Harriers Run the Lights!

On Sunday 16 August 2026, CraggRunner’s Piethorne 10k race hosted the eighth race in the Rochdale Harriers and the regional RunTheMoors fell running championship.

The race around the Ogden and Piethorne reservoirs at Newhey is a circular route which takes in the reservoirs, before heading up and over to the edge of Hollingworth Lake, under the M62 before returning past Tunshill Golf Club with a real sting in the tail up the rocky road off Carr Lane before a sprint finish along the banks of Ogden.

The ever growing race attracted a bumper field of 283 runners this year with 16 racers representing Rochdale.

Dave Parton was first Harrier home in 17th place after 44:34, followed by Phil Lockett in a time of 46:36 for 23rd overall. Ryan Keenan was 34th in 49:30. On the ladies side Steph Harrison was fourth female and 42nd overall in a time of 50:51 with Jennie Ransome 23rd female and 109th overall with 58:30. Sharon Annable was third Rochdale lady back after 1:00:18 in 31st and 129th overall.

Other Rochdale results were as follows; Ian Dale 50th in 51:58, Richard Greenwood 56th in 52:32, Dermott Garvey 89th in 56:37, Ashley Lindsey 112th in 58:39, Richard Lee 135th in 1:01:17, Chris Ransome 170th in 1:04:56, Ruth Fearn 180th in 1:06:25, Matt Cox 202nd in 1:09:13, Sally Cook 247th in 1:14:53 and Julie Smith 263rd in 1:20:43/

It is now the business end of the season with three races remaining in the championship where the ladies title is still very close with just one point separating Kay Welsby and Steph Harrison at the top of the RHAC table and have identical points at the top of the Run The Moors inter-clubs league table.

On Saturday 15th August the unique Blackpool Race the Lights night race was staged in the shadow of the famous tower with a 5k and 10k route option along the promenade, underneath the Blackpool illuminations.

Christie-Anne Cunningham, Lisa Fenton and Louise Saunders made the journey up the M6 and joined 611 others for the 5k offering. The timings and rankings in these massive races are often skewed with the ranking place being determined from the gun time, however, the chip time can be quicker depending how long it takes to shuffle with the crowd over the official start line.

Louise ran 29:03 chip time and 35:14 gun time for 71st female and 173rd overall, Lisa ran 30:05 chip time and 36:16 gun time for 95th female and 207th overall with Christie-Anne clocking 30:04 chip time and 36:20 gun time for 99th female and 211th overall.