Wadsworth Trog, Saturday 4 Feb
Race report by Darren Graham
On Saturday, Calder Valley hosted the notorious classic long fell race. The Wadsworth Trog. From Old Town cricket club, its 19 miles and over 3500ft of climbing, over the local moors. Runners are usually treated to delights of knee deep bogs, mud, more bogs and more mud. Usually, the weather likes to play a part in the race, throwing its foulest mood to the runners resulting in low cloud, rain, snow, sleet, hail or ice! However, this year, the sun shone and it felt almost spring-like, which is probably why there seemed to be so much mud as its usually frozen!
The new route, in its 3rd year, climbs from the cricket club, heading towards the trig point at High Brown Knoll. It then descends, slippery, into Castle Carr and then immediately climbs back up and over the moor towards the A6033 road crossing. The route then weaves its way towards the Wuthering Heights ruin at Top Withins, and then down towards the Walshaw Dean Reservoirs. A rare section of dry running is done over towards Walshaw, Shackleton Knoll, Lumb Falls and up again towards High Brown Knoll. The route then heads back over Sheep Stones and back towards the cricket club where the runners then finally have to do a lap of the cricket pitch, just to add an extra bit of torture in at the end!
Robb Jebb, of Bingley Harriers, managed to beat off Calder Valley’s Ben Mounsey to win in a time of 2:37:26. First lady back was Preston Harriers Nicola Jackson in a time of 2:51:26.
Graeme Brown was the first Toddy back and finished 10th overall with a fantastic time of 2:51:17. Closely followed by Jonathan Wright (2:56:15) and Nick Barber (2:58:49), these results gave Todmorden 2nd place in the Team ranking. First Toddy female back was Kate Mansell in a great time of 3:54:34. Along with Kate, Catherine Elvin and Elise Milnes managed to help Todmorden claim 2nd spot in the female team.
Full Toddy results are….
• Graeme Brown – 2.51.17
• Jonathan Wright – 2.56.15
• Nick Barber – 2.58.49
• Paul Hobbs – 3.05.29
• Andy McFie – 3.15.37
• Dave Garner – 3.16.33
• Rob Tyson – 3.27.44
• Darren Graham – 3.29.05
• Ben Beckwith – 3.54.19
• Kate Mansell – 3.54.34
• Robin Gray – 4.07.56
• Catherine Elvin – 4.19.30
• Elise Milnes – 4.45.06
Photo courtesy of WoodenTops