Clayton-le-Moors Harriers, and our members, organise several open races throughout the year, many of which have a longstanding and proud history. Our races are guaranteed to test even the very best of runners.
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STAN BRADSHAW PENDLE ROUND Saturday 2nd March 2024
Devised to reduce erosion as the successor to the Half Tour of Pendle, the Pendle Round climbs to the Pendle trig via Buttock Farm, follows the ‘spine’ of Pendle, before dropping to Churn Clough Reservoir. The route then visits Stainscomb, for many years the site of Stan’s hut, from where it climbs over the hill back to Ogden Res and Buttock, prior to a last dash across the fields back to Barley. Organised by Clayton-le-Moors Harriers.
PENDLE FELL RACES Saturday 6th April 2024
Pendle FR is a classic short race that takes runners up to the Pendle summit plateau before dropping to very foot of the ‘Big End’. A quad-burning ascent direct to the trig point is followed by a technical descent to Buttock and a last charge down into Barley. Junior races are held before the main race. Organised by Clayton-le-Moors Harriers.
GREAT HAMELDON HILL RACES Sunday May 5th 2024
Starting at the base of The Coppice on the outskirts of Accrington, the Hameldon Race crosses tracks, fields and open moor before a horrendous bog and steep climb deposits the runners at the Great Hameldon trig. A fast descent (avoiding the bog!) picks up the outward route and ensures that this race is ‘eyeballs out’ all the way. Junior races are held before the main race. Organised by Clayton-le-Moors Harriers.
PENDLE CLOUGHS FELL RACE Saturday 11th May 2024
Starting from the picturesque village of Downham runners can choose their own route to the nine checkpoints. In doing so they will visit seven of Pendle’s Cloughs. The route takes runners on areas of Pendle seldom visited and covers some pathless terrain which provides some interesting route choices, giving rise to debate in the pub after the race. The final two miles gives runners a chance to really ‘let go’ …………as it’s all downhill to the finish! Organised by Clayton-le-Moors Harriers.
MEARLEY CLOUGH FELL RACE Tuesday 14th May 2024
A deceptively tough three miler that takes the runner from the fields behind Worston up to the Scout Cairn. You then cross the tussocks around the head of Mearley Clough before the lung-bursting return to the finish field. Organised by Clayton-le-Moors Harriers.
GREENWAY 5k ROAD RACE Wednesday 17th July 2024 Junior races are held before the 5k race. Organised by Clayton-le-Moors Harriers
PENDLETON FELL RACE Saturday 24th August 2024
Another short race with a long history, the Pendleton Race begins with a flat-out charge up the village’s main street, before climbing over fields and very rough pasture to Apronful Hill. A steep drop and steeper climb take the runners to Alan and Judith’s Cairn on Mearley Moor, from where there is a exhilarating descent into Ashendean Beck and a long run-in back across moor and field to the village. Organised by Clayton-le-Moors Harriers.-
THIEVELEY PIKE FELL RACE Saturday 28th September 2024
From a boggy field beside the Ram Inn, Cliviger, the race follows the Mary Towneley Loop to Scout Farm where a sharp left takes you up a mercifully short, ridiculously steep climb to the moor. After crossing a couple of fields it’s back onto rough moorland for the climb to the Pike. Two lovely grassy descents, punctuated by a steep ‘sting in the tail’ bring you back to the bridleway for the last push to the finish. Organised by Clayton-le-Moors Harriers.
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TOUR OF PENDLE FELL RACE Saturday 16th November 2024
‘The Tour’ is the classic late season ‘A’ long race that follows a figure-of-8 course around the remoter reaches of Pendle Hill. After a first visit to the trig, there’s a long fast descent of the length of Pendle to the ‘Nick’ and then Churn Clough. A steep climb up Spence Moor is followed by the notorious ‘Geronimo’ descent into Ogden Valley. After regaining the plateau and retracing your footsteps towards the ‘Nick’, you are faced with three major climbs, each one steeper and longer than the last, before a second pass of the Trig and a long run off back to Barley. Further details of “The Tour” can be found here. Organised by Kieran Carr, member of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers
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