Summer Series

A big week for Calder Valley Fell Runners’ Summer Series with three races taking place within 5 days.

Stoodley Pike was the first race held on the 3rd July.  Calder Valley’s Martin Howard took a well-deserved first fell race win here, after a series of five second places.  His club mates knew it would happen sooner or later and were really chuffed for him that it happened at such a historic, long-standing race.  U23 Martin was nearly a minute ahead of second placed Neil Crampton (Pudsey and Bramley) in 20.26.

oby Sydes, Catherine Holden, Richard Sunderland, Liam Williams

Don Ashton Memorial Tockholes.

Organised by Calder’s Calvin Ferguson, the race is a fast blast round the trails surrounding Darwin Moor and the Jubilee Tower.  Seven Calder runners headed over the border last Thursday evening.  With a record field of 143 runners, Calvin was pleased with the turnout, particularly as Don Ashton was his grandfather, and a local running legend.

Calder Results

16          Stephen Smithies             41:34
27           Lee Shimwell                     44:07
57           Toby Sydes                         47:50
64           Daniel Baron                     49:22
65           James Cooke                     49:33
88           Carole Fryer                       55:10
93           Tim Brooks                        55:41
 

Steve Smithies at the Don Ashton Memorial

Heptonstall Festival.

Well done to Pudsey & Bramley’s Joe Baxter on setting a new Festival course record in a sizzling 46:39; an outstanding performance given the withering heat and blazing sun. Sun hats off too to Tod Harriers Annie Roberts for her scorching 57:39 victory in the women‘s race, her second win this week.

Calder Valley’s Ian Symington revelled in the heat, coming in 7th place.  Along with the in-form Toby Cotterill (10th) and Matt Ray (11th) Calder Valley Fell Runners narrowly took the men’s team prize by 2 points from Wharfedale. 

Christina Turner at Heptonstall

Christina Turner continues her improving streak as first woman back for CVFR and 6th woman overall. Todmorden Harriers took the women’s team prize.

106 runners set off – most of whom came back to the post-race celebrations at The Cross, all rounded off by a Nightjar beer, Heptonstall music festival, and football watching. Memorable stuff, particularly the photographers, Dave and Eileen Woodheads’ England World Cup tunes forming the backdrop to the race summit at High Brown Knoll.

Top Summer Series points go to James Cooke, the only Calder Valley runner to complete all three races.

Moel Siabod

Four Calder Valley Runners headed for a weekend in Wales and decided to tackle the Moel Siabod Fell Race.  Starting from the Moel Siabod Café in Capel Curig the race goes through the woodland before heading up the ‘generally runnable’ 872 metre high Moel Siabod.  Catherine Holden was first V40 woman and Liam Williams also had a good run.  Results still to be published.

– Calder Valley News Reporter: Tim Brooks