Paul Grundy wins the Montane Winter Spine Challenger North Race

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Only one place to start this week’s report, with news that Horwich Harrier Paul Grundy has won the Montane Winter Spine Challenger North Race. Widely regarded as one of the toughest endurance races in the world it’s an annual ultramarathon that takes place along the Pennine Way, a 160-mile non-stop trail from Hardraw, North Yorkshire in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders. The race is known for its brutal winter conditions, with participants facing sub-zero temperatures, snow, and ice and this year was no exception along with the added bonus of flood risk from melted snow.

Paul Grundy Spine Race
Horwich Harrier Paul Grundy has won one of the hardest endurance races in the world.

Grundy, holder of the Northumberland Coastal Path FKT (fastest known time), took on this challenge because he walked the Pennine Way with his dad as a youngster and always wanted to race the iconic route. It was a convincing and dominant display too with Grundy crossing the finish line in the pitch dark almost exactly two days after setting off in a time of 48 hours and three minutes, which included a penalty of 38 minutes for missing a late diversion at Cauldron Snout and more than 5 hours ahead of the second-place runner and in spite of a slip on an icy surface with 15 miles to go resulting in a painful hobble to the finish.

Paul Grundy Crosses the finish line
Paul crosses the finish line to seal first place despite a painful slip with 15 miles to go

Over at Helsby the 41st annual Four Villages Half Marathon took place. Winner of the Half Marathons North category of the Challenge Awards presented by Runner’s World this accolade winning and scenic 13.1-mile (21.1 km) course passes through the villages of Dunham on the Hill, Mouldsworth, Manley, Alvanley, and Helsby and is an event is known for its community involvement, with local groups supporting the race and benefiting from donations. It was rumored that YouTube and TikTok sensation Olga was in attendance to make a follow-up video on her favorite runner, Sam “Beautiful Head” Fairhurst. Whilst this reporter is unable to confirm the veracity of this, I can report the Head ran a PB in a time of 75 minutes 10s. Lukey Foley was first Harrier across the line finishing 6th in 70 minutes and 37s and most likely would have claimed a podium place barring an issue with a shuttle bus leading him to line up at the start with a number of fun runners attired in various fancy dress. Adrian Braham brings his fine form from 2024 into the New Year with a third place in the Vet 60 category (86:02), Paul Wilcockson also claimed a podium position as 3rd Vet50 (99:18) and Stephenie McKee took home a PB with a time of 100 minutes 20s.

Manchester’s Heaton Park hosted the 4th and final XC race of the Southeast Lancs series and the Harriers posted some outstanding results. In the U11 Boys Ben Essex-Crosby fought a course long battle only to be pipped at the post for a second-place finish (10:43), Toby Yates was 5th (11:22) and with Toby MacDonald 8th (12:06) meant they claimed second team. Grace Freary won the U13 girls in 11:52. The U13 boys weren’t to be outdone with Harry Yates winning in 21:16. Under 15 girl Eve MacDonald placed 6th with a time of 25:12. Charlotte Wilkinson finished 1st in the Under 20 category (36:31) and Alice Tucker claimed the final podium position (38:34). In the ladies’ event Helen Macdonald was 11th and 3rd LV40 (37:43) combining with Wilkinson’s and Tucker’s placing the team were 3rd overall. The men’s were 1 token short of making a team so individually placed; Adam MacDonald continues to run well finishing 21st and 4th Vet 40 (34:55), Richard O’Reilly was 4th Vet 55 (37:23) and club cameraman, having past his duties over to daughter Charlotte for this race, Michael Wilkinson was 59th and 15th Vet 40 (41:12).

In the weekly roundup of Park run where there was some very large fields; Sean MacMyler was 55th (21:47) at Preston, Jack Hardman was 20th in 20 minutes dead. Joe Mercer won the Marple event in 17:38. At the evergreen and ever popular Haigh Hall Mary White was 87th (28:23), Gail Maxfield 104th (29:44), Dominic McKenna 146th (32:26) and Gillian Smith 208th (37:30). Over five hundred runners turned up at Peel Park and at his favorite course veteran runner Rob Jackson claimed a top 10 position running 18:36 for 1st age category and 1st on an age-graded basis. Andrew Crickmore was 26th edging close to a sub 20 in 20:06. The Middleton’s Jason and Janet added to their Parkrun venue collection finishing 122nd (24:19) and 395th (32:11) respectively. Unsure if Alex Fowler was baby buggy racing at Leyland but was 18th with a time of 23:09. Parkrunner of the week goes to Killian Mooney for a blistering time of 15:23 and 1st place at Shanganagh.

By Richard O’Reilly