Chip Butties Galore & XC Update, 2026

8th January 2026

First of all a Happy New Year to all of our readers, we hope that you all got what you wanted for Christmas. A new pair of running shoes, kit etc, but most importantly you stayed injury free. Christmas was quieter than normal for the Harriers, as there weren’t many races.

However, one run a lot of the Harriers did take part in, was the “World Famous Chip Butty Run”, from the Norden Bowling Club. This is a Harriers tradition, typically arranged for late December between Xmas day and NYE. It is purely a social, mixed-ability, off-road pack run. Some 62 runners ran the seven mile route this time (2025), past Millcroft Tea Gardens, up the Ashworth Valley to Knowl Hill, then into the Naden Valley, before returning via the old Midland Leather works to the Norden bowling club, to enjoy a free chip butty and a chin wag, catching up with old friends and new running colleagues.

World-Famous Chip Butty Run, 2025 Edition

Wednesday 31st December, saw five Harriers make the short journey over to Penistone Hill Country Park near Haworth, to run in the Auld Lang Syne Fell Race. It’s 6.7 miles in length, with 1000ft of ascent and heads from the country park to Top Withins, across to Delf Hill, then returning to the finish at the West End Cricket Club. First Harrier back was Kay Welsby (FV40), in 91st position and a time of 59m, 41s. Kay also finished 2nd in her age category. Next in 131st place, with a time of 1hr, 4m, 5s was John Bramwell, (MV50). In 184th place was Chris Gee, (MV50), in 1hr, 9m, 5s. Bringing up the rest of the Harriers contingent was Mark Walker, (MV55), 230th, in 1hr, 14m, 37s and Dan Merlo, (MV50), 247th, in 1hr, 17m, 6s.

The New Year saw a single Harrier, Pete Butterworth, again heading over the border to run on New Year’s day in the Giants Tooth Fell Race. A short 2.75 mile race with 478ft of ascent, following a circular route around Ogden Water nr Halifax. Pete finished 45th, in a time of 25m, 33s.

Although it’s a relative quiet period for the Harriers racing-wise, the cross country season is still ongoing. The Red Rose XC League may have finished, but there is one remaining fixture in the South East Lancs XC Legaue on 17th January (Heaton Park). This season RHAC has devised its own Club Cross Country Championships and the final fixture at Heaton Park will determine the finishing positions. There are also the two “big ones” coming up. First is the Northern XC Championships on Sat 24th Jan, being held at Pontefract Racecourse, (literally on the course). Then the finale to the season, the Nationals XC Championships, this year at Sedgefield in Co Durham on Saturday 21 Feb. Anyone interested in competing in the Northern or National XC Championships should pay the entry fee to Colin ASAP as the deadline is approaching.

There is also planning going on with our fell section meeting with the other seven Clubs in the Run the Moors Fell Grand Prix, to decide which races are being included in this year’s league. RHAC’s own fell championship wfixtures will moirror those in the RTM FGP. The RHAC Road Race Championships 2026 fixtures are already out.

On a final, positive note, our Club saw their membership increase by over 25% during 2025, so hopefully we will be reporting on more running exploits throughout 2026.