Harriers Race Cross Country, Multi-Terrain and Fell – December 2024

CHRISTMAS TIME IS when some Harriers have a rest after a tough season before resuming training in the New Year. Others continue to race as a form of training or just for the joy of competing.

Pride of place for Rochdale Harriers last weekend (14th/15th December 2024) goes to Ben Hadfield who completed the Greater Manchester X Country Championship held at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday. After a strong run, Ben put in an incredible sprint finish to take 7^th place in the under 15’s category with a time of 13m, 37s for the 4km course. As a result, Ben has a chance of being selected for the team to represent Greater Manchester in the UK Inter Counties X Country Championships. The championships are being held in Nottingham on the 8 March 2025. So a big well done to Ben and fingers crossed that he gets selected, so he can proudly represent Greater Manchester and Rochdale Harriers in Nottingham.

On Sunday, 12 Harriers made the journey down the M60 to Woodbank Park in Stockport to run the 10 mile road race. The course started and finished on the track at Woodbank Park and was an anti-clockwise route, mostly on road but with about 1.5 miles of trail. There were some very convoluted routes around various housing estates and a couple of serious climbs including one near the end when the legs were tired. The standard of runner was very high, similar to the Sale Sizzlers.

First Rochdale Harrier back was Andy Whitehouse (MV40), 97th in 1hr, 06m, 10s. Next was Phil Lockett (MV40), 127^th in 1hr, 08m, 05s, followed in 162^nd place by Abdul Shahid in 1hr, 10m, 23s. First lady Rochdale Harrier was Louise Mayall, 339^th, 1hr, 21m, 14s.

Incidentally, Rochdale’s first male and lady finishers (Andy and Louise) are engaged to be married next year. Susie Hirst, 365^th was the second lady to finish the race, losing out to the first lady by a mere 15 seconds. Harriers third lady was Carina Haynes, 455^th, 1hr, 25m, 21s. Michael Jackson achieved a PB for the course beating his previous best time by 19 minutes. The full results for Rochdale Harriers at Stockport were as follows:

Although the fell racing season is officially over (generally held between March and the end of October), there are still plenty of fell races to run.

Two Harriers decided that a nice, long, tough fell race would get them ready for Christmas and ran the Moors the Merrier fell race. 21 miles long, with 3900ft of climb, starting and finishing at Hebden Bridge Golf Club. Then traversing over Midgely, Wadsworth, Heptonstall and finally Erringden Moors, with a big climb back up to the golf club. John Bramwell and kay Welsby ran the race together for the second year in a row, improving on their 2023 times by over half an hour to finish 42^nd in 4hrs 15m, 45s and 43^rd, 4hrs, 15m, 55s respectively. Congratulations to John for winning his age category (MV50) and to both of them for running off the Christmas pudding before eating it. That’s what’s called advanced planning.

Finally but not least and not wanting to be outshone by Ben Hadfield’s achievement, Julie Smith ran the ‘test’ Too Cool for Pule fell race. A 5.9 mile course over the moors around Marsden starting and finishing at Marsden Cricket Club. Now you might say so what, well apart from the mud, there are lots of obstacles for fell runners, rocks, bogs, very steep climbs/ascents etc. and there are rivers. So Julie despite the provision of a rope, held by marshals to ensure the runners traversed the river safely decided to go swimming. At least one thing, despite finishing last she was smiling to the end, cold, wet, but definitely not out. Julie finished in a time of 1hr, 33m, 23s.

Away from racing, this Saturday 21^st December, sees the culmination of the Harriers’ season, “The Christmas Doo”, complete with pie and peas and disco. Held at Bamford Cricket Club, where presentations take place for the Harriers own club championships (road, fell and juniors), plus individual achievements this year. There are at least 33 Senior and 17 Junior awards up for grabs, so to all those juniors and their families and indeed all members of Rochdale Harriers who have not yet booked, please visit the online Rochdale Harriers Shop where you can purchase your tickets and choose your pie.