Race date: 9 August 2025

Race distance: 20 miles

Race report by Mandy Taylor

CC is a fairly newish off road race, started approx 5yrs ago by First Light Adventures with only 30+ entrants. Steadily growing, this year 95 entrants turned up. It’s a 20-mile route that takes you over fields, gravel paths, rough tracks and through wooded areas results in a technical route of almost 3000ft of elevation.

It starts and finishes locally at Holmesfield (Dronfield Way/Striders relay) and heads down to Totley before heading uphill towards Unthank and Cordwell Valley. With lovely views you head towards Wigley and the first checkpoint/well-stocked aid station at 9miles. Onwards to undertake a circuit of Lineker Dams before hitting the second checkpoint at 14 miles. The undulating final few miles takes you through Barlow and Dronfield.

Three Striders turned out on a hot and humid day to complete the route.  All gluttons for punishment as all 3 had run it last year!

I had only entered this at the 11th hour after doing a recce the week before to ensure that the recent lack of distance training wouldn’t prevent me from meeting the 6hr cut off. (Not had a dnf before so relatively happy with the 5 hr and fairly confident I could take off a further 10/15mins)

We all set off and though it was hot, it was overcast at times and on some of the exposed hilly areas a nice breeze blew. I found this welcoming and at the 1st checkpoint I felt fine.
I fell in with a group that had come from Coventry for a further 5/6 miles and found the company helped the miles to disappear.

Not being able to continue at the pace, sadly I dropped behind. Had a short chat to a guy that come from ‘the Fens’ who was now struggling with the hills and declared he was definitely walking the last 3miles. I noted I was ahead of my target time and decided to give it a further last push.

So, so happy that I finished with a sub 4hr (less than 3mins slower than last year) Well pleased and rewarded myself with the coffee n cake that’s provided for all finishers.

And in true Strider strength style, I understand that Darren knocked 30mins off last years time and Karen knocked 40mins off!! Wow – well done

A new course record was set this year and as x2 females finished at the same time both awarded 1st place!

No clubs or age categories in results.

1st male: Sam Harrison, 2.47.34

1st females: Claire Morris and Claire Howard, 3.23.03

Striders results