About our club
Clayton-le-Moors Harriers is an inclusive running club for people in Lancashire and beyond. We welcome runners from all backgrounds, of all ages and all abilities, in every discipline.
For more than 100 years, our club has supported generations of runners on the road, fells and trails, at XC and at parkrun.
Built on proud local heritage, Clayton-le-Moors Harriers has continued to evolve to meet the needs of runners today but remains grounded in the community spirit and traditions that have defined our club for over a century.
Regular social runs are mixed with beginner friendly sessions as well as speed training and other opportunities to help members connect with the local running community and develop their fitness, confidence, and competitive potential if they wish.
For runners who want to race hard and those who want to enjoy a social run with like-minded people, there’s a place in Clayton-le-Moors Harriers for everyone.
Meet the committee
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![A smiling man with a beard and short hair, wearing a red jacket and holding a wheel of Camembert cheese labeled 'Président' in a restaurant or bar setting.]()
Peter Browning, President and Chair
Peter joined Clayton-le-Moors Harriers in 1983 after running his first race, Great Hameldon. He has now completed more than 1,000 races and was the first to complete the Isle of Jura Fell Race 21 times.
He completed the Bob Graham round in 1986, finishing in 19hrs 43mins - the second fastest completion by a member of the club at that time.
Peter has served on the committee in a variety of roles including president, chair, secretary, treasurer and fell captain and he remains the long-standing organiser of the Pendleton Fell Race.
Peter might not be quite as fast as he undoubtedly once was, but he’s still scouring the calendar, searching for new races to get the juices flowing.
Contact: president@claytonlemoors.org.uk | chair@claytonlemoors.org.uk
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![Two smiling people at a charity event, one man and one woman, standing behind a table with a tombola box labeled with ticket prices, both wearing white shirts with the name 'Clayton' and a colorful logo.]()
Kath Brady, Secretary
Kath joined the club more than three and half decades ago after running as a teenager with Burnley AC. Whether it was fate or serendipity, it wasn’t long before she met her husband of 30 years (Martin) while travelling to the National Cross-Country Championships.
A long-standing member of the team which organises the Three Peaks Race, Kath was appointed as Clayton-le-Moors club secretary in 2025 having served as a committee member for several years prior in addition to organising the club’s teams for numerous relay events. Her support and experience have been welcomed by many ROs over the years.
Kath still enjoys cross-country and she remains a regular road and trail runner. She also enjoys ‘not too difficult’ fell races – by her own admission, on account of her uncanny ability to fall over.
Contact: secretary@claytonlemoors.org.uk
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![Smile of an elderly woman with short gray hair wearing sunglasses on her head, a pearl earring, and a black puffer vest over a black long-sleeve shirt, standing in front of a green background.]()
Marion Wilkinson, Junior Team Manager
Marion has been a member of the committee for more than 18 years and has championed Clayton-le-Moors Harriers juniors as the Junior Team Manager for much of this time.
Focusing on strength and conditioning work as well as leading the junior track sessions, she has supported the development of countless young athletes.
Marion remains integral to the club’s efforts to nurture our young runners, helping them to progress from their first steps to competitive racing on the road, at cross-country and on the fells.
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![Pendle Race (©)Will Herman]()
Kim Kennedy, Welfare Officer
Twenty years ago, Kim signed up for Race for Life. It was her second foray into the runner’s world, in which she has remained ever since. From half-marathons to the fells, and cross-country to some of the more challenging ultras, Kim has competed in every discipline.
In 2019 Kim won women’s race in the Pennine Barrier 100 (5th overall), before embarking on a love-hate relationship with the Pennine Way. A podium finish on the Winter Spine Sprint was hard won but seems unlikely to be the last chapter in that story.
Kim joined the committee in 2024, combining her professional expertise in safeguarding with her passion for running. When she is not at a race, Kim will often be found on the hill with her border collie. It remains to be confirmed who is taking who for a run.
Contact: welfare@claytonlemoors.org.uk
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![Female marathon runner in race bib and athletic gear training outside]()
Kirstie Millar, Media Officer
A relative newcomer to the sport, Kirstie started running simply to get fit, but found she enjoyed it more than solely as a means to an end. On the road, fell, and often somewhere in between, Kirstie just enjoys getting out and the sense of well-being, that running brings.
A health sector professional, Kirstie has worked in education and development roles for 20 years and particularly enjoys helping others to progress their careers and reach their potential. When she’s not working or running, Kirstie will most likely be found with her dogs.
