Key Points
- Birthday Anniversary Race: President Stuart Westhead of Horwich RMI Harriers raced in the legendary Fielden Cup on his 73rd birthday. His anniversary marked precisely 56 years since his debut race wearing the club colors.
- Closest Finish: Among the 22 total racers, the top 20 runners had a close finish of less than two minutes apart, due to the handicap system.
- Top Racers: Jason Middleton was the winner of the handicap race, completing it in 21 minutes 4 seconds, whereas Julian Goudge was the fastest racer without a handicap of 13 minutes 3 seconds.
- Fastest Woman: Katherine Newall placed second in the handicap race and won the championship of fastest woman runner with a finishing time of 17 minutes 40 seconds without any handicaps.
- Parkrun Results: Horwich Harriers did well in various Parkruns, with 10 racers taking part in Haigh Woodland Parkrun, nine in Peel, and an away win for Sam Fairhurst in Town Moor Parkrun, Newcastle.
Bolton (Bolton Today) September 4, 2026 – Horwich RMI Harriers club president Stuart Westhead made a dramatic return to the Fielden Cup, running the historic handicap race on his 73rd birthday—56 years after making his club debut in the very same event.
As reported by Steve Thomasson of The Bolton News, the Fielden Cup is the oldest competition associated with the Horwich RMI Harriers, predating the club itself by roughly 30 years. The 2.2-mile course challenges runners on a tough incline, taking them from the junction of Matchmoor and Georges Lane up to the Rivington dog kennels before descending back to the starting marker.
Due to the traditional staggered handicap format, runners set off at varying intervals. Out of the 22 total participants who completed the route, the handicapping system yielded an exceptionally close finish, with the middle 20 runners crossing the line separated by less than two minutes.
As stated by Steve Thomasson of The Bolton News, Jason Middleton captured victory in the overall handicap competition with an all-inclusive time of 21 minutes 4 seconds. Middleton finished 50 seconds clear of runner-up Katherine Newall, who narrowly edged out third-place finisher Paul Sykes by a margin of just two seconds. Westhead secured a commendable fifth-place finish, recording a handicap time of 22 minutes 5 seconds.
In the unadjusted performance metrics, Julian Goudge logged the overall fastest raw running time of the day, clocking in at 13 minutes 3 seconds. Meanwhile, Katherine Newall claimed the honors as the fastest female athlete on the course with a raw time of 17 minutes 40 seconds.
Beyond the local cup competition, Horwich Harriers athletes turned out in significant numbers across various regional Parkrun events, alongside notable performances further afield.
What Is the Significance of the Fielden Cup to Horwich RMI Harriers?
The Fielden Cup holds a unique position in local athletic history. Predating the official establishment of the Horwich RMI Harriers by approximately three decades, the 2.2-mile handicap race remains a central tradition for the organisation.
The course demands endurance and tactic, pushing competitors uphill along Georges Lane toward the Rivington dog kennels before making the return leg. The handicap structure levels the field, allowing veteran members like Stuart Westhead to compete directly on adjusted terms alongside younger club runners.
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How Did Horwich Harriers Perform Across Regional Parkruns?
In addition to the Fielden Cup, club members represented Horwich RMI Harriers across numerous Parkrun locations across the North West and beyond.
As reported by Steve Thomasson of The Bolton News, former press scribe Sam Fairhurst delivered the standout away performance, traveling to Newcastle to claim first place at the Town Moor Parkrun with a time of 17 minutes 9 seconds.
Other regional Parkrun results for the Harriers included:
- Clitheroe Castle: Andrew Crickmore completed the course in 24:50.
- Stretford: Richard Pollitt posted a time of 17:56.
- Sale Water Park: Rob Jackson crossed the line in 19:09.
- Warrington: Oliver Hughes narrowly missed the sub-25 threshold.
- Burnage: The Seddon family featured Robert Seddon finishing in 20:02 and Mark Seddon recording 26:01.
- Bolton: Returning after his Fielden Cup victory, Jason Middleton ran 25:36 alongside Janet Middleton (32:00), while Marcus Taylor placed fourth overall in 20:42.
- Worden: A quartet of Harriers saw Linda Webb and Michael Salmon finish together in 25:22, Mary White run 27:20, and Gordon Stone complete the course in 29:21.
Which Parkrun Locations Saw the Largest Harrier Turnouts?
The highest concentrations of Horwich Harriers runners were recorded at Peel Park and Haigh Woodland.
At the Peel Parkrun, nine club members competed. As noted by Steve Thomasson of The Bolton News, Harry Yates and Louis Yates led the Harriers contingency, finishing in 18:18 and 20:44, respectively. They were followed by Andrew Storey (27:25), Florence Taylor (27:46), Neil Wilkes (28:32), Abigail Taylor (29:07), Geoff Leech (29:40), Gail Maxfield (30:11), and Julie Williamson (30:20).
Haigh Woodland hosted the largest group of the day, drawing 10 Harriers. Julian Goudge led the pack home in 18:48, followed by Rhys Edwards (20:18), Richard O'Reilly (22:05), Chris Charnley (23:09), Leo Orrell (23:52), Paul Wilcockson (24:51), Mark Swindell (30:13), Michelle Mortimer (31:46), Karen Murray (34:22), and Gillian Smith (37:26).