Lostock AC members ended 2024 with a bang by taking part in the Trails and Ales New Year’s Eve fell race.

This is a seven-mile trail race that covers a tough elevation gain. It starts at The Little Tea Room, with a piper playing the bagpipes. The first mile is a tough climb up Roynton Road, all the way along to the Lower House car park and then turns to follow St Georges Road up to the Pigeon Tower. Participants then had the gruelling climb up to the top of the Pike, where temperatures were extremely cold.

After running down the Pike, runners rejoined St Georges Lane and then headed up Two Lads. It was then a loop around the very murky Burnt Edge, towards Wilderswood before a downhill towards the finish line.

The first Lostocker to cross the line was David Wilkes in an impressive 1hr 6mins 54secs. He was followed by Andy Laycock, in 1:10:53, while the first Lostock female was Nikki Hamerton, who finished in an epic 1:13:53, winning her age category. She was followed by Brian Halton (1:15:39), Greg Kilshaw (1:20:29) and Tony Maxwell (1:21:37). Rachel Stevens and Sheila Garewal ran the race together, finishing in 1:44:17.

Mark Checkley travelled to Glossop to complete the Wormstones fell race - a challenging one covering five miles and an elevation gain of 1,200 feet. The race has a fast start along a downhill path, but runners are soon slowed by a long queue to a stile. Runners continue downhill through the woods before starting a momentous climb towards Mill Hill but turn before the summit, yo head to the top of Harry Hut. It was then the long road down back to the beginning.

Despite working a night shift prior this challenge, Checkley had a fantastic race and finished in 1:11:09.

New Year’s Day Parkrun results: Haigh Woodland - Andy Laycock 25:14, Greg Kilshaw 25:55, Brian Halton 25:56 (third in age category), Tony Maxwell 26:49 (second in age category), Janet Rhodes 28:26 (second in age category), Beverley Atherton- McKenna 30:12 (second in age category), Gareth Pratt 31:02, Ian Burns 31:09, Katie Edern 31:24, Sheila Garewal 31:46 (second in age category); Heaton Park - Rachel Hancock 29:42.

January 4 results: Haigh Woodland - Andy Laycock 24:08, Greg Kilshaw 24:44, Brian Halton 25:22, Tony Maxwell 26:12 (second in age category), Rachel Stevens 27.51 (first in age category), Matt Withers 29:33, Katie Edern 30:12 (second in age category), Ian Burns 30:15, Sheila Garewal 30:15 (first in age category), Karen Taylor 33:26; Heaton Park - Rachel Hancock 29:05.