Kirstie was appointed as media officer in 2026, holding the role jointly with Sarah Thomas.
Contact: media@claytonlemoors.org.uk
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![A woman running through a grassy, open landscape with a cloudy sky overhead, dressed in athletic gear and wearing a race bib.]()
Julia Rushton, Ladies Team Captain
Julia joined Clayton-le-Moors Harriers more than 12 years ago looking for new challenges. She remains a regular at club training sessions and races across the region.
Elected as the ladies’ team captain in 2025, Julia is passionate about making female participation in running as visible as possible to encourage people who might otherwise think it is not for them, to have a go.
Julia’s preferred running terrain is in the mud, wherever that happens to be. But she admits she is not averse to a road race, if there is a hill or two.
Julia is also the club kit manager.
Contact: kit@claytonlemoors.org.uk
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![A man running outdoors on a dirt trail through rolling green hills under a partly cloudy sky, wearing a race bib number 240.]()
Mark Nutter, Men's Team Captain
Mark’s first race was the 10m M65 Motorway fun run in 1983. It seems unlikely that it will ever be revived despite Mark’s fond memories. Dunlop Green Flash pumps were the race shoes of choice. Two years later Mark completed his first fell race and joined Clayton-le-Moors Harriers.
Since 1985 Mark has competed in more than 2,000 fell races, Mountain Marathons and Orienteering events and has been relied upon by more than one BG aspirant to point everyone in the right direction.
Mark was the club statistician for nine years and has organised weekly training sessions for more than 10 years. He is the organiser of the Pendle Race, Pendle Cloughs race plus the Summer Series. He remains the men’s captain and has organised teams for the UKA Hill and Fell relays for nearly a decade.
Rumour has it Mark took early retirement simply to fit it all in.
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![A person standing on a rocky trail in a forested area, with mountains, trees, and a cloudy sky in the background.]()
Helen Harrison, Treasurer
Helen started running in her 40s and discovered parkrun soon after, before joining Clayton-le-Moors Harriers.
As a member of the club, Helen has completed a variety of challenges she would not have thought possible previously, from marathons and ultra-distance events, to cross-country and fell races.
Helen has also completed more than 300 parkruns at more than 80 locations and has amassed 50 volunteer credits.
Running is now integral to Helen’s life, and she joined the committee in 2024, keen to help others who would follow in her footsteps.
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![A woman running on a trail with a group of people behind her during a race, in a rural outdoor setting.]()
Judith Carey, Committee Member
Judith started her running journey in 2014. Athletics was not something Judith had engaged with previously but at Burnley parkrun she decided that if others could do it, she could too.
Judith soon fell in with a Clayton-le-Moors Harriers training group and subsequently joined the club one year after completing her first parkrun.
Judith now participates in cross-country and some local races such as those within the Burnley Pendle Grand Prix series and enjoys social runs with friends.
Formerly the club secretary, a role which she held for six years, Judith remains an active committee member and will still be seen proving she can do it too, at Burnley parkrun.
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![A man wearing a yellow cap and a hiking backpack taking a selfie during a hike in a green, mountainous landscape with a lake and cloudy sky in the background.]()
Colin Woolford, Committee Member
Colin started running after many years as an active hill walker and joined Clayton-le-Moors Harriers in 2011 after moving to Lancashire from the south of England. He subsequently completed the Mountain Leader award and now works as a freelance outdoor activity instructor.
Although he no longer competes, Colin continues to run socially and he remains a familiar face at many of the club’s races, often seen holding a stopwatch at the finish or marshalling on the hill.
Colin is also the organiser of the Stan Bradshaw, and his support and experience have been welcomed by most if not all the club’s race organisers.
In 2026, Colin rejoined the committee for a second ‘tour’.
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Richard Stevenson, Senior Cross Country Secretary
Bio’ available soon.
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Sarah Thomas, Media Officer
Sarah joined the club after enrolling her children as junior members. She races regularly and enjoys all disciplines. Sarah has fond memories of her first outing with the Harriers, running on Pendle Hill with sub-optimal footwear - an error she has enthusiastically avoided repeating.
A regular volunteer at junior training sessions, Sarah's enthusiasm for celebrating club members' achievements is second only to her propensity to complain regularly on training runs despite enjoying every minute, retrospectively at least.
Sarah was appointed as media officer in 2026, holding the role jointly with Kirstie Millar.
