The event is organised by Barnsley Harriers (the BaHas see: Barnsley Harriers )

Registration is from 5:45pm. The race is run under UKA Rules for Competition (EA Permit 2024-47888).
The race entry limit is 300.

Course description:  A scenic 5 mile race, with a few hills.  My Strava showed: Distance 7.95km and elevation, 147m.
The first 2.5km are mostly downhill (very nice too) with most of the climbing starting at about 4.5km (not so nice).

The race is mainly on trails and starts & finishes just outside the Higham Cricket Club, Pog Well Lane, Higham, Barnsley, S75 1PH

You can enter individual races, or the series. For members of UK Athletics, the entry price is reduced. Entries can be made in advance. On the night sign-up was also available. Prizes (including the usual age categories) are awarded after the race (and for the race series).

The minimum age for entry is 16.

Local point of interest/history: Most of the cottages in Higham were built for mine workers who worked in the local (long gone) collieries.

On the day.

The Higham Hurtle is just one of a number of Barnsley Harriers races which are located near M1, Jnc, 37 (west of Barnsley). I was last here on a very sunny trail championship run back in 2023. On the night and surprisingly for early September, the weather was cold, windy, dark and damp (after an unpleasant rainy day).

This is a delightful route offering a wide variety of terrains, including; farm tracks, footpaths, pavements, slippery stones and a lot to appreciate on the way round. The start is downhill, under the M1 Motorway on to a now muddy woodland path. The uphill bits are all fairly close together from about the halfway point and may need to be walked. There is a gloriously long straight path down from the final climb, where you can see the runners you almost catch going uphill gain a significant advantage on the way down (and then win the age category prize! – I’ll get over it.).  The “surprise” on the way back, is the short, sharp ramp from the lane (as we’re heading up hill and passing back under the M1). It may only be about 10m but the hill is steep, overgrown and narrow. This then emerges in to a corner of the playing field, with an over the grass dash to the finish line, just below the club house.

On such a fresh evening it was handy having the Cricket Club bar (with amazing views) nearby. It was warm and well out of the chilling breeze. A useful shelter and perfect for a swift celebratory post race drink (whilst waiting for the results).

Congratulations go to Jo Gleig for scooping a first in age category prize (pictured). A great performance.

Thanks as always go to Barnsley Harriers for organising this series (and many other local races) and to the friendly and supportive marshals at most key junctions en route.

This is one of the nicest trail routes around, so if you haven’t ran here before, look out for the 2025 dates – tbc.

First man George Parr (Penistone Footpath Runners & AC) in 30:02.
First lady Sarah Godbehere (Denby Dale Athletics Club) in 43:54.