ALREADY buoyed by the selection of Stuart Hunn for England's team to contest the World Mountain Running Championships in Alaska, Skipton Athletics Club now have added interest in fell racing's most prestigious event, (writes Roger Ingham).

Reason for the extra excitement was a surprise and welcome application for membership from Anne Buckley, who recently claimed a place on the Alaska trip in the England Senior Women's team.

A language teacher, Buckley, an international on road, fell and cross-country, has recently moved into Skipton to live.

In the short term at least, Buckley, whose latest conquest was last Saturday's fell race at Gargrave Show, in which she stamped her pedigree by finishing 13th overall, will only be joining Skipton as a 'second-claim' member in the light of her continuing allegiance to Salford Harriers. However, the association will still enable her to swap the red of Salford for the yellow of Skipton at events like the West Yorkshire Cross-Country League, which has long been the back-bone of the cross-country scene for clubs situated across much of the county and beyond.

Buckley's application for Skipton membership complements the worthy impression which the local club's athletes and teams have created at county, national and international events over the past decade, notably in fell racing and cross-country.