Race Date: Tuesday 27th May 2025 

The 145th Hallam Chase saw 88 runners take on a damp course. 

The route is 3 and a quarter miles out and back from the Hallam Football and Cricket Ground, down into the Rivelin Valley and up the other side, with the turnaround at Christ Church, Stannington. The race uses a handicap system, with runners setting off according to an estimated finish time, slowest first. 

As we stood around waiting to get started the pre-race sandbagging began (mine!). To get to the race start you make your way from the CC clubhouse to the start on the other side of the pitch, whilst doing so eyeing up the competition and who has been placed in your similar handicap time group.  

Admittedly, although I honestly put in my best parkrun time to be given my handicap, I was placed well (27th) in the standings! But, in my defence I have also spent the last 30 weeks training, almost exclusively, on hills (for a little running challenge coming up on 13th June!). Ascents and descents is basically what this race is, virtually no flat at all, run down to Rivelin, run up to Stannington church, turn around and go back! So without really thinking about it I was in quite a good position to place well. 

The race starts with the handicap system setting you off in time gaps, the idea is that everyone finished at about the same time. 

There is very little time to take in the route and the surroundings as you are watching where your feet are going and it is fast (if you want it to be). Luckily we had done this route on a few occasions as part of the Tuesday head torch fell group.  

It is mostly grass going down to Rivelin, across the road and up on tarmac then stones up to the church. Run around the marshal and head back down. Along the whole section there are various stiles and a few gates, along with passing past people heading towards you and coming up from behind. With all these combinations, mixed in with lots of support on both sides of the valley, this makes a quick and exciting race. As well as this, because everyone is handicapped everyone really does finish within a few minutes of each other, this is unique as it means no matter where you finish everyone is supporting, clapping and cheering you in! A great experience. 

It turns out I was able to pass the 26 people in front of me and keep a good enough gap between myself and the closest person to me (started 20 seconds behind me in 29th) for me to finish first and therefore win the whole race. This was something I did not realise! I didn’t realise I came first and hadn’t really followed what that result actually meant so it wasn’t until Nick Burns came in, asked what position I came, and informed me that first meant first! 

Interestingly, the previously mentioned Nick Burns actually won 2 cups too! His superb position of 7th meant he won the VM55 category and the novice cup (first person to finish below the top 3 men and top 3 women and hasn’t done the Hallam Chase before). Well done Nick.  

As a side note I have included a very old photo. This is a photo from 1977, it is my dad with me (aged 1 and half) holding the Hallam Chase novice cup (the one Nick won) when he won it! My dad is part of my inspiration for my running he was a Dark Peak founder member (wrong club I know!) and a very experienced fell runner (Oldskool!). Unfortunately he is unable to enjoy running anymore as he has MND and is in a wheelchair, but enjoys hearing about all the races and adventures we do and was overjoyed with the result by me and Nick!  

Next year’s race is being organised by a new admin team and they reached out asking if they could use the photo of me and my dad in 1977 and use his running story (there’s lots more) promoting the 2026 race! As you can imagine dad felt like he had won the cup again when I told him. 

Steel City Striders featured in the prizes for the fourth year in a row, with Daniel Abbott winning the men’s race, Nick Burns winning first in VM55 category and the Novice Cup. 

Thirteen Striders were among 88 runners who lined up for the Hallam Chase Fell Race. Winner of the women’s race was Maddie Stuart of Peak Fell and Trail Crew in a time of 49:22 (Actual 31:12). Strider Daniel Abbott won the men’s race in a time of 47:34 (Actual 28:54). 

Striders Results: