Report on the RHAC Three Day Event, 2025

Last weekend saw the 30th running of Rochdale Harriers Three Day Event, a series of three approximate 6 mile races over the road, trail and fells of Norden.

Friday night’s road race drew a healthy 132 runners who tackled the tough, hilly route. Starting from the Bridge bus terminus the race heads up Edenfield Road followed by a steep descent down Ashworth Road, along the length of Clay Lane before heading back into the village to finish on Blackpits Road.

First racer back was Dom Carter of York Postal Harriers in a time of 33:29, followed by Stephen Campbell of Liverpool Harriers in 34:56 with Middleton Harriers’ Jordan James Hughes completing the prize places with a time of 35:33.

Rochdale Harriers’ own Steph Harrison was the first female finisher after 45:06, followed by Lousie Gray of Middleton Harriers in 47:15 with Royton Road Runners’ Rochelle Reading third in a time of 50:39 to complete a local podium.

45 runners lined up the following morning for the trail race, a three lap punchy route around the Naden woods, starting at the bottom of Furbarn Lane, finishing in Norden Jubilee Park with an added river crossing this year due to bridge repairs.

Dom Carter made it two wins in as many days, with a time of 38:12. Stephen Campbell had to settle for second once again, closely following in 40:27 with Rochdale Harriers’ Dave Parton completing the top three in a time of 45:51.

Steph Harrison also chalked up her second win of the weekend, taking victory in 51:27, Joanne Hackett of Macclesfield Harriers was second after 55:51, with Rochdale’s Jennie Ransome third in a time of 56:23.

Sunday’s Knowl Hill fell race is a challenging route starting on Woodhouse Lane, working alongside Greenbooth and Naden reservoirs before a bear crawl of a climb up onto the open moorland and up to Knowl Hill summit. The race returns to the reservoirs and back up before a quick descent down to Doctor Dam finishing on Greenbooth Road.

Bury AC’s Ben Coop was first over the finish line in 45:38. Dom Carter rounded off an impressive weekend of running, finishing second in 45:45 with Shaun Godsman of Calder Valley Fell Runners completing the top three in a time of 48:56.

Heather Dalgleish of Rossendale Harriers was first female back in 1:03:39. Steph Harrison narrowly missed out on a hat-trick of victories, shortly following after 1:03:46 for second, with Jennie Ransome once again completing the podium, third in 1:09:07.

35 runners completed the challenge of racing all three days and for the second year running Dom Carter claimed overall victory, retaining the title with a cumulative time of 1:57:26. Stephen Campbell took second after an impressive series of races, totalling 2:07:48 for the three races, with Dave Parton third and a total time of 2:19:51.

Steph Harrison claimed the female honours with a total time of 2:40:19, clear of Jennie Ransome in second with 2:56:48, followed by Rossendale Harriers’ Lynne Berbatiotis who was third and a total time of 2:47:20.

The Three Day Event requires a lot of organising and wouldn’t be possible without the support of the many Rochdale Harriers club members who volunteered in various roles across the weekend, thanks to all who gave their time and efforts to ensure a safe and successful event.

On Sunday 15th June two Harriers journeyed to the Lake District to run the Windermere Marathon, billed as one of the toughest 26.2 mile races in the country, Tahir Ali and Abdul Wadud joined 444 other runners for the scenic, but as expected, hilly route.

Starting at the north of Windermere near Ambleside the route is an anti clockwise tour finishing close to Brokhole. Tahir completed the distance in 4:26:02 with Abdul close behind in 4:26:55.