137 entrants for a mid-week race was a superb turnout for this Spring Classic in the South Pennines.
On the day, I decided on free entry and a no prize format as per my old days organising the Flower Scar FR. Instead, entrants were encouraged to support a local community group (St James’s Church) either by cash donations or purchasing cakes and beverages, raising over £500 for much needed funds, thank you all for this generosity.
As a result of very dry conditions on rock hard ground after this long dry spell runners resembled pinballs as they descended the two technical descents repeatedly bumping off dried out tussock heads which acted as flippers, bouncing the unprepared athlete into further tussock heads on the playing field on a free fall into the infamous bog / Gobble Hole at the foot of the descent! As a result, we had one poor participant twisting his ankle badly in the bog, but in the spirit of Fellrunning, kudos goes out to his fellow club mate Andy Sandercock- North Leeds Fell Running Club. He sacrificed his good position to assist his friend off the fell with the aide of Tod Harrier Marshalls, thank you all.
Host club Todmorden Harriers were delighted to see their very own runners, Dom Leckie and Janine McGregor taking 1st place in their respective categories, Janine also taking the FV40 category, well done you two. In other categories, great runs had by FU18 Sophie Smith (new rec.), MU23 Alfie Bundy, FU23 Sarah Christin Ransome, M40 Mark Smith finishing 3rd overall, M50 Ivan Gee, F50 Jennie Ransome, M60 Stephen Booth, F60 Jackie Scarf and M70 Jim Maxfield.
Thanks goes out to all runners, Tod Harriers Marshalls, Kev Shand, Jan and Steve Shepherd (farmer) and St James Church group for their support.
See you in 2026 for another FREE running and Cake bonanza.
by Jon Wright
Photo by Fearne Hanson