The ever popular Herod Farm Race is the traditional first mid-week local fell race. This year it will be on Wednesday 16th April 2008. Once again this years race is kindly sponsored by Joe Barber Plumbers Merchants.
The race route goes from the Drovers Arms (SK13 8LD – find it on googlemaps) through Herod Farm nearly to the top of Monks Road. After dashing through fields past the Pennine View Nursing Home the race begins in earnest climbing up the face of the Nab. Finally athletes retrace their route back down via the farm to finish near the Drovers Arms.
The race was first held in 1989 and the race winner for five years was Andy Trigg. Since the Millennium Ged Cudahay of Stockport Harriers has won the race four times with the 2001 season being cancelled due to the foot and mouth disease. Salford Harrier Tricia Sloan has dominated the ladies race with three wins. The mens and ladies course records were both broken last year by Lloyd Taggart and Natalie White.
Each year the 1st lady receives the Stella Judd Memorial Shield. This trophy was presented to the club by Andy Wilkins, in memory of his wife Stella, who was once also a keen runner but who died in 2005. Previous winners have been Olivia Walwyne in 2006, and Natalie White in 2007
Some more info on this years race from the organizer
Just a note about the course folks - please note that on the first climb we will again be using the 'new' route which takes the public right of way through Herod Farm.
You'll possibly be aware that Herod Farm is now a private residence, and is no longer a working farm. The new owners have replaced fencing and stiles, and now have an automatically controlled gate on the entrance driveway, up which we run, to what was the farmyard. This gate CANNOT be opened manually. The new owners were very cooperative last year, and we have again asked if the gate can be opened by them for the duration of the race, but, if for any reason, you find that the gate is still closed during the race then you MUST use the step stile to the left hand side of the gate. A marshall will be positioned here to keep an eye on things. The gate and fences must not be climbed!
Once through the open gate (or over the stile as appropriate) the race route passes in front of the house, and then takes a right turn a few yards after the house up a track to the exit stile from its grounds, where there will be another marshall. |
