Rochdale’s Kay Welsby is 1st lady in the RTM Fell Grand Prix Championships, 2024

On Friday 16th November, the presentation night for the Run The Moors fell Grand Prix was held at Bamford Bowling Club. The Grand Prix involves fell runners from eight NW running clubs competing in up to 11 fell races, with their best 5 results counting. The evening featured the prize awarding for a season of racing and a Q&A session with Chris Holdsworth, a Burnley native and elite off-road runner who has earned Lancashire, England and Great Britain vests amongst many other running accomplishments.

The highlight result for Rochdale was Kay Welsby’s overall ladies victory, clear of Horwich’s Lindsey Brindle and Sandra Kelly, 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Other awards collected by Rochdale runners on the night included 3rd male for Dave Parton. Emma Ball 1st Ladies V50, Jennie Ransome 1st Ladies V60, John Bramwell 1st Mens V50, Pete Butterworth 3rd Mens V50 and Matt Cox 3rd Mens V65.

On Saturday 17th November Sefton Park, Liverpool played host to the GB Athletics European cross country championship trail race, as well as being selected for the latest round of the Red Rose cross country league.

The lure of earning a GB vest attracted bumper, stellar fields to Merseyside with many of the country’s top cross country runners turning out despite the stormy conditions and mud churned fields.

Lily Hirst ran in the under 13 girls race, placing 71st in a time of 13:56.

In the under 15 girls race, Lottie Peacocke was 99th after 14:07.

308 runners lined up for the senior women’s race, a three long lap route, undulating with switchbacks and a lot of standing water throughout the course.  

Juliet Smith was the first Rochdale vest back in 116th place in a time of 40:03, very shortly followed by Zara Hirst who raced home to 120th after 40:12. Susie Hirst completed the Rochdale line up, running in 183rd in a time of 44:31.

By the time 538 senior men lined up for the final race, the heavy footfall throughout the day’s racing had turned the course to an energy sapping mud bath for the same route.

Jonny Lawlor ran home first Rochdale, 438th in a time of 41:44, followed by Pete Butterworth 453rd after 42:24 and Craig Howell 496th after 45:36. Neil Eaton stopped the clock at 52:00 for 525th place, with Ray Dalby 534th in 56:54.

In a bid to escape the storm warnings much of the UK were under over the weekend, four Harriers hopped on a plane to warmer shores for the beachfront Benidorm 10k / half marathon event.

Leon Aston ran the 13.1 mile half marathon distance, completing the route in 1:50:09 for 1031st place. Gary Marshall recorded a time of 2:00:51 for 1655th place, with Julie Smith completing the distance in 2:28:48 to claim 2586th. Louise Eadsforth ran in the 10k race and stopped the clock after 54:31 in 903rd place.

Back on UK soil, Molly Howell travelled south to run in the Trent Park cross country at Enfield, North London, on Saturday. The course was a 7000m looping, two-lap course to decide the Fraternity & Sorority Cup, a challenge between the local running clubs dating back to 1933. Molly completed the race in 36:30.