Manx Fell Runners delivered a string of excellent individual and team performances on Saturday as they competed once again at the British Fell Relays, this time sending two teams in the men’s and mixed categories.

Securing an entry in the ballot to this event is notoriously difficult, with many of Britain’s elite fell running clubs submitting multiple team entries.

The hosts for 2026 were Todmorden Harriers, nestled in the Calder Valley on the Lancashire/Yorkshire border. The fine weather meant there were no travel dramas and the teams converged at Todmorden Cricket Ground.

The setup was impressive and the atmosphere was extremely welcoming so credit to the host club for their sterling efforts in putting the event on.

The first leg was a flagged solo leg, covering an 8km route through the trees and up onto the open fells.

Rosy Craine (mixed) and Oliver Harrison (men’s) kicked things off to quickly establish themselves high up in their respective categories.

Harrison was first home with an aggressive run in top-quality company, finishing 26th on leg and well into the top half of the field, before handing over to the pairing of Sam Jones and Matt Van Hooven-Christian who both ran very well to maintain a strong position over the 15km route.

Craine was no exception in the mixed team, finishing seventh and setting up Amber Carridge and Matt Callister nicely who pushed on to move up to fourth.

This position was maintained by Chris Reynolds and Nikki Arthur who had the additional challenge of the navigation leg and only finding out their route on the day.

Saul Bradley led a final charge on the last leg, finishing third on his leg which meant the mixed team would have placed fourth overall, but a dibber issue on one of the legs meant they were deemed non-competitive on the day.

Back in the men's race, Jones and Van Hooven-Christian had handed over to Nick Colburn and Orran Smith who maintained the Manx team's efforts to handover to recent winner of the Backyard Ultra, Dan Richmond.

Showing no signs of fatigue, Richmond ran keenly to record an impressive individual finish (16th), improving the team by five places and bringing the men’s team home in 28th spot.

Aside from local interest, this was a field stacked with quality athletes, with many competing at national or higher level.

The open men’s and women’s races were both won by Edinburgh’s Carnethy Hill Running club, while the mixed race was won by a relatively new club on the scene, Northern Fells Running.

Congratulations go to all those involved and big thanks to the organisers who put on a great show for the assembled mass of runners.

It would be great to get at least another two teams over again next year - information will be published in due course.

In the meantime, a trip is planned for the Three Peaks Fell Race (contact Nick Colburn if interested) and rounds of the English and British Championship rounds which both kick off in spring next year.

Dates to be announced but details will be published via the club socials and website when known, or via fellrunner.org.uk/championships

NIGEL MADDOCKS