Walker follows in his father's footsteps to win Three Peaks

The Three Peaks is a long, long race and proof of the importance of runners pacing themselves can be seen by studying the split times for runners at the five intermediate checkpoints.

The Sportident computer system not only provided all finishers with a print out of their check point times just seconds after they crossed the line but it also provided an immediate and complete results sheet showing this data for every runner in the race.

Jason Hemsley (Pudsey and Bramley) ran a brilliantly paced race to progress from fifth at the summit of Pen-y-Ghent and Ribblehead to finish second in 3.12.49 and well ahead of third placed Andrew Schofield (Borrowdale) in 3.16.55. Schofield was runner-up last year when the race was run in horrendous weather.

For 2003 the weather was considerably kinder with early rain eventually being followed by a little sunshine in the mid-afternoon.

First lady was 54th placed Beverley Whitfield (Clayton-le-Moors) in 3.56.04. She is the daughter of a fell runner, is married to a fell runner and at 23 years was the youngest competitor in the race.

At the other extreme Derek Clutterbuck (Rochdale Harriers) finished next to last in 5.20.22 but he is 72 years old!

The male team prize was won by Clayton-le-Moors but Ilkley Harriers won the ladies' team prize; a just reward for a club that goes from strength to strength.

As he promised Skyrac's Derek Emsley started the race but the effect of his cancer treatment meant he was timed out at Ribblehead leaving only Graham Grinstead to represent the club finishing 156th in 4.45.57.

In 2002 Paul Briscoe (Pudsey and Bramley) finished seventh with a broken arm and even though he kept his limbs intact this year he again finished seventh although around seven minutes quicker in 3.26.14.

Local club finishers included for Ilkley Harriers: 19, Nick Pearce 3.38.53; 37, Geoff Howard 3.48.39; 52, Mike Baldwin 3.56.04; 62, Helen Sedgwick 4.03.16; 73, Mark Iley 4.09.15; 86, Sally Malir 4.16.44; 94, Ashley Hardwell 4.19.24; 108, Mike Rhodes 4.23.25; 115, Ian Johnson 4.26.00; 131, Neil Chapman 4.34.08; 139, Anna Liuba 4.38.48; 153, Rachael Gooch 4.44.59; 154, Paul Brennan 4.45.32; 164, E Welsh 4.49.26 and 168, Bob Wightman 4.53.46.

For Otley AC: 69, Ray Hawksby 4.07.25; for Airienteers: 72, Steve Watkins 4.08.33; for Wharfedale Harriers: 57, John Wootton 3.58.58; for Fellandale: 135, A Wilson 4.35.04 and 192,Gary Burns 5.08.14.

The total of 205 finishing the race was the lowest for around 30 years although the race still attracts the biggest field of any super long fell race and the organisation behind the Three Peaks Race, as befits one of the

most prestigious races in the calendar, remains superb.

The organising committee will shortly be planning for the 50th Anniversary race in 2004 when it is hoped that the event will be granted English and British Championship status and could expect an entry up to the limit of 600 entries.

Ilkley Harriers

There was a huge turnout of 54 Ilkley Harriers at the first race of the Harrogate and District Summer Road Race League, at Harlow Carr last Tuesday evening.

The race was over a hilly 5.4 mile road circuit. After the race, Ilkley are leading the Lady and Lady Vets team competitions, and the main team competition, they are second in the Vets team competition, and second in the Elite team competition.

The next race in the series will be staged by Ilkley, so they are looking to an even better result on home turf.

The same night, Chris Porritt set a new Lady Vet 60 record of 30:39 in the fourth Bunny Run, a popular three mile fell race at Harden Moor.

Chris beat her Bunny Run time from the previous week by over a minute - despite having done the Anniversary Waltz in the interim.

Ilkley Harriers is a friendly club, training every Tuesday at 7pm from Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club. You can find more information on www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk

AireCentre Pacers

The early spring has seen the holding of the woodland series of races, which appealed to a number of dedicated Pacers. Grabbing the limelight has been Yvonne Hampshaw, who has emerged strongly from winter training to claim the leading place in the women's over 45 category.

