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- It was a Quiet...
Well I thought it would be but as it turns out, it wasn’t really. The weather has been atrocious once again, and there was only three races with Harriers featuring. However there was a whole lot of news, recce’s and training aplenty. This report wont sustain you for the usual Sunday night drinking session and accompanying doner kebab, but is perhaps more a sipper; a cup of Bovril with a couple of Garibaldi’s to dip perhaps. Mmm, fly biscuits….
Nev McGraw Memorial Hadfield Dash
Huge, Huge news this week, is that Glossopdale Harriers will host a new race! It’s what was the Hadfield Dash, and the Gravy Pud 6 before that, but I’ll let the Facebook page explain….
Bringing back a classic trail race, Glossopdale Harriers are pleased to announce that the Hadfield Dash race will return on Wednesday 29th July 2020 starting at 7:30pm.
The race has historically been arranged by Longdendale Trail races, who organise the fantastic Round the Resers Race (June) & Gravy Pud Race(December). With support from the team behind these races, Glossopdale Harriers will place this race back on the calendar!
The race will now be known as the Nev McGraw Hadfield Dash. Nev was one of Glossopdale Harriers running legends and the route will follow the trails that Nev frequented in his illustrious running career before his unfortunate passing in 2018.
The route is a flat indicative 6 mile trail race around the Longdendale Trail and surrounding reservoirs. Runners will be rewarded with glorious views and will also receive a memento at the end of the race.
Race Permit to be confirmed. Entry link to follow soon. Mark your calendars folks! https://www.facebook.com/Glossopdaleharriersraces/?eid=ARDFlMQT9B6y8YxJiTvCEf1jbvlsbh5siI2hp-fFqgXS9nysM7vDZuTvmAQvneg1y7lTnPUQOI6oKhMh
Sarah Leah and Steve Page will be Run Directors, and help will be needed, so please spread the word and be prepared to volunteer!
I cant think of anything more appropriate at this moment than to throw in a handful of pictures of Nev McGraw, a true GDH legend if ever there was one, and very sadly missed. This race will be fantastic tribute.
High Cup Nick
This race is firmly on my bucket list, taking place in the quite dramatic valley that is High Cup Nick, near Dufton. Clare Higgins, Sarah Andrew, Rob Murphy and Robin Hoffman went up to have a bash. According to Rob, “what a crackin race, wind, hail and plenty of mud!”
And he’s not wrong, as I trawled through hundreds of photos of this race, trying to find our crew. The weather was clearly so grim, it was nigh on impossible to spot anyone from under their waterproofs. I did find Rob Murphy though, given away by that world famous orange stripe! Did anyone see the photo’s of the Keswick AC trio that finished first? Covered in mud, blood and shredded vests, it really made me smile broadly.
Well done all, and I’m definitely going up next year. Results as follows:
| 137 | Sarah Andrew | 1:30:44 |
| 141 | Rob Murphy | 1:31:33 |
| 147 | Robin Hoffman | 1:32:54 |
| 400 | Clare Higgins | 2:33:37 |
Clare Higgins (apparently) 
Rob Murphy (who else?)
Canalathon 20
Emma Rettig hit the towpaths of the burny ring, and sent this in….
In a bid to get some flat marathon training miles, somewhere other than the trail, I entered the Cannonball Events Canalathon 20. This was to be my first 20 mile run of this training round so the plan wasn’t to race it, just survive!
The event is pretty straightforward, 20 miles along the canal from Rochdale to Sowerby Bridge (I love a point to point). Due to the recent storms parts of the canal were closed from flooding so there were a few detours along the route. Despite being told at the start the route was exactly 20 miles I still clocked 20.4 at the finish.
The weather was mixed, the route was interesting in parts, dull in others. There was mud, massive puddles and despite a small field lots of folks to chat to along the way.
My aim was somewhere around 3:15 and I finished in 46 place (out of 187) at 3:08. I felt great all the way round, kept a reasonably consistent pace and still had lots left in the tank. Overall, delighted. Looking at the results, some of you fast lot would have cleaned up in the prizes!!
As you can probably tell, it’s not the most inspiring event but there was a hot shower and soup at the finish. All in all a good way to get some miles in and depending on where you are in training an excellent leg test.
No photos but there was some muddy trainers and a big smile at the end.
Nice one Emma, solid time and good Marathon training!
Winter Hill 10K
Our man Steve Knowles was over in Bolton to take on this undulating 2 lap trail race. And not only did Steve school the Vets, he schooled the whole field, coming in first place overall. And, he was halfway down the M61 before the next runner finished, some 6 minutes behind! Think about it, that’s just ridiculous!
Parkrun
14 Harriers this week at Glossop. Some quick times as ever, but I don’t see any PB’s or milestones.
Meanwhile super juniors Ethan Rolls and Wyatt Barlow ran at Hyde, with Wyatt making his PB on this course. Speedy Shaun Chambers came in first place, albeit under his Salford guise, while Grandmaster Hillier and Laurie Barlow made up the number.
David Munday continues the impressive tourism, this week he was at Rheinaue, near Bonn in Germany. Elsewhere we saw Jonathan Haggart at Leazes, Matt Crompton at Hafan Pwllheli, Andy Burnett at Bakewell, Will Mather and Jessica Camp at Stretford, Joe Travis at Oakwell Hall, Cathy Murray, Pete Tomlin and Wendy Trelease at Lyme Park, Joe Gavin at Omagh, Bill Leason and Andy Fox at Marple, and finally Nick Ham at Stockport.
The consolidated report can be found here – https://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=1491
Other Stuff Aplenty!
Facebook and Strava have made excellent viewing this week, and I did pick up on some things along the way.
Chris Webb and Tim Budd had a crack at the “Heart of Darkness” route, a particularly pure 15 mile fell run, which goes on an out and back jaunt from Winnats to Grinah Stones. The purity comes on this North/South route by the fact its all done staying within 1 kilometer of longitude through the heart of the Dark Peak (I know, clues in the name). The lad’s got to the Alport Valley before having to call it, the weather just being too ridiculous to carry on. Knowing these two as we do, it must have been really really bad. Those interested in this route can find out more here. https://www.dpfr.org.uk/uploads/pages/files/2019-03-06–Heart-of-Darkness.pdf
Meanwhile Guy Riddell invited us to a race, where the food looks quite unbelievable, really fantastic. However, we have no clue where or when it is, or how far we need to run.
Kate Emily again demonstrated her uncanny ability to organise the proverbial piss-up in a brewery.
Lucy Wasinski dazzled us all with an altered lyrics rendition of 10 Green Bottles. It’d be an overstatement it to describe it as an “earworm”, but a valiant effort to offload 57 GDH Buffs. Seriously the buff is an incredibly versatile garment that I don’t go running without. And who doesn’t want a GDH one??
Mark Davenport‘s been delving into the archives, transporting us to a time when taches were taches, and shorts were really really short. Some cracking photos posted on Facebook showing Harriers past and present. Absolutely brilliant looking at these.
John Pollard, Clive Hope and Dez Mitchell were spotted up on Bleaklow. Rather saturated up there presently, but I understand they made it back in one piece.
News from Kirsty Sharp regarding the SE Lancs Cross Country League. A venue has been found for the final race, to replace the cancelled Chorley race. It will take place at Heaton Park (again) on Saturday 7th March.
Last but not least Kate Emily and Ben Robertson Have been appointed as GDH Welfare Officers! I quote Lucy Wasinski directly as follows: It is great for us all to have them on board and as well as meaning we comply with EA requirements, more importantly means that GDH can ensure that the welfare of everyone who runs with the club is protected. You can find out more about this role etc at the link below, but what they will do won’t be restricted to just this as they have lots of their own great ideas! Watch this space for more!
Whats’s Next?
Next up in the Fell Champs its James’ Thorn on Sunday 1st March at 11am. Get yourself over to Glossop Golf Club for registration and enjoy a classic race on very familiar turf. At 5 miles and 1,600 feet climb, this is a (mostly) runnable out and back, flagged too, so (almost) no chance of getting lost. Do save some for the sting in the tail past Mossy Lea Farm! Hoping to see plenty of Harriers there, old hands, and new fellrunners alike.
Well, that’s all there is this week, but as always, we love reading and compiling tales of everyone’s racing exploits. Keep running, and stay safe! gdhweeklyreports@gmail.com.