Wardle Skyline Fell Race & Salford 10K, 2023

14th April 2023

ROCHDALE HARRIERS HOSTED their first race of 2023 on Saturday 8th April as 174 runners took on the Wardle Skyline Fell Race.

The race is an approximate 7 mile / 11km circular route from Wardle Square, heading up the cobbled road to Watergrove Reservoir, tackling the climbs of Brown Wardle Hill, Middle Hill and Rough Hill before returning via Higher Shore. Conditions on the day were great for racing, clear skies and warm April temperatures, but despite the route being fully marked and flagged, with race route maps available, confusion, and some might say controversy, arose at the conclusion of the race when it became apparent at least the first eight runners hadn’t in fact visited Rough Hill and ‘checked in’ with the marshalls, thus cutting the route short of distance and elevation.

However, after much debate between senior officials at Rochdale Harriers it was decided to give these runners the benefit of the doubt, not disqualify them and instead highlight the navigation courses that the Fell Running Association offer.

The first three runners who knowingly hadn’t completed the necessary distance but elected to still step forward to claim their prizes were Gareth Raven of East Cheshire Harriers in a time of 47:51, Ashley Wright of Rossendale Harriers in 49:44 and Chris Kay of Todmorden Harriers in 50:05. All three someway of the now long standing record of 40:47 set back in 1990.

There was no such drama in the Ladies side of the race as local Janine McGregor of Todmorden Harriers stormed around in 57:55 to take first spot on the podium ahead of Josie Greenhalgh of Lostock AC, second in 01:02:36 with Kirsten Angus of Settle Harriers completing the line up, third in 01:04:36.

There was a strong turn out of Rochdale vests for this ‘home fixture’. Dave Parton was first Rochdale back in 55:43, John Bramwell 01:02:24, Leon Aston 01:03:53, Stephen Leah 01:06:45, Mark Walker 01:08:41, Decland Harrison 01:09:00, Nicholas Walsh 01:10:08, Neil Hirst 01:11:17, Susie Hirst 01:14:02, Chris Gee 01:14:44, Ian Holloway 01:21:50, Andy O’Sullivan 01:35:34. Here are the full results.

Three Harriers competed in the Good Friday Salford 10k Road Race on 7th April. Richard Stirzaker was the first Rochdale vest over the line in 35:31, Juliet Smith followed shortly after in 41:08 with Ian Stainthorpe returning home in a time of 50:34.