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2009 Calderdale way relay

Halifax Harrier's leg 2 runners, Grimes &; Cole

The 26th Calderdale Way Relay race took place on 13th December 2009 hosted by Halifax Harrier's Athletics club. For those unacquainted with the event, the race starts early at 8am from Clay House, and covers approximately 50 miles of the Calderdale Way. There are 6 separate stages to the race, varying in distance, difficulty and terrain with each stage being completed by 2 runners.

Key to the success of the race is not only the commitment and enthusiasm of the runners taking part, and their team captains, but also the months of planning and organising of dedicated club members by the host club. In particular Halifax Harrier's Linda Crabtree, who is currently recovering from illness, and who couldn't take part on the day, is invaluable to the events success. Linda's efforts even extended to reminding Salford Harrier's, the eventual winners of this year's event, to enter the race months before the event; otherwise they would have missed out on retaining the title!

In addition, a big thank you to all the marshals who spent the whole day ensuring the race ran smoothly and most importantly, safely. As always, the feedback from the event is praise for the organisers, and a great deal of satisfaction for everyone involved. The weather was undoubtedly kind on the day, and contributed to some spectacular individual, and team performances.

It was an early 8 o'clock start for leg 1 runners, setting off from the park adjacent to Clay House at West Vale for 10.5 miles of arduous running over mixed terrain. The leg 1 route passes behind Clay House, and winds through North Dean Woods onto Norland moor and then drops down into Ripponden, before crossing over to Mill Bank and finally arriving in Cragg Vale. First runners into Cragg Vale were Dark Peak's John Rocke and Rob Barker in a time of 1:14:17 with local team Calder Valley only 34 seconds behind in second place. Halifax Harrier's team captain Mark Mason and Ben Crowther had a phenomenal run on leg 1 to put the host club into seventh place..a tremendous achievement being in the top 10 in a time of 1:17:23 which was only 2 and a half minutes behind Calder Valley's Adam Breaks and Ben Mounsey. The leading Dark Peak team athletes confessed to a wrong turn on leg 1, which eventually contributed to them loosing the overall race no doubt. Todmorden Harrier's A team arrived at Cragg Vale in 15th place in a time of 1:21:34. Holmfirth Harrier's also showed their intentions early on this year with a fourth place on leg 1 in a time of 1:15:20, and were to prove themselves consistently strong throughout the race.

Leg 2 of the Calderdale way relay, which is approximately 8.5 miles in distance, leaves Cragg Vale for Withens reservoir, proceeding to Stoodley Pike via Withens Gate,returning to the Calderdale Way at Mankinholes and finally arrives at Centre Vale Park in Todmorden. First to arrive at Centre Vale were Calder Valley's Alex Whittem and Shaun Godsman in a time of 56:35 and almost half a minute in the lead of the pursuing Dark Peak team of Neil Northrop and Callum Gilhooley. Halifax Harrier's Damian Cole and Super Vet Phil Grimes finished leg 2 in a time of 1:03:50, the 15th quickest time of the day, and securing 10th place for Halifax Harrier's A team. Todmorden Harrier's slipped a couple of places on leg 2, arriving at Centre Vale in a time of 1:05:42, and 17th overall in the race.

Halifax Harrier's leg 3 runners, Empsall & Royston

The third section of the race, is the shortest leg at 4.8 miles, but has a tough climb up Stoney Royd lane, to the moor below Stannally Stones. The route crosses Todmorden golf course, and finishes with a climb to the changeover point at Blackshaw Head. This is the only leg of the race where runners over 16 can take part, and is therefore ideal for the younger or speedier club members. Halifax Harrier's Joe Crossfield and Mikie Gaughan put in a solid performance to hold onto tenth place, and completed the leg in a time of 41:49, which was 14th fastest of the day.

Halifax Harrier's - Gaughan & Crossfield

Unfortunately Joe hadn't fully recovered from a cold acquired earlier in the week, and was unable to show his full potential on the day. Joe and Mikie are definite future star performers for the Halifax Harrier's in the relay race, along with Sam Kerfoot-Roberts who was too young to take part on this occasion. Meanwhile, Calder Valley slipped just one place to arrive at Blackshaw Head in second place, with Bill Johnson and Lee Shimwell running a time of 40:08, the 9th fastest leg 3 time of the day. Todmorden Harrier's pairing of Andrew Wrench and Sean Carey took the honour of 1st fastest time of the day on leg 3, in a time of 36:07, and this elevated their team into 11th place, with Halifax Harrier's only 21 seconds ahead. Holmfirth Harrier's were now closing in on Calder Valley, moving into third place at this stage, and only 3 and a half minutes adrift of Calder Valley. Dark Peak had now moved into first place, but Calder Valley were less than a minute adrift.

