Calderdale, GM 10k and HM, Chester HM and The Old County Tops, 2025
21st May 2025
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The big event of last weekend (10/11 May) was the Calderdale Way Relay Race, held on Sunday, and billed as Britain’s biggest off road relay. It starts at Clay House Park, West Vale, finishing at Spring Hall Athletics track, Halifax.
Following 25 members doing the Manchester Marathon and many preparing for the 200 mile Coast-to-coast relay, RHAC entered only one team this year. The Calderdale Way Relay is a 51.5 mile race split into six legs, varying in length from 4.8 miles up to 10.6 miles. Each leg being run by a pair of runners. First off on leg 1 were Mark Walker and Nick Walsh, running it in a time of 1hr, 54m, 47s. Coming in 65th position at the time of handover to David Bull and Kurtis Vincent on leg 2 (8.5 miles). David and Kurtis ran the leg in 1hr 40m, 2s, dropping down to 78th position for the leg and 68th overall in the race. But thanks should be given to Kurtis who ran despite not being well, in order not to let his team mates down. Leg 3 (4.8 miles) was run by Emma Ball and Leon Aston, who ran it in 56m, 18s, finishing in 48th position for the leg and 63rd overall. They handed over to Steve Leak and Dave Parton on leg 4 (9.4 miles). Both doing well to finish in a time of 1hr 40m 3s, dropping to 51st for the leg, but moving up to 60th place overall. Leg 5 (7.6 miles) saw another mixed pairing, this time Louise Eadsforth and Neil Eaton. They finished in 69th position for the leg and an overall race position of 62nd , in 1hr, 29m, 47s. Jonathan Lupton and Bruno Rolinha were waiting to complete the final leg of 10.6 miles. They pulled back their leg position to 45th and Harriers final race position to 59th, with a time of 1hr, 34m.
A total of 10 Harriers competed in the Manchester 10K and Half Marathon. 7 in the 10K and 3 in the Half Marathon. In the 10K Zain Zia was the first Harrier to finish, in a time of 38m, 40s. Followed by Phil Lockett in 39m,46s. First Harrier lady to finish was Anna Blomfield in 49m, 47s.
In the Half Marathon, Peter Levers was the first Harrier, in a time of 1hr, 40m ,56s. Followed by Tahir Ali, 1hr, 41m, 39s and Julie Smith 2hrs, 22m, 47s.
Also on Saturday, four harriers tackled the Old County Tops Fell Race. This beast of a race in the Lake Districts is run in pairs (for safety). It starts in Langdale and covers 59 km / 36.7 miles with a massive climb of 3,050 m / 10,007 ft. On a hot day, Lee Meadowcroft and Pete Butterworth withdrew after 18.8 miles and 6,000ft of ascent. Meanwhile Kay Welsby and John Bramwell kept going and completed the race in about 10 hours (the official results are pending).
On Sunday, four Harriers ventured down to the beautiful city of Chester to compete in the Chester Half Marathon. The race starts at Chester racecourse, ventures into the countryside via the walls and historic city centre, before finishing outside the town hall and cathedral. Danny Bennett (MV55) finished 67th and 3rd in his age category, in 1hr, 22m, 28s. Ian Stainthorpe was next in 1hr, 55m, 39s, then Sadaf Saeed, 2hrs, 14m, 12s and finally Corina Haynes, 2hrs, 53s.
Next Wednesday sees the return of competitive racing for the Harriers, with the 3rd race of the Fell Grand Prix Series, the Stanhill Fell race at Oswaldtwistle.