A glimmer of Spring greeted over 200 hardy runners who gathered last Saturday at Barley Village Hall to tackle the Stan Bradshaw Pendle Round.

Against the backdrop of the majestic Pendle Hill, the Stan Bradshaw Pendle Round is a 10 mile route that snakes the hill’s paths and boggy terrain with a climb totalling 1950 ft.

Organised and marshalled by Clayton Le Moors Harriers, the event was renamed in 2011 in tribute to the renowned fell runner, Stan Bradshaw who sadly passed away in 2010 aged 97.

Bionic Buchan at Stan Bradshaw

Five hardy Calder Valley runners took up the Stan Bradshaw challenge which saw Rob Hope, the current record holder from Pudsey & Bramley AC, the clear winner by almost 1 minute. His impressive time of 1:07:15 was still out of range of his 2013 record though.

First lady home was Rebecca Patrick of Todmorden Harriers at 1:30:17. Iain Glendinning was the first Calder Valley home and finished 34th overall with a time of 1:23:36. Calder Valley’s Helen Buchan finished 22nd lady at 1:45:44

Iain Gledinning Stan Bradshaw

Said Iain ‘It was perfect running conditions throughout, the leaders set of at a cracking pace and just left the rest of us to it! The route is tough because its so runnable, with a long leg of descent between the first and second climb. But once you’ve made that you know you’re on the way home and just have to push till the downhill finish, It was really wet underfoot but I’ve heard bog water is good for you anyway! All in all a great little race that should be on everyone’s to do list!’

Iain Glendinning 1:23:36
John Allan 1:26:21
Calvin Ferguson 1:36:35
Toby Sydes 1:41:06
Helen Buchan 1:45:44

Photos courtesy of Woodentops.org.uk

– Calder Valley News Reporter: Gill Dickson –