Race date: Thursday 21st August 2025

Race report by Martin Downham

A RETURN TO THE HIGHAM HURTLE (for the final race of 2025) – With Overall Series Results 2025.

The Hurtle is described as a scenic 5 mile race, with a few hills.  My Strava showed: Distance 7.95km and elevation, 142m.

The event is organised by Barnsley Harriers (see: Barnsley Harriers ) and entry is £9 (£7 for UKA members). Registration is available on the night from 6.15pm. The race entry limit is 300.

The first 2.5km are almost totally downhill. The most significant climbing starts at about 4.5km.

The race is run a mix of trails (ranging from narrow rocky climbs to quiet country roads). The course was again very dry.  My road shoes were about 2 minutes quicker than race 2 (in trail shoes), although many other factors should probably be taken into consideration.

The Start and Finish are conveniently located just outside Higham Cricket Club, Pog Well Lane, Higham, Barnsley, S75 1PH. Plentiful parking is available on the adjoining field (about 100m down a narrow single track lane).

Individual races can be run, or the full 3 race series. Entries can be made in advance online. Handily (if needed) on the night sign-up is also available. Race numbers can be retained and re-used throughout the series.

Prizes (including the usual age categories) are awarded after each race (and for the race series – see below). The minimum age for entry is 16.

The Higham Hurtle is just one of a number of races organised by Barnsley Harriers, which are near Jnc, 37 on the M1 (to the west of Barnsley). On the night the weather was very pleasant (a bit autumnal but great for running). The trail sections were all dry (thanks to this endless dry weather).

This is a delightfully varied route. The downhill start is on a quiet country lane, (which passes under the M1 Motorway). This leads nicely on to a wide slightly downhill woodland path. The main uphill bits are all fairly close together from about the halfway point and may need to be walked. After the final climb, there is a long straight slightly downhill footpath, which is perfect for fine tuning running rhythm (while keeping an eye on the uneven surface). After a small hurdle at the bottom, the final “surprise” on the way back up, is the short, sharp muddy ramp (pictured) from the lane (just after we again pass under the M1). It may only be about 10m but the hill is steep and narrow (and very slippery when wet!). This emerges in to a corner of the playing field. The final “sprint”, is then a dash around the parked cars, over the grass to the finish funnel, (on the hillside) just below the club house (and cricket pitch).

On such a pleasant evening it was handy having the Cricket Club bar (with truly amazing views) on site. It’s a useful shelter and perfect for a swift post race drink (whilst waiting for the results).

Thanks as always go to Barnsley Harriers for organising this series (and many other local races) and to the friendly and supportive marshals at all key junctions. Hopefully we’ll all be back in 2026.

Congratulations go to Dawn Jackson for an impressive SERIES WIN: 1st VW60. I managed a SERIES 2nd in the VM60.

The August race was won by James Mumford of Penistone Footpath Runners & AC in 00:30:49. The first woman was Vicky Shaw of Barnsley AC in 00:35:11. There were three Striders present.