Race report by Shutters:
Thieveley Pike Fell Race 11am Sat 27th Sept 2025.
Stats are
Distance: 7 km / 4.3 miles
Climb: 400 m / 1312 ft
and base was St John’s Church Hall, Holme, Chapel-in-Cliviger, nr Burnley, BB10 4SU, when i checked it ont the map its on the main A646 from Todmorden to Burnley actually just up from the Beater Clough fell race i did in March nearer the Todmorden end.
In the past i haven’t been much of a fan of short races but recently i have mellowed and enjoyed Aggies and the Two Towers this year both of which have similar stats to this race.
I have run this race a couple of times before but a good while ago – 2017 – maybe and i seem to remember that the start field was under water and boggy so after last weeks rain i was prepared for lots of lovely mud.
As ever i set-off in plenty of time and when i arrived i was early enough to park on the hall car park and judging by the people that had already arrived i would be among the younger runners at the race :). It was still a tad cool as i got changed and thought about a long sleeved top but the other runners in the car park all seemed to have vests only! saw Sharkey and we went for a warm-up which showed that there was no mud whatsoever on the start field or on the paths from there to the 1st climb.
After a quick headcount we were set off with half a lap round the start field, then followed the Mary Towneley Loop to Scout Farm where a sharp left took us up, up, up a very steep climb to the open moor which levelled out to something like runnable. The field was spread out now into distinct groups and i was at the tip of the oldies group and going backwards.
After a field or 2 we turned right and headed up the 2nd climb, thankfully not as steep as the 1st which levelled out and there was a long flat section to the Trig Point – the high point of the course. There was some good steep descending and the mudclaws were excellent, i actually started to catch a few runners. There was 1 last climb the tamest of the 3 up to Stone House Edge then downhill to ground zero and retrace the outward route to the finish.
Great little race well worth the trip up to sunny Burnley!
Pos Num M F Name Cat CatPos Club After Winner After 1st M Time
21 46 021 Robert Sharkey M40 (005/011) Lostock AC +00:06:10 +00:06:10 00:41:08
59 14 053 Mark Shuttleworth M50 (015/019) Lostock AC +00:13:32 +00:13:32 00:48:30
