Thieveley Pike Fell Race – 24/09/22

28th September 2022

Race Report written by Dave Patron

Saturday 24th September saw seven Rochdale Harriers take on Thieveley Pike Fell Race, the penultimate race in the 2022 club Fell Championships. This 7km / 4.3 mile race ticks all the boxes of a tough Lancashire fell race cramming in 400m / 1312ft of hands-on-knees climbing up to the Theiveley Pike trig point followed by lung busting descents over classic Pennine moorland.

Rob James of Royton Road Runners was the first over the finish line in a time of 33:09,followed by Calder Valley’s Stephen Hall in 33:41, with William Walker representing Clayton-Le-Moors making up the podium finishing in 34:51.

Dave Parton was the first Rochdale vest back crossing the line in 32nd place with a time of 41:18. John Bramwell followed in 55th clocking 45:48. Jill Barton was the third Rochdale Harrier home in 49:42, seventh lady and 77th overall.Stephanie Harrison finished eighth lady and 79th overall in 49:59. In his first season representing the club Christopher Gee clocked 52:12 for 89th place, John Mayall was 102nd in 55:07 with Matthew Cox 105th after 55:35.

Weather conditions were ideal for the 139 runners who congregated in the field behind the Ram Inn pub, Cliviger, waiting for the start, and with the little rain of late, the ground was dry and made for good fast racing, especially on the downhill.

Out of the field the race quickly picks up the tracks of the Mary Towneley Loop before a sharp left forces the runners up a thankfully short, but extremely steep banking out onto the open moor. Crossing a wall, the uphill continues over two fields before another steep bracken lined, rough climb which thankfully levels out as the runners try to get their legs going again and they head to the trig point.

On a clear day fantastic views over to Pendle Hill would be the reward for the 3.3km / 2 miles of uphill but for these racers there was no time to take it in as a fast grassy descent tested them before the inevitable ‘sting in the tail’ of a short but punchy climb to see what the runners had left.

After battling this uphill, another long, fast, grassy descent returns the runners to the bridleway tracks before a sprint finish in the field where they started.
Rochdale Harriers use the Run The Moors Fell Grand Prix as their club Fell Championships where competitors from eight local clubs race over 11 races, with the best five results counting towards the final standings.

The final race of the season is Withins Skyline on Sunday 16th October, a 10.1km / 6.3mile race with 300m / 984ft of ascent setting off from Penistone Hill Country Park near Keighley.