Race date: Sunday 2^nd November 2025

Race report by Russell Stevenson 

I felt rough. However, it was altogether necessary to take part in this year’s Canal Race hosted by the lovely folks of Kimberworth Striders to be in the reckoning for a Striders Trial Championships age category prize. An annual social event I attend on the first Saturday in November involves alcohol, for most of the day, this years Canal Race being the following morning 10.30am sharp, oooff.

Up early, plenty of fluids and some electrolytes to kick start the system, idea being a steady make my way into central Sheffield and take the train to Meadowhall and warm up down the canal to the start line at Blackburn Meadows Nature Reserve. It was a beautiful sunny morning, so this helped. Police Officers on the platform of a Sunday morning at Sheffield Station with semi-automatic rifles provided a sobering moment and reminder of the previous day’s unfortunate events on the rail network.

As the start time ticked down, there was a good gathering from Steel City as we snapped the pre match photo and lined up for the pre-race talk, 3 2 1 go !

A congested start, the Canal Race takes in an initial lap of the Blackburn Meadows Nature Reserve and then a sprint up the canal path to the “Halfpenny Bridge” and a turnaround and back again. I’d made a decent start as I counted just over 60 seconds difference between myself and the lead pack at the halfway point. I like an “out and back” race where runners pass each other after a turnaround point, it’s a good opportunity to offer encouragement and support as runners pass by in opposite directions. Another lap of the Nature Reserve, transitioning from concrete to soft ground was a test on the jelly legs toward the end of this 5 and a bit mile / 8km race of which the majority was flat with just one slight muddy slope within the Nature Reserve laps.

Considering we were in a former industrial heartland, the event is within a beautiful spot amongst the Nature Reserve and along the canal itself with the adjoining 5 Weirs Walk all tucked in between the Sheffield to Rotherham corridor.

Some commendable performances from Strider’s ladies amongst the results.

There’s now just the Ambles Revenge (entries filling up very quick) between Christmas and New Year (oooff!) to bring the 2025 Trial Championships to a conclusion.

Another very enjoyable event hosted by Kimberworth Striders with their famous post-race buffets, one to consider again in future.

The race was won by Dan Hayward of Kingstone Runners Barnsley in 30:41 and the first woman was Natalie Neville of Killamarsh Kestrels Running Club in 35:34.

There was a good showing from the Striders with 20 participants including Kathryn Liddiard who took 3rd woman overall and Hannah Holliday who came first in the FV35 class.