Race date: 4 September 2025
Report by Martin Downham

As in previous years, the 2025 Silkstone Shuffle is a 3 race series. This was the third and final run of 2025 (and my second of the year). I missed Race 2 with illness and injury.

Silkstone is located between Barnsley and Penistone. It is close to Junction 37 on the M1 so if the traffic is light, journey times can be quite favourable. More scenic, cross country routes are also available (from Sheffield).

Vital race information:

Race organisers: Barnsley Harriers

Event description: A hilly off-road trail course of around 4.5miles.

Registration: Behind Dearnside Petrol Station at the Silkstone Sports Pavilion (Post Code S75 4LX).

The route can be seen at: – https://www.fetcheveryone.com/route-1731841.

The route includes an interesting mix of single track road, footpaths, farm tracks, woodland trails, meadows, ploughed fields and stiles.

For this edition it was clear but damp (it had been raining all day, so there were plenty of puddles). The the stones, stiles and timber bridge were all quite slippery.

Strava stats: Distance 7.45km. Elevation gain 149m

The start point is a 2 minute walk from the clubhouse through a wooded area to a single track country lane. Most of the event’s climbing is up this lane (which gradually turns into a very lumpy un-metalled farm track). After about 2km of steady climbing the route reaches its summit opening to some fantastic views of the surrounding countryside (including the Pennine foothills – and a pleasant sunset). The third km is on the footpath along Jockey Road, to another marshal point where the route turns a corner on to another uneven farm track. From here the running is “mostly” downhill, through some wooded areas and on to some narrow paths across meadows, arable fields and of course slippery stiles).

No cows were seen in the final field on this edition (where were they?). The finish line is back near the clubhouse and this requires a short sharp climb (up some fairly new steps) onto the playing field followed by a “swift sprint” around half the perimeter to the finish funnel.

This race offers a great opportunity to enjoy the varied countryside around Silkstone on a clearly marked course.

Thanks go to the organisers, Barnsley Harriers, who as always put on a well marshelled, welcoming event (with overall and category prizes).

77 runners took on the 3rd and final race in the series. The men’s race was won by Hugh Mackie of Hallamshire Harriers in 27:39. The women’s race was won by Elly Roberts (unattached) in 37:32.

Striders results: