Our Races

This race is included in the Pendle & Burnley Grand Prix, a series of fourteen races. The race starts and finishes on the Padiham Greenway which is accessed from behind Padiham Leisure Centre. The route is out and back on the Padiham Greenway and is free of traffic.

Held every March to commemorate the legendary fell runner, Stan Bradshaw, and devised to reduce erosion as the successor to the Half Tour of Pendle, the route climbs to the trig via Buttock Farm and then 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 Lower Ogden Reservoir before a fast finish back to Barley.

Starting from the picturesque village of Downham the route is flagged through the fields after which 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 interesting route choices. From the trig it’s downhill all the way – eyeballs out fast running – but don’t miss CP8, it’s a long way back up!

The classic short race on Pendle Hill. The original race in 1956 was a 6.5m course with 1250ft of climbing and started from the Bay Horse at Roughlee. The new course from Barley was introduced in 1974, with small changes made over the years on the lower fields to avoid livestock.

Commonly referred to simply as ‘The Tour’ and the last AL of the season, the race loosely follows a figure of 8 around Pendle Hill and includes a succession of fast descents and increasingly steep climbs, culminating in the Big End.

Organised by Keiran Carr for more than two decades, the race is now organised by Will Herman, associate member of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers. A new Tour of Pendle website was created for 2026 which includes entry details as well as previous years’ results and other important information for runners.

One of the races included in the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix series, ‍the first Great Hameldon Hill Race was held in 1979. The winner was Ricky Wilde of Manchester, in a time of 27 minutes 36 seconds. Ron Hill, who had just turned 40 was eighth, in a time of 28 minutes 39 seconds. The organisers, Mick and Sue Raine and Bob Mitchell, reported that as Ricky Wilde crossed the finishing line there was the loudest cheer heard on that field since Accrington Stanley played there.

Inaugurated by Clayton-le-Moors Harriers’ stalwart Geoff Newsham, the first race was in 1998 and attracted a field of 34, with the men’s race won by Garry Wilkinson in 31.55, and the ladies’ race won by Carol Greenwood in 37.11. The attendance has since grown to an average of 130.

A short race with a long history, the Pendleton Race begins with a flat-out charge up the village main street, before climbing over fields and very rough pasture to Apronful Hill. A steep drop and steeper climb takes the runners to Alan and Judith’s Cairn on Mearley Moor, from where there is an exhilarating descent to Ashendean Beck and a long run-in back across moor and field to the village. 

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. 

The Summer Series consists of five Tuesday evening races for members of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers and invited local clubs.