Cuerden Valley hosted the penultimate round of Todmorden Harriers’ Trail Championship last Thursday evening.
The Badger 10k, organised by Lancashire Wildlife Trust, attracted more than 150 runners to the park.
Paul Brannigan was the first Todmorden runner in sixth place in 39:06, followed by Dan Taylor in exactly 44 minutes for 22nd place.
Simon Galloway was the next Harrier in 57th position at 48:52, with Peter Ehrhardt completing the scenic course in 58:28 and in 115th place, just ahead of Andrea Marshall in 119th, with a time of 59:21.
Todmorden were in the prizes at the Harry Kelly Cowm Reservoir 5k, with Mandy Goth finishing first v50 woman in 26:50 for 40th place overall and Myra Wells first v55 woman, and 49th overall, in 28:37. They were followed by Kathy Bridger, second v50 woman and 53rd, with a time of 31:25.
Richard Butterwick finished the two lap route in 27th place with a time of 22:48.
The club continued collecting prizes the following night at the third Todmorden 5k race in Centre Vale Park.
Robin Tuddenham finished fifth overall and first v40 male, whilst Bev Wright claimed the corresponding v40 women’s prize, stopping the clock at 23:50.
Myra Wells was first v55 woman and Ian Stansfield first v70 male.
Todmorden results: 5 Robin Tuddenham 17:55; 13 Martin Stork 18:42; 21 Paul Alexander 19:35; 28 Simon Anderton 20:24; 39 Richard Butterwick 22:48; 41 Bev Wright 23:50; 54 Andrea Marshall 26:11; 61 Myra Wells 28:30; 72 Ian Stansfield 34:20.
A quartet of Harriers kept up the successes at the Top O’ Leach Fell Race on the same evening. The 8 km route from Cowpe was the first race of Rossendale Harriers’ mid-week series.
Dave Collins was the first Harrier home in eighth place, and first v55, with a time of 52:55. Marcel Ellison finished in 53:25 for 13th position.
Jackie Holden finished second woman in 1:08:18, 27 seconds behind the ladies winner, and Kirsty Patten was third woman in 1:11:14.
A longer challenge was on offer at the weekend in the form of the Borrowdale Fell Race, with the 27km route featuring more than 2000m of ascent over several Lakeland peaks, including the summits of Scafell Pike and Great Gable.
Paul Hobbs was the first Todmorden runner back in 3:55:27 for 86th place.
Jane Leonard finished sixth woman, and first v55, with a time of 4:21:19 and Darren Graham was 197th in 4:35:53.