To the delight of all last Sunday Dave and Eileen Woodhead, the organisers of John's Run, were able to announce a contribution of over £2,500 to the John Taylor Foundation for Young Athletes.

A field of 335 had set off from Penistone Hill, Haworth, behind a group of John's friends in a rolling start down to a roadside Scottish piper after which the race began in earnest.

However, after the surprising start the winner was as expected and Ian Holmes (Bingley) in 39.42 was comfortably ahead of Tim Werrett (Mercia) in 40.00.

More surprises then followed at the prizegiving where prize winners selected a cabbage, from a choice of different varieties, to which was pinned a ticket for a rather less healthy drink or foodstuff just to make the day more memorable.

First lady and 74th overall was Pauline Munro (Bingley) in 49.27.

Skyrac used the race as its inaugural event in the 2003 Fell Championship. The good turnout included 98th Bob Pritchard (51.48), 99th Derek Emsley (51.52), 123rd Martin Farrar (53.51), 180th Graham Breeze (57.36), 194th Steve Batley (58.37), 195th Peter Rawnsley (58.39), 224th Max Wood (61.20), 226th Malcolm Coles (61.26), 238th Dave Hill (63.04), 276th Neil Clayton (69.43) and 305th Roger Dawson (73.23).

John's Run was not the only fell race last Sunday and Duncan Asquith and Andy Brear continued their excursions to the Cleveland Winter series for the six miles Castleton Beacon race.

Winner was Carl Stead (Northumberland FR) in 57.21 with Duncan 14th in 64.20 and Andy 17th in 67.23 in a field of 70 runners.

Skyrac welcomes new members. Contact us on www.skyrac.org.uk or 0113 229 0924

Ilkley Harriers

Sunday was a very special day for many fell runners, a day to remember John Taylor and to raise money for the Foundation that was set up in his memory (see www.johntaylorfoundation.org.uk).

Dave and Eileen Woodhead laid on their usual magic at John's Run, a race over Bronte-land with a rolling start where the field was led out by John's close friends, followed by a memorable prize-giving (all prizewinners got a cabbage, amongst other things).

Enjoying all this were Ilkley Harriers - 47, Graham Pearce 47:03; 89, Mike Baldwin 50:28; 151, Ian Johnson 55:15; 165, Alison Crane 56:06 (12th lady); 171, Alison Weston 56:59; 181, Ashley Hardwell 57:39; 184, Morgan Williams 57:44; 187, Paul Brennan 58:15; 193, Joyce Marshall 58:35; 227, Rachael Gooch 61:33; 235, Anna Liuba 62:21; 318, Shirley Wood 78:08; 319, Clare Macina 78:09.

In the junior races, Sam Wood won the U-8 race in 2:47; and Lily Kitchen was 5th, and second girl, in 3:48. In the one mile race, Ruth Kitchen was 21st overall and 7th girl U-12 in 8:54; Joshua Crane was 27th overall and 5th U-10 in 10:28 (running most of the race in one shoe!);

Bradley Chapman was 28th overall in 10:30; Simon Chapman was 31st in 10:48; and Emily Wood was 34th overall in 11:08.

In the two mile race for U-14s, Eleanor Kitchen (running for Bingley) was part of a group that ran off-course, she completed in 15:52

Meanwhile, it was the penultimate event in the hotly contested Sport Direct Cross-Country series the same day. Many thanks to everyone who turned out to give Ilkley complete teams - this was the first cross-country for many of them.

The men's team were second to Horsforth, and first in the Veterans. The Ladies were third, and first Vets. So it's all to play for at the final event at Temple Newsam on Sunday, March 2.

For the men, Ilkley had: 9, Jim Ryder 31:27; 12, Nick Pearce 31:38; 14, Mark Iley 32m; 21 Geoff Howard; 27, Clive Smith; 39, Neil Chapman; 42 Eddie Winslow; 45, Phil Chappell; 49, James Lind; 57 Jeff Paget; 59, Norman Bush; 82, Lloyd Best; 104 Mike Bryant; 120, Vic Verecondi; and 121, Roger Pyle

For the ladies they had: 4, Alison Bennett 34:48; 6, Cath Wolfenden; 20, Suzanne Akeroyd; 23, Linda Wright; 24, Bridget Doherty; 26, Jane Bryant; 30, Barbara Bullock; 38, Jane Cullingworth; 39, Suzanne Bickersdike; 42, Chris Porritt; 48, Amanda Parnaby.

Ilkley Harriers are staging their premier event on Sunday, February 23, the Ilkley Moor Fell Race.

This will be sponsored by Booths supermarkets.

With 5.5 miles over tough terrain and with 1150ft of climb, this is a serious fell race for experienced runners. See www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk for more information.

Ilkley Harriers is a friendly club, training from Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club every Tuesday at 7pm.

Otley Athletic Club

On Sunday the fourth Sports Direct Cross-Country League race was held at Kippax. Although lower key than the West Yorkshire League, Sunday's course was a particularly testing four-and-a-half miles with lots of sticky mud and a really stamina-sapping climb across a turnip field.

Otley just managed to finish a full team, led home by James Cullen in 24th, Malcolm Court in 35th and Carl Walsh in 46th.

Other counters were: Graham Steed 65th, Colin Best 78th, David Hainsworth 92nd, Trevor Lambert 110th and Antonio Cardinale 117th. Only two ladies turned out for Otley but both gave good account of themselves, Helen Walsh finishing in a very good 12th and Anna Atkinson a useful 35th.

At an altogether more serious level of competition Ian