Brutal but beautiful. Gruesome climbs met with glorious views. Breathtaking – in every sense of the word. The organisers of the Buxworth 5 promised a spectacular race, and they certainly delivered.
On a glorious spring evening, fifteen Macclesfield Harriers made the journey to Buxworth to take on this challenging course. As we gathered our numbers in the Paper Mill Inn, the air buzzed with anticipation and excitement – in contrast to the bemusement of the pub regulars, who must have wondered why their quiet local had been overrun by runners in singlets and short shorts, eagerly preparing to race uphill.
The race began with a short, sharp climb past the pub – harbinger for what was to come. This was swiftly followed by a much longer ascent of nearly a mile. After a brief lull in the gradient, the climbing resumed, this time even longer, as we made our way up to the summit of Eccles Pike. It was a tough slog, but the effort was rewarded: the setting sun bathed the landscape in a warm red glow, revealing stunning views of the Combs Reservoir, the Peak District, and even the distant outline of Manchester. At the top, club member Steve Lomas was a welcome sight, cheering us on just beyond the race photographer. His encouragement gave many of us the final push we needed.
From the summit, the route finally offered some relief in the form of a long downhill stretch – but the respite didn’t last. A short, punishing climb forced most runners around me to walk. Fortunately, all the early climbing meant we were soon rewarded with a sustained descent of around a mile and a half. For those who had paced it well, this was a chance to open up and gain ground.
As we neared the final mile, the course flattened out at Bugsworth Basin. With the hard climbing behind us, it was now just a matter of holding pace to the finish. However, there was a sting in the tail to come in the final three hundred metres: the same short climb that opened the race also marked its end, and the finish line waited at the top. For some, it was a chance to surge past competitors; for others – myself included – it proved one hill too far, as Duncan James surged past me just before the finish line.
Post-race, the pub across the road did a roaring trade, serving well-earned pints to weary but elated runners. The atmosphere was one of celebration after a tough but memorable race.
Billy Hicks stormed to victory in a superb time of 31:08, with Rob Whitby not far behind in third place, clocking 32:08. In the women’s race, Emma Johnson narrowly missed the podium, finishing as 4th lady in 36:20 – though she did secure 2nd place in the FU20 category. Elaine Pettie also shone, finishing as 1st FV50.
Congratulations to all who took part and represented the club with strong performances. Full results are available here.
| Name | Chip Time |
| Billy Hicks | 31:08 |
| Rob Whitby | 32:08 |
| Emma Johnson | 36:20 |
| Jonathan Davey | 37:45 |
| Robert Maxwell | 39:42 |
| Paul Atkin | 39:53 |
| Tom Shirley | 41:10 |
| Ray O’Keefe | 41:20 |
| Duncan James | 43:59 |
| Owain Morris | 44:02 |
| Caroline Gisby | 44:42 |
| Colin Hill | 45:52 |
| Elaine Pettie | 47:15 |
| Dave Larkin | 50:29 |
| Joanne Booth | 52:51 |
The standings for the 2025 Road Running Championship will be updated after every race and can be accessed at the link below. There’s a real battle for top spot in the men’s standings while Elaine Pettie and Caroline Gisby have rocketed up the leaderboard into the top 10 of the ladies’ standings following their performances at Buxworth. The extra points available in the upcoming Cheshire Grand Prix races mean positions could change very quickly!
Marathon results also count for points in this year’s Road Running Club Championships, so please submit your results to the Road Running Manager, Owain Morris, if you would like your score to be added. Thank you to the four people who have submitted their results so far!
2025 Road Running Championship Standings
Cheshire Road Grand Prix standings
The 2025 fixture list is available here. Our next three races are:
- Christleton 5k, May 16th (Cheshire GP)
- Buxton Half Marathon, May 25th
- Dunham Massey 5k, June 5th (Cheshire GP)
We look forward to racing with you soon!