The running boom in Greater Manchester is getting bigger every year but for lots of locals, it’s been a regular pastime for much longer and some events like this women’s trail race in Salford have been going for more than thirty years.
Jogging and road racing are one thing but trail running is a discipline all of its own and with such wonderful landscapes to traverse all over the North West let alone just the 10 boroughs, thousands get stuck into it every year.
With that in mind, 2025 marks the 33rd edition of the annual Ladies Trail Race hosted by Swinton Running Club, which sees hordes of female runners turn up to take part and, most importantly, have fun every single year.
Taking place this spring, the latest event makes use of Salford’s largest conservation area and is expecting yet another solid turnout.
Aiming to provide a welcoming space for all women, regardless of background or experience, the Ladies Trail Race gives Mancs a chance to run through some of the most stunning parts of Salford.
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The race is a single-lap course spanning five miles that passes the lake at Old Warke Dam and includes sections of Greater Manchester’s famous Bridgewater Canal as well as the beauty of Worsley Woods.
Alternating between trails, woodland terrain and sections of tarmac path, the ease of traversal does fluctuate but is still considered a very accessible level of difficulty, meaning no one should be put off.
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Having run through this particular area of Salford ourselves separate from the event itself, we can confirm it’s a wonderful route and a brilliant way to immerse yourself in nearby nature too.
Better yet, it’s a fantastic female-focused event in a space that can often feel intimidating for some.
As Swinton Runners put it, “It’s no secret that women are underrepresented in races and we want to bring women together to push their boundaries and gain a sense of achievement.”
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Credit: SRC
For context, when running-based campaign group SheRaces took a poll of 400 female runners to see if they’d be interested in a women-only race, the response was conclusive: 87% said they would – sadly the figures in
Speaking to The Manc, one of the event’s founding members, Margaret McClelland, told us: “I was there back in 1991 when we started the run.
“It was the brainchild of one of our members, Marie Henderson who found when she joined that the club, which even at the time had a high percentage of women runners compared to most clubs, that she enjoyed the camaraderie, the joy of running together with a supportive ‘family’.
“The club had hosted the ‘Women’s Own 10km’ run for a number of years […] Marie thought that we should get our own race back up again and whilst the men were very much involved it was a race for women, organised by women.
“The aim was to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for women to run, whatever their ability or goals. The first, last and everyone in between is as important as each other and for them to keep going, showing what running can do in terms of feel good, with the bonus of it not costing very much to do.”
It’s events like this and the strong base of female runners here in Greater Manchester that have helped pave the way for contemporaries like the upcoming Women’s Run Series by RunThrough to come to Heaton Park.
You can watch the 25th-anniversary video made for the City of Salford Women’s Run down below, and if you’re interested in taking part in the 2025 Ladies Trail Race, it takes place on Sunday, 4 May with a bright and early 9am start time.
Stockport County CEO to step down at the end of the season
Danny Jones
Stockport County Football Club’s chief executive officer, Simon Wilson, has revealed that he will be leaving his post as CEO and the club at the end of the season.
Having joined the organisation around the time of the first Covid-19 lockdown, Simon Wilson has already spent more than half a decade as part of the Greater Manchester team.
Now, though, having just surpassed his sixth year with Stockport, the County CEO has announced he will step down from his role and depart at the conclusion of the 2025/26 campaign.
Confirming the decision online and across multiple social media posts, he has just a few weeks left before bidding farewell to the Hatters.
Sharing a lengthy statement to the supporters, Wilson wrote: “When I joined, we set out on a clear long-term plan, and I’m proud that we’ve delivered on what we said we would and put the club in a strong position.
“This has been the best thing I’ve ever done in my career. The last 18 months, stepping into both CEO and Director of Football roles, have been particularly intense but hugely rewarding as I’ve seen the club mature further and sit on the cusp of the Championship.
“We always said we’d take stock around this point, and I feel now is the right moment for me to step back and allow the club to move into its next phase.” As mentioned, before being appointed as CEO, Wilson previously served as County‘s Sporting Director and was Director of Football at Sunderland prior to that.
He goes on to say: “The most important thing is that the club is now in a position of real strength. The structures are in place, there’s a clear way of working, and there are talented people throughout the organisation who will drive things forward.