This was built on a time of 1 hour 55 for the Baildon Boundary Way, 61 minutes for the Meanwood Trail, and a magnificent 50 minutes and 25 seconds for the Guiseley Gallop.

Diane Craven also competed in all three races, though her efforts in the Meanwood Valley were hampered by severe dehydration. However, the extremely dry and hot weather has led to fast running conditions. Most Guiseley Gallop times were fast, with Diane's 48 minutes and 41 seconds being no exception.

The Baildon Boundary Way also encouraged Russell Oliver to turn out, together with Wendy Astles.

The best performance in the Meanwood Valley came from Arthur Edwards, in 92nd place. Richard Archer produced a sprightly performance to finish in 57 minutes, outrunning the much younger Matt Tupling. Chris Hill, was just pipped at the post by Diane Craven with Mark Selby some four minutes further behind.

The Guiseley Gallop always produces a bumper turn out. Several personal bests were recorded, amongst the dustbowl of Esholt Woods. Arthur Edwards recorded 45 minutes, Angela Crawford 51 minutes and, on his Pacers debut, John Tate 56 minutes.

Back on the road the Wakefield 10K attracted an international field, from Kenya and Guiseley. Arthur Edwards did not make the national press but his 41 minutes was best for this season and quite a few others too. Angela Crawford produced a lifetime best of 45 minutes. Inbetween were Mike Hildyard and Chris Hill, who clearly had other races in mind.

They did however contribute to the men's team finishing 42nd out of 69 teams - lofty heights for Pacers. Tina Dickinson also managed a spirited 52 minutes.

Far away from the spotlight perhaps one of the best performances recently has come from Richard Archer. Having expected that he was going walking in the Dales to celebrate his 60th birthday, he was somewhat surprised to find himself at the start of the Prague Half Marathon.

Despite his lack of preparation, he still produced an excellent one hour and 36 minutes. However, unlike many Pacers, he will not be unveiling this form in the glare of the Leeds Half Marathon later in May.

Staniland strikes gold

Horsforth athlete Andrew Staniland, the 2003 AAA's under-17 men's indoor pentathlon champion, got in some valuable throws competition at the Rotherham Harriers Open Meeting.

In preparation for forthcoming outdoor octathlons and decathlons, the Leeds City athlete produced three excellent multi-events' throwing performances to win three gold medals.

His day got off to a fine start with victory in the U-17 men's javelin (700g) with a throw of 48.96m. This was closely followed by another first place in the U-17 men's shot (5kg) with a putt of 12.73m. The last field event of the afternoon saw Andrew produce another impressive performance with a throw of 41.10m to take the U-17 men's discus (1.5kg).

Younger sister, Bethany Staniland, the current North of England U-17 women's indoor pentathlon champion, matched her older brother, for despite being a first year in the U-17 women's age group, she also won three gold throwing medals. A pleasing personal best performance of 31.69m was achieved in winning the discus (1kg). Meanwhile, 29.66m gave the 14 year-old Horsforth athlete victory in the javelin (600g), and first place in the shot (4kg) was gained with a putt of 9.69m. As a multi-eventer she was also victorious in the under-17 women's 300m hurdles in the personal best time of 49.3s.

The following day there were three medal winning performances from Rawdon's Amy Howard at Trafford AC's Open Meeting in Manchester.

Here the 16 year-old Skyrac athlete won the U-17 women's shot (4kg) also with a putt of 9.69m and then produced a fine 33.81m for victory in the event in which she represented the England Schools' team last summer, the U-17 women's discus (1kg). Her day was rounded off well with a personal best of 13.0s for third place in the 80m hurdles.

Jarrow's Monkton Stadium was the scene of another local athletics triumph as Menston's Fraser Davies (Leeds City AC) won both the U-17 men's shot (5kg) with 10.26m and the U-17 men's long jump with a personal best of 5.98m. He was also sixth in the 100m in another personal best performance of 11.8s.