Race date: Thursday, 26 December 2019; race distance: 7.8km

Two Turtle Doves is organised by Totley AC, and starts at the Cricket Inn. According to the course description, ” it starts with the customary lap of the cricket pitch, out onto the tarmac for a quick kilometre to the end of Strawberry Lee Lane. On entering Blacka Moor woods the wide track soon steepens for the first punchy climb. Thankfully it’s shortlived and a steep descent down to the stepping stones follows. Do you wade through or skip over, you might not have a choice if it’s been wet! The long climb of the Devil’s Elbow comes next, it’s never too steep but shouldn’t be under estimated, the ground is uneven the tree roots will do their best halt your progress. The path eases as you reach the top car park of Blacka Moor. A sharp left down the uneven bridleway leads you into the grazed sheep fields, a very quick downhill drops you at the bottom of the last climb. It’s a lot shorter than Devil’s but if the wind it blowing it can be just as head. Over the stone style and on to the home straight, all that’s left is the steep descent and tricky styles of the Horses’ Field. Just to finish you off the steep tarmac of Moss Lane will sap your quads before the last ditch sprint around the cricket pitch.”

136 runners finished, led by Andrew Heyes of Dark Peak Fell Runners, in 31:09.1. First woman was Emma Gould, of Mercia fell runners. She was 12th overall, in 37:24.4. Plenty of Striders turned out, among whom Andy Buck and Jennie Stevens finished second in their categories, and Louis Wood finished a sterling 15th.

Striders results: