Calder Valley’s Hartley continues her run of fine results on the fells

Calder Valley Fell Runners’ Sam Hartley demonstrated why she is one of the most improved runners at the club by claiming 11th place in the women’s standings at the Windy Hill fell race.

The 12-mile run on paths and moorland trails straddles the M62 between Denshaw and Blackstone Edge.

It certainly lived up to its name this year but there was also heavy mist for the runners to contend with as they navigated their way along the course.

Compared to the last time Hartley competed in the event in 2020, the course had three extra miles and the addition of an uphill finish, making the race a challenging one and also the longest distance she had tackled for several years.

However, Hartley was up to the challenge and continued her streak of strong results to clock a time just over two hours.

John Lloyd was the first male finisher for the club, claiming 47th place in 1 hour 44 minutes. Stephen Smithies, beset by injury, dropped to a walk for much of the course but gritted his teeth and made it round.

Meanwhile in Shropshire, in the Long Mynd Valleys race organised by Mercia Fell

Runners, Valley’s Virgil Barton finished 10th overall and first V50.

Describing the course as “a beast”, Barton completed the 11 miles and 4,000 feet of climbing in 2:05.

Organised in conjunction with the Long Mynd Valleys is the short and steep Titterstone Clee race.

Jon Underwood flew the flag for Calder Valley in the 2.5 mile up-and-down blast, and finished 16th in 28:19.

Further afield, Calder Valley’s James Sackley took on the Arc 50 in Cornwall for a second time.

The extreme coastal race takes in the stunning and dramatic Cornish Coast path with competitors running in challenging winter conditions.

The race starts off at the famous Minack Theatre, and snakes 50 miles along the coastline before finishing in Portreath.

Sackley had set himself an ambitious target of finishing in less than 12 hours, which would knock almost two hours off his previous time.

And he produced a magnificent effort to clock 11 hours, 58 minutes and 56 seconds.

Sackley is now considering doubling the distance to compete in the Arc of Attrition version of the race.