“This isn’t the end of my connection—I’ll continue to support Mark through Stott Capital’s sports investments and by working with some of the emerging leaders within the group.
“There are so many people to thank for their support over my journey here at County. It’s been a truly special ride. To all the players, staff and supporters – from me and my family – thank you for the last six years; you have been a huge part of our lives, and we will never forget how you have made us feel”
It’s fair to say that during Wilson’s tenure, he and the wider board of executives have helped draw more eyes to the aspiring League One side and promotion hopefuls – even the best of the best.
Being one of the main figures responsible for having appointed a fan favourite club face and increasingly successful manager, Dave Challinor, as long-term head coach, it’s fair to say he’ll leave a legacy.
The club’s owner, Mark Stott, added: “It’s on record that I would not have bought the club if I hadn’t met Simon, and it’s clear how much progress has been made over the past six years. When we wrote the plan, we said we would see where we are after the sixth season.
“We both feel the major work has been done in setting the club up, and the next decade will be about capitalising on that. Simon felt that it might be the right time to step back from his day-to-day role to allow others to step up, and while I did ask him to consider staying, I’m happy with where we have got to.
“He’s played a huge role in getting the club to where it is today, and I’m pleased he will continue to support me through Stott Capital and by mentoring key people within my investments.”
As for who will take his place ahead of next term, the club are yet to make any decisions (at least not publicly) but has assured that they will update fans accordingly.
Kobbie Mainoo signs new contract with Manchester United
Danny Jones
Manchester United supporters can breathe a sigh of relief and start the end-of-season celebrations early, as Kobbie Mainoo has signed a new deal with the club, extending his contract until 2031.
A big win for the Red Devils and their fans.
In fact, many will argue it’s great news for England too, as the promising young Man United midfielder’s place in the national team also looked to be in jeopardy earlier this season.
Having gone from struggling for game time to now having started all but one of the current interim manager, Michael Carrick’s, Premier League games, it’s been quite the turnaround for the newly re-committed first-team star.
After transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano broke the news early on Tuesday, 28 April, Man United has now officially announced Kobbie Mainoo‘s eagerly anticipated contract extension.
Mainoo’s existing terms would have seen his deal run out next summer before the start of the 2027/28 season, but now, a fresh five-year deal could see him stay at Old Trafford until at least the start of the next decade.
Having recently turned 21 and having enjoyed a real revival under Carrick, it’s less of a comeback for Kobbie or even a return to form – he simply needed way more minutes.
The Stockport-born United and Three Lions prospect was said to be on the verge of leaving the club under previous boss Ruben Amorim’s tenure – and not necessarily just on loan, either.
Romano stated that Napoli were one of many suitors who looked odds-on to sign Mainoo on at least a temporary deal this past winter.
Several clubs around Europe were heavily interested in signing Carrington youth academy graduate when it looked as though INEOS were determined to back Amorim, meaning the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ would have missed out on that mazy run against Brentford, and who knows what else in the future…
Most Reds would surely have been left hugely disappointed were this to have happened, especially given how long the Portuguese head coach ended up staying at the club.
However close they got heading into the January transfer window, the prior head coach’s departure meant that Mainoo was given another chance at a dream career for his boyhood club, and he has been very impressive ever since he started getting first-team football again.
It also goes without saying that regular playing time is great news for Thomas Tuchel’s side ahead of the 2026 World Cup, as the youngster has looked more than capable of playing in major finals, including the most recent Euros, where he helped give England the lift in midfield that was needed that tournament.
Speaking in an official club statement, Kobbie said: “Manchester United has always been my home; this special club means everything to my family. I have grown up seeing the impact that our club has on our city, and I relish the responsibility that comes with wearing this shirt.
“From The Cliff, to Littleton Road, to Carrington and ultimately Old Trafford, the journey so far has been incredible. I have the privilege of living my dream every single day, with the same relentless desire to succeed here as when I joined my first training session at the age of six.”
“We can all feel the momentum building inside the club. I am determined to step up and play my role in helping Manchester United to regularly fight for major trophies in the years ahead.” Happy, United fans?
Danny Jones -
12th March 2025 
