Fortunately, after hospital checks the injured man was found to have no broken bones but is still nursing a severely sprained ankle.

For the rest of the 175 runners the eight mile point-to-point course, which started at Wycoller and finished on the doorstep of the Fleece Inn on Haworth Main Street, was a more enjoyable experience under glorious blue skies and sunshine.

After the previous day's heavy rain the ground was heavy going but winner Lee Athersmith of Bingley Harriers revelled in the conditions and had a clear margin of more than three minutes at the finish.

Paul Brannigan was first Todmorden runner to complete the course in 35th place, followed by Simon Galloway in 49th. Mel Blackhurst was first Todmorden lady with Kath Brierley not far behind her. Both took home prizes - Mel first lady V40 and Kath second LV45.

Todmorden results: 35 Paul Brannigan 66:11; 49 Simon Galloway 70:22; 69 Mel Blackhurst 73:37; 82 Kath Brierley 75:52; 97 John Medcalf 79:21; 101 Peter Marshall 79:56; 102 Kevin Coughlan 80:01; 119 Sue Roberts 83:45; 135 Graham Milnes 89:35; 136 Elise Milnes 89:49; 156 Derek Clutterbuck 101:51; 157 Myra Wells 101:59; 164 Rachel Ayre 117:11; 167 Rachel Allen 121:42; 168 Sarah Moss 121:45; 169 Jim Smith 125:32.

- Harriers recorded a number of excellent results at last week's Rab Mountain Marathon. The event, held over two days in the remote northern extremities of the Lake District, tested the competitors' ability both in mountain navigation and fell running.

- Calder Valley Fell Runners quartet Gary Oldfield, Linda Crabtree, Jackie Scarf and Mick Banks were among the 174 starters at the Bronte Way fell race, writes Dave Beston.
Veteran over-40 runner Oldfield finished third place in a time of 57.13, veteran over-45 pair Crabtree and Scarf finished 76th and 86th respectively in 74.59 and 76.37 and veteran over-55 Banks came home in 126th place in 85.43.
At the Autumn Leaves race from Diggle near Saddleworth, Calder's Steve Smithies managed sixth place in a time of 67.57 and Andy Fleet came in ninth in 69.37 .Other finishers were 22nd Chris Godridge in 75.11; 33rd Nick Murphy 79.38; 40th Karl Robertshaw 80.46; 60th Tony Steward 86.44.

- Calder Valley's Clare Kenny finished third in the national Vasque ultra-distance series of races.
The series consists of 12 trail/fell races at distances of over 26 miles, with runners having to complete four races of differing distance,including one of over 50 miles.
Clare's races were the 31 mile Wuthering Hike from Haworth, the 33 mile tour of the Isle of Man, the 37 mile Calderdale race from Sowerby Bridge and the Long Mynd hike in Shropshire.