May 2026 – a warm start, a damp middle & a scorching end!
As tends to be the case at this time of year, the juniors were going to be very busy, with the first 3 English Junior Championship races, as well as the local challenge of Coiners on May Day Bank Holiday Monday. The courses at Coiners don’t get any easier, but if you can stick it out on the climb, you’re rewarded with a cracking grassy descent to the finish line, so well worth the effort! A great turnout across the age-groups, with Theodore Walker, Jasmine Clarke & Hetty Whipp in the U10’s, Marcus Clarke, Bonnie Whipp & Noah Sutton in the U12’s and Arthur Gibbs & Dolcie Biggs in the U14’s, so well done to all you guys! The following weekend, on Saturday 9th, it was up to Sedbergh for the first of the English Champs races and kudos to Noah Sutton for making the trip to the Howgills for the very tough U12’s race! It was then another longish trip over to the North York Moors for the Esk Valley English Champs race on Sunday 17th, but doesn’t look as if anyone was able to make the journey. Finally, it was a short hop over to Ogden Water on Saturday 30th, where numbers were down as, unfortunately, the weekend clashed with the end of half-term & a junior triathlon, so a big well done to Jasmine Clarke (14th overall & 6th GU10) & Marcus Clarke (31st overall BU12) for flying the Amber flag!
The seniors were also fully occupied, with a couple of races & the Calderdale Way Relay thrown in for good measure. First up, it was a quick dash down the A62 to Diggle for the BM Cake Race on Saturday 2nd May, where we had 15 Harriers line up to tackle the 10 mile/1700ft course on a very warm, dry & dusty day. An uphill start as the route heads north-east onto the Standedge Trail, joins the Pennine Way at Brun Clough Reservoir, drops down to the Wessenden Valley and the steps of Butterley Reservoir (both sides) before returning via the Standedge Trail and a fast descent back to Diggle Band Club. Some great results across all categories, with Phil Hinchcliffe 7th overall in 1.13.38, Tim Brook 11th overall & 1st MV40 in 1.15.03, Helen Haigh 12th overall & 1st lady in 1.16.34 and Adam Sunderland 18th overall & 1st MV55 in 1.19.33. We also picked up the Mens team prize, with Phil & Tim joined by Paul (not a fell runner) Sammonds, all very happy to walk off with the generous amounts of beer!
It was then a return to well-worn trails and the Calderdale Way Relay on Sunday 17th May, where we managed to put out 4 teams (48 runners) – the traditional Open, Ladies & Vets teams, plus the Cote de Holme Moss team, which was once again a full Mixed team of 6 men & 6 ladies. As can often be the case, there were a number of changes leading up to race day, but thankfully, we had plenty of ‘willing’ reserves and disaster was averted – big thanks to everyone who turned out! It was especially pleasing to welcome some of our newer members along for the fun, so hats off to Tom Dickinson, Rob Booth, Annie Greenwood, Maggie Baird & Max Gartery for racing – hope you all enjoyed it! Squally showers were very much in evidence throughout the earlier legs, but thankfully eased off as the day progressed. 89 teams were on the start line at West Vale for 8.00am & looking at the quality of some of the recent Calder Valley signings, the question being asked was whether their Men would be able to reclaim the trophy from Rossendale, who had won the event for the last 2 years. The answer was a resounding ‘yes’, as they led from the start & ran out comfortable winners, coming back in a time of 6.01.48, some 13 minutes ahead of Rossendale (6.14.19) & Barlick (6.25.11). Our Open team had another great run, improving by 2 places on last year to finish 7th overall in 6.47.54, whilst the Ale Stars stormed round, finishing 15th overall & 3rd Vets team in 7.33.36 (nearly 30 minutes quicker than 2025) and the Cote de Holme Moss also improved on last year, placing 39th overall & 5th Mixed team in 8.43.49. However, pride of place must go to the Ladies team, who, despite having to contend with a couple of enforced changes to their line-up, went head-to-head with Calder Valley & Sale Harriers and rose to the occasion superbly, finishing 1st Ladies team (28th overall ) in 8.10.03, over 20 minutes ahead of Calder Valley (8.30.12) & Sale (8.38.50)! Individually, results of the day for Holmfirth included Jamie Wood & Tim Street, who were 5th quickest on Leg 4, whilst Helen Haigh & Helena Croft had the fastest Ladies time on Leg 4 (23rd fastest overall), as did Annie Garside & Julia Thomas on Leg 5 (26th fastest overall) and Julia Jagger & Jo Jones on Leg 6 (16th fastest overall).