Contact: media@claytonlemoors.org.uk
History
Founded in 1922 as Clayton Harriers, the club was initially a subsidiary branch of Bury AC. In 1930, 40 of the members met to decide that the future of their club lay in independence. The club continued under the name ‘Clayton Harriers’ until 1947 when the name Clayton-le-Moors Harriers was adopted.
In the early years members focused primarily on cross-country running, but many were already active on the local fells and further afield and were instrumental in the development of amateur fell running as we know it today.
Activities were limited during the Second World War, but the club was reformed in 1946 and was successful in many cross-country events in the years that followed.
By 1960, Clayton-le-Moors Harriers members had established four fell races. The club also played a significant role in the creation and support for other notable events and organisations including the Lake District Mountain Trial, the Bob Graham Round, the Three Peaks Association, the High Peak Marathon and the Joss Naylor Challenge which all benefited from the club’s participation and organisational input.
In April 1970, a meeting was held by Clayton-le-Moors Harriers after the Pendle Fell Race, at Whitehough Camp School – it led directly to the formation of the Fell Runners Association (FRA) as we know it today.
In the same decade, amid growing tensions concerning the restrictions surrounding female participation, Clayton-le-Moors Harriers helped to pave the way for women to compete in all fell races. In 1975, the Amateur Athletics Association (AAA) removed the distance limit that had been imposed upon female runners and in 1977, Clayton-le-Moors Harriers held the first official women’s race under AAA rules at Pendle Hill. In 1979, female runners were finally allowed to compete in the British Fell Running Championships.
The club’s activities were never limited to fell running, however. During the running boom of the 1980s and ‘90s, membership of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers peaked at more than 600, many of the club’s runners achieving recognition at county and national level in road and cross-country races, as well as on the fells. Today, the club remains active in all disciplines and has a thriving junior community.
Ron Hill circa 1970
Bill Smith (author of Studmarks on the Summits) circa 1980
Latest News
Roll of honour
Members of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers have competed at the highest level for many years and distinguished themselves as national and world champions as well as on the most challenging long-distance fell running rounds established. From those who have completed the Bob Graham Round and more recently Ramsay’s Round, to those who have represented their country on the road, fells and track, at cross-country, orienteering and laser run, the achievements of the club’s members are as wide ranging as they are inspiring.
The records provided here are updated regularly – if you have information about a new record or achievement that should be documented, please get in touch: secretary@claytonlemoors.org.uk
Download the Roll of Honour
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Bob Graham completed his inaugural round in June 1932. It would be 28 years before the feat was repeated. The first to do so was Alan Heaton, swiftly followed by Stan Bradshaw, both members of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers. To date, more than 90 members of the club have completed the round.
Fastest Clayton Rounds
Male – Steve Parr, 1981. 17 hours 58 minutes
Female – Anne Marie Grindley, 1978. 21 hours 5 minutes
For further information about the round, go to www.bobgrahamclub.org.uk
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In 2025, Jean Brown became the latest member of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers to attempt the classic sub-24hr Scottish hill running challenge. It is arguably the hardest of the ‘big three’ and was established by Charlie Ramsay in 1978. Jean completed her round successfully in 23hrs and 37mins, with a minimal support crew that included club member Alan Dorrington, and Nicky Spinks.
For more information about Ramsay’s Round, go to: https://www.ramsaysround.co.uk/
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No less than 27 runners have represented their country and Great Britain.
Of note, Maureen Laney represented England nine times in races across Europe. Mark Brown represented England four times as a paralympic athlete between 1994 and 2004 and Chris Holdsworth represented England and Great Britain on seven occasions. Following in his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps, in his early twenties, William Walker has already represented England twice in Northern Ireland and Italy.
A household name and long-standing member of the club, Ron Hill MBE, made his international debut at the 1962 European Championships in Belgrade. He went on to set four world records and in 1970, at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, he became the second man to break the 2:10 barrier for the marathon, winning gold in a European record of 2:09:28. He covered the final 10km in 29:24 (2:04 marathon pace).
Most famously perhaps, Ron Hill ran more than one mile every day for 52 years. A legendary figure in world athletics, he was also a grounded Lancashire man. Interviewed by Inside The Games in 2019, Ron Hill said: “I couldn’t train full-time, couldn’t train at altitude, couldn’t afford back-up support – I only ever had two massages in my life – and when I was injured, I just had to run through it. I never made any money at it, but you can’t take away the gold medals.”
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In 2026 Biruk Aduna Kebede won the under 20s men’s National Cross Country Championship.