Rochdale’s U16 Girls Team Take Bronze at Leigh

14th October 2026

Lily, Maisie, Lola and Alexander in the U16 race at the inaugural Lancashire Rose XC Race, Leigh

Saturday 10th October 2026 saw the return of the cross-country season with a new era on the regional racing scene, following the merger of the historic Red Rose and South East Lancs leagues to officially form the brand-new Lancashire Rose Cross Country League.

This new league remains a four-fixture series across the autumn and started at Leigh Sports Village before it heads to staple XC venues Heaton Park, Marl Pits and Sefton Park.

First up for the Harriers was Thomas Bond in the U14 Boys 2,500m race where he ran 12:16 to place 24th.

Alexander Reay ran in the U16 Boys 4000m race, clocking 19:31 for 25th place.

In the U16 Girls 4000m race the Rochdale team of Lily Hirst, Maisie Taylor and Lola Whittaker ran well enough to finish 3rd team. Lily ran 18:28 to finish 8th, Maisie, running her first race for Rochdale, 21:01 in 18th and Lola 21:14 for 19th place

Ben had an excellent race to finish 4th the MU18 category

Ben Hadfield ran in the U18 Men’s 5k race, stopping the clock after 19:01 to finish 4th, while in the U18 Women’s 5k Lottie Peacocke finished 8th in a time of 23:07.

Lottie had an impressive run to finish as 8th FU18

The Senior Women and the V70 Men ran the same 5k course where 113 runners lined up to start. Ian Aitchison was 3rd V70 in a time of 26:53, with Ray Dalby 6th after running 35:58. In the Senior Women’s race Juliet Smith ran 22:16 to finish 8th overall and 1st V50, Zara Stefek was 31st after clocking 24:33 and Susie Hirst was 46th with 26:09. Anna Blomfield ran 26:43 to finish 51st and Louise Eadsforth was 84th in a time of 30:13.

Rochdale’s Senior men preparing for their XC race at Leigh

The Senior Men’s race saw seven Harriers line up alongside 134 others for the 10km route. Danny Bennett ran a strong 37:08 for 15th overall and 1st V55. Andrew Whitehouse was next back for Rochdale after 42:28 in 56th, Harry Page 94th in 47:34, Mark Walker ran 48:16 to finish 100th, Neil Hirst was one behind in 101st after 48:20. Chris Gee clocked 50:27 for 110th with Matthew Cox 126th in a time of 56:06.

Harry, Rochdale Men’s 3rd counter at Leigh

Also on Saturday, the historic Langdale Horseshoe Fell Race served as the final race of the Club’s fell running championship season, with five Harriers journeying up for the challenge.

The Rochdale squad at the beast known as the Langdale Horseshoe Fell Race – the final fixture in this years fell championships

In this Lakeland Classic, runners are tested over a punishing approximate 21.1 km (13-mile) course featuring an advertised 1,450 meters (4,600+ ft) of ascent. Starting and finishing from the Old Dungeon Ghyll in Great Langdale, competitors work their way across open, unmarked moorland and up through high rocky checkpoint summits including Thunacar Knott, Angle Tarn, the Esk Hause shelter, Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, and Pike O’ Blisco.

The weather was mixed to say the least, with spells of clear sunshine buffeted by low clagg which brought stinging, heavy rain and winds strong enough to give you brain freeze.

Dave Parton completed the route in 3:06:11 for 60th place, Kay Welsby clocked 3:45:01 for 143rd overall and 15th female and Jennie Ransome ran 4:22:32 in 198th place and 31st female. Jake Warwick completed the route but unfortunately missed the checkpoint at Crinkle Crags so was credited with an DNF, and Pete Butterworth made an always respectable, safety first choice to withdraw from the race after the weather had turned at Bowfell.

The final podiums for the RHAC 2026 Fell Running Championships are as follows;

Men Women

1st – Dave Parton 1st – Kay Welsby

2nd – Ryan Keenan 2nd – Stephanie Harrison

3rd – Phil Lockett 3rd – Jennie Ransome

Rounding off the weekend on Sunday, the club was also represented at the Chester Marathon, one of the largest and fastest growing marathon events in the country.

Starting and finishing at Chester Racecourse, over 5700 runners were led on a scenic 26.2-mile, closed roads tour including crossing the border into Wales, with the route covering roughly 19 miles in England and 7 in Wales.

Dave with his well-earned medal at the Chester Marathon

Dave Aspinall recorded a new personal best time of 3:24:59, Jonny Lawlor, running his 5th marathon of the year, clocked 3:58:38 and Abdul Wadud ran 4:05:59 on his return to the famous long distance challenge. Unfortunately, despite weeks of training, an untimely seasonal illness resulted in Linh Hoang having to drop out just after the halfway point.