Finally, it was time for the first evening race of this year’s champs & 13 of us headed south into the Peak District for the BS Castleton Great Ridge race on Friday 22nd. Suitably low-key, there were no kit requirements on the night, which went down well with the 150 starters on what was a very warm evening. The route heads up the road from the playing fields before reaching the fellside & contouring gradually uphill to a short, steep climb onto the summit of Lose Hill, at which point, you’re directed westwards along the ridge towards Mam Tor (avoiding the influencers), where you’re treated to some wonderful views across the Edale Valley, before a rapid descent back down to the road & a sprint to the finish. Some great results once again, with Jamie Wood first back for the club, finishing 7th overall in 44.30, an excellent time for the 5.7 mile/1400ft course. Jamie was followed in closely by Tim Brook (10th & 3rd MV40 in 45.44) & Paul Sammonds (15th in 47.56), which would have been enough for the team prize, had there been one! For the ladies, Hannah Austin ran really well, finishing 5th lady in 57.07, staying ahead of Fran Whitworth (2nd FV50 in 59.16) & Maggie Baird (8th lady in 62.44). Post-race, we headed back into Castleton for a beer at one of the 7 (count them) pubs in the village, with Peveril Castle acting as a backdrop in the setting sun – cracking!
Elsewhere in the month, it’s been great to see plenty of Harriers getting out on the hills, including Katie Walshaw at the UK Uphill Only Trial Race up in Keswick (where she was 14th lady & 1st FV40), Nick Helm at Coniston, Bill Hunter at Coiners (where he was 2nd MV70), Tim Brook & Tim Street at The Lap (Windermere), where Tim (Brook) was 9th overall & 2nd MV40, Nick Helm at Bilsdale, Neil Robins at the Welsh Epona 100 mile Ultra, James Spencer & Jo Robinson at Five Trigs (where James was 1st MV60), Ben Kellett & Damien Briscoe at the UTMB Snowdonia 80k, Mike Kenyon at the UTMB Snowdonia 25k, Richard Anderson & Tommy Holroyd at Old County Tops (where they finished 12th overall), Curtis Firth at the Skipton Skedaddle 50 mile Ultra, where he finished 2nd overall, Katie Walshaw & Mark Henderson at Mount Famine (where Katie was 16th overall & 1st lady), Phil Hinchcliffe at the Beara Way Challenge in County Cork, which he won jointly with his twin brother Lewis, Annie Greenwood at Silkstone Shuffle (where she was 20th overall & 2nd lady), Annie Garside at the Skye Trail 79 mile Ultra, where she finished an amazing 6th lady & 23rd overall & had us all dot-watching for nearly 24 hours, Annie Greenwood at Bamford Sheepdog Trials, Katie Walshaw at Bowley Hill (where was the outright race winner by nearly 2 minutes & smashed the ladies record into the bargain), Annie Garside (with Ethan) at the OMM Lite Short Course Orienteering Event in Grasmere, where they were 1st Mixed Team & 3rd overall and finally at the 3rd instalment of The Trunce, we had Laurie Smith Bodle, Gareth Harrison, Janet Foreman & Diane Lee amongst the 273 runners!
Coming up in June, the seniors have this year’s weekender at the Buttermere-Sailbeck race on Saturday 13th, followed by Harden Moss/James Blakely on Saturday 20th and then the next English Champs race at Blencathra on Sunday 28th, whilst the juniors have the next 2 English Champs races, Edale on the 14th & Clougha Pike on the 20th. And finally, if anyone wants to help out at the Harden Moss race, I’ll be looking for some volunteers!
And plenty of local(ish) races to have a go at over the next few weeks:
Hebden Bridge (BM) – The Albert, Hebden Bridge – Tuesday 2nd
Knowl Hill (BS) – Norden, nr. Rochdale – Sunday 14th
Edale (AS) – Edale Village Hall – Sunday 14th
Ogden Midsummer Madness (AS) – Ogden Water, nr. Halifax – Wednesday 17th
Brown Wardle (And a Bit Moor) (AS) – Whitworth, nr. Rochdale – Wednesday 17th
Grindleford (BS) – Bishop’s Pavilion, Grindleford – Thursday 18th
Settle Hills (BM) – North Ribblesdale RUFC, Settle – Sunday 21st (incorporating the Yorkshire Senior & U23 Champs)
Trunce 5 (BS) – Oxspring, nr. Penistone – Monday 22nd
Eddie’s Revenge (AS) – Shaw, nr. Oldham – Wednesday 24th
Whaley Waltz (BS) – Whaley Bridge – Saturday 27th
Bakewell Pudding Race (CM) – Bakewell Recreation Ground – Sunday 28th
Kinder Trog (BL) – Hayfield Scout Hut – Sunday 28th
Cragg Vale (BS) – Cragg Vale Church – Wednesday 1st July
See you on a hill sometime!
Cheers,
Phil
