The ever popular Midgley Moor Fell Race drew record attendance of 191 runners last Saturday. Being in several local clubs’ championships including Todmorden, Saddleworth and Holmfirth many people attended this local classic short race which starts from Booth in the Luddenden Valley.
Organised by Calder Valley club members the 5 mile race raised money for Cancer Research UK and it raised over £900!!! Calder’s Shaun Godsman was first to the checkpoint on Crow Hill and led from there on via Churn Milk Joan, Sheepstones edge, Luddenden Dean and back to Booth by the pathless heather of Midgley Moor. He said he really struggled but never the less won by over one and a half minutes in 39.33. It’s good to know that the elite runners also find fell running tough. Surely he must be a contender for big points in the first English Championship race next weekend, Flowerscar run from Centre Vale Park in Todmorden.
Neil Crampton of Pudsey and Bramley was second followed by Mike Fanning of Borrowdale and Mark O’Connor in 4th. Club Champion Mark just keeps getting better and this writer is tipping him for English points next weekend. Not so lucky was Joe Crossfield, in third place at Churn Milk Joan, he took an experimental line to Luddenden but ended up floundering in deep heather near Robin Hood’s Penny Stone. Sometimes these route choices can pay off but not today for Joe who came in 12th.
However Joe’s consolation was making up the winning men’s team along with Shaun and Mark. One of our rising stars Martin Howard is showing lots of improvement by taking 1st under 18 and a great 17th place overall.
The first women’s team was local rivals Todmorden Harriers. Helen Berry of Holmfirth won the women’s race with ever improving Calder’s Lindsey Oldfield in 4th and Sally Newman in 5th.
The farmer at Dean House Farm who lets the race use his fields, also kindly donated several crates of milk, which were much appreciated by many runners at the finish.
Calder Valley’s Jo Buckley organised the Harden Trail Race from St. Ives in Bingley on Sunday which saw team mate Gayle Sugden, just back from injury, winning the womens 6 mile race in 10th place overall. This race raised money for Harden School playground fund.
Several fell running supporters went to Sheffield to support Max Wharton at the indoor 800m English championship last Sunday. Max had a storming race and took silver medal, missing out on gold by 0.11 of a second. Not bad for a fell runner! Roll on the out door season.