STUART Hunn booked his place in the England team for the Black Forest International Youth Games after the trial at Rimington Pike Lancashire, (writes Roger Ingham).

The event is uphill only and as Hunn's strength is the descent, he had to brush up on his speed drills, especially as the first part of the race involves an almost flat half mile dash to a narrow stairway to the top, where passing places were rare and difficult. Hence the event took the air of an exhausting mad scramble, but Hunn was up to the challenge as he figured among a closely-locked top three .

After the runners emerged from the top of the stairway only a short flat sprint to the finishing line awaited and Alastair Brownlee and Hunn won the dash for the coveted England vest. Certainly a reconnaissance training visit to Rimington in advance of the event had proved to be an asset.

Fellow Skipton team mates Danny Walmsley, who finished seventh, and Matthew Hurst, who finished ninth despite another two years in hand at this age group, ran well.

Karen Chown (Skipton AC) was first woman home in the Wharfedale Off Road challenge, embracing the contours around Kettlewell, Littondale, Malham Tarn and Bordley Moor as part of the Wharfedale Rugby Club's Rugger Ramble.

She was accompanied for much of the way by Ann-Marie Bulcock, who eventually finished runner-up, three minutes behind Chown's time of three hours, 49 minutes and 16 seconds.

The following day Bulcock galloped home ahead of the masses in the five kilometre Race for Life at Broughton Hall.

Meanwhile the Kelbrook Fell Race formed the fourth of 10 events in the Pendle Grand Prix and Skipton's Richard Barrett moved into first position courtesy of his win.

Tomorrow up and coming local athletes are in action at York in the North Yorkshire Schools final, with places in the England final at stake.