On Saturday 11th September, three Spen athletes went over to Horwich to do the Ron Hill Memorial Rivington Pike Fell Race. A category B-short fell race of just over 5.2km and 800ft of ascent, this iconic race has been going since 1882, with Horwich RMI Harries organising it since the 1940s. In all that time 2020 was the second time the annual race was not held, the other being the foot and mouth pandemic.

The race sets off on the road with a fast start before a lung-busting climbing up to Rivington Pike and then tackling the sharp downhill descent to the finish. First Spen athlete home was Henry Carter who finished in 22nd place out of a field of over 200, quickly followed by Oliver Carter making a welcome return to fell racing, then Michael Dransfield in 166th position.