Stage four of the Calderdale Way relay race continues from Blackshaw Head, with a 9.5 mile of testing off road terrain, which is completed with a final long climb out of Jerusalem farm, up to the change over point at Wainstalls. First local club home was Calder Valley, whose valiant effort from Gav Mulholland and Gary Webb slipped Valley only 1 place into third overall, with a time of 1:10:38, the 8th fastest leg 4 time of the day. Salford were now leading the race, but no surprise considering Andi Jones, one of the UK's leading distance runners was representing Salford on this leg. Andi Jones completed the 2009 London marathon in an awesome 2hours 15 minutes and 20 seconds. Salford Harrier's Andi Jones and Carl Hardman ran the fastest time on leg 4, 1:01:17, and are indicative of the calibre of runner taking part in the event. Sheffield's Dark Peak fell runners were second overall, only a minute and a half behind Salford. Halifax Harrier's tried and tested leg 4 runners, Mick Fryer and Andy Thorpe didn't take part in the race this year due to injury, and Ryan Barker a sub 2hr 45 minute marathon runner, and Greg Elwell were tasked with running leg 4. Barker, had been unable to shake off a cold prior to the race, and wasn't 100% fit on the day, but fortunately for the club committed to the task ahead, rather than letting the team down. Barker and Elwell ran a time of 1:18:03, 28th fastest of the day, leaving the club in 13th overall.

The penultimate leg of the race takes the runners 7.55 miles from Wainstalls to Shelf, a tough undulating route that takes in some tricky descents and brutal climbs such as windy bank at Holmfield then passing through Shibden valley before climbimg up to Shelf. Salford extended their lead posting the fastest time for this leg on the day, with Rob Hughes and Ben Riddell in a time of 51:47. Calder Valley slipped back 3 places to 6th, whilst Halifax gained 3 places with their best performing pair of the day, Jason Westwood and university student and fell specialist Steven Bayton who gave it their all with 4th fastest time on leg 5 of 54.53. Despite a bad tumble from Westwood, the host club regained 10th place after passing 3 teams, whilst Todmorden dropped 3 places to 14th.

The final leg of the relay starts at Shelf, which is a fast 10 mile stretch to complete the loop back to Clay House in West Vale. Dark Peak made in-roads into Salfords lead taking over 2 minutes out of them but it wasn't enough to snatch victory as Salford triumphed for the 2nd year in succession to retain the trophy in a time of 5hrs 54minutes and 8 seconds, Dark Peak came home 2nd in 5:56:17 just a little over 2 minutes adrift, but Holmfirth stole the limelight on this stage with a super fast leg from Mark Buckingham and Matthew Pierson. Matthew Pierson placed 23rd on the 2009 London marathon in a time of 2 hours 22 minutes and 15 seconds. Pierson and Buckingham completed leg 6 in 1.01.49 to steal 3rd place overall from Bingley who were left in their wake by only 10 seconds! Holmfirth are the club to watch for taking the title in future years.

1st local team back were Calder Valley who maintained 6th spot, and would have placed even higher if it wasn't for the injured Karl Gray. Halifax were hoping for a top ten placing, with sub 2:45 marathon runner Ian Whitehouse and Lee Buckwell (2:50 debut marathon in Edinburgh) on the last leg. Whitehouse and Buckwell put in a solid performance, but were pipped to 10th spot, finishing in 11th overall, which was a great achievment from the host club running a good 15 minutes faster than the previous year, despite injuries and illness. Todmorden harriers were able to hang onto their 14th place at the finish of leg 6. 117 teams finished this year's race an achievement in itself! In what is a marvellous show of athleticism, sportsmanship and team camaraderie, thanks to all the people who made it happen again this year.

Final positions:

1. Salford Harriers 5:54:08
2. Dark Peak 5:56:17
3. Holmfirth Harriers 6:02:48

Local Teams:

6. Calder Valley 6:11:27
11.Halifax Harriers 6:27:04
14.Todmorden Harriers 6:40:51

Other Halifax Harriers placing:

34. Halifax Harriers 'B' 7:16:01
111. Halifax Harriers 'D' Mixed 10:27:28
116. Halifax Harriers 'A' Mixed 13:16:37

First ladies, Vets & mixed teams