concludes the 2025 junior champs, so it’s many congratulations to Arthur Gibbs (BU13) and Alice Parry (GU17), who have both competed in at least 5 races over the series and top their age groups!
The senior & junior calendars for 2026 will shortly be updated to the website and as ever, we’re trying to get as many Harriers to take part in these races as possible, including the English Championship events, so I’ve tried to mix it up once again, with local races, evening races & some further afield to choose from. There will also be additional points available for those representing the club at the fell relays & national Championship events. First up for the seniors, in a change to recent tradition, is Lamb’s Longer Leg on Sunday 11th – a quick 3-mile blast in the Dark Peak, whilst the juniors will be taking on the Stanbury Splash Rat Runs on Sunday 18th.
Elsewhere, great to see a few out & about, including Tim Brook at the Peak Raid Mountain Marathon 4, David Milton at the Tour de Helvellyn, Phil Brown at Moors The Merrier and Leighton Moxon, Kevin Yewlett (3rd V70), Elaine Stewart (1st FV65), Richard Wade, James Spencer & Bill Hunter (2nd V75) at Ambles Revenge.
Finally, a couple of local(ish) races over the next few weeks:
Stanbury Splash (BM) – Penistone Moor, nr. Haworth – Sunday 18th
Tigger Tor (BM) – Longshaw, nr. Hathersage – Sunday 25th
Hoofstones (BM) – Todmorden – Saturday 31st
See you on a hill sometime!
Cheers,
Phil
