The Rainow 5 is a small trail/fell race organised on 1st Wednesday evening in May by a club member (Rachael Lawrance) and supported by the club (volunteers etc). The race attracts 250-300 runners who tackle a hilly 5 mile route around Rainow and Kerridge Ridge. All proceeds from this race have been donated to local charities.
Rainow 5 – Route, Results, Reports and History Information
Event Dates:
Provisional Date for 2025 is Wednesday 7th May 2025
Pre-entry is encouraged (watch website) and spaces from wait list will be offered where possible; limited entry on the day (EOD) will be allowed. Runners have to be 16 years or older.
The race is licenced under FRA and run under FRA rules.
Expect 250-300 runners – and great post-race cakes and chat enjoyed (additional pub option too)
Low-key prizes for category winners (usually a bottle of a local beer) to maximise donations of profits to local organisations/charities such as projects on the village hall, local footpath restoration (KRIV), Cheshire Wildlife Trust – Kerridge Nature Reserve and Buxton Mountain Rescue.
Information about the original 1989 route – CLICK HERE
Rainow 5 general Images
Images from 2022
Rainow Fell Race History
The first Rainow 5 fell race was held on 6th July 1989, organised by Barbara and Raph Murray to raise funds for the Rainow Playgroup. The race was initially billed as the Rainow 4 Hill race, Hill being the naming convention for such races in Scotland and 4 being the estimated distance in miles.
The route in 1989 took the 84 runners along the bridle track towards Bollington to the gate at Oakenbank, onto the track that cuts through the grounds of Savio House, then down a footpath (now closed) to Ingersley Clough Mill and a tricky narrow section through the old factory, which is now closed off and derelict. Then out onto the road towards Ingersley Vale, up to White Nancy, along the top of the ridge and back along the side of Kerridge and returning through the grounds of Savio House.
The 1989 route was in fact more than 5 miles and was used for a couple of years, before the shorter route now used was introduced. The original route had the advantage of not queuing at stiles so early in the race, but the disadvantage of the narrow section in the factory grounds.
From 1992 the main race was held under FRA rules – possibly contributing to the increased entry in 1992, with 169 finishers. In 1992 the event also included a 2 mile fun run for novice runners – Barbara was running the Rainow School cross country club at this time and most of the entrants were school pupils.
The fun run continued each year until 1999 with around 20-30 participants. Proceeds from the event continued to be donated to the Playgroup during these years, in addition to the MAST scanner appeal in 1992 and to the Macclesfield Athletics Track Appeal from 1993-1999, with Rainow Guides raising funds by selling teas and cakes.
From 2000 until 2014 the race was organised by Colin Fray before being taken on by Rachael and Dave Lawrance. Numbers of participants continue to increase with a record 236 runners taking part in 2022 after a 2 year gap due to the Covid pandemic.
Since 2015 profits have been donated to Buxton Mountain Rescue, the Rainow Institute, Rainow pre-school, and other local charities such as KRIV and Cheshire Wildlife Trust (who now manage the recently established Kerridge Ridge Nature Reserve which the race route paths cross through). The cakes baked by the various Rainow organisations have always been a highlight of the event and the nearby Robin Hood provides a welcome retreat to catch up with friends old and new after the race.
Numbers of participants continue to increase, after 2 year gap due to COVID pandemic numbers of finishers swelled to 236 and with a record 285 runners taking part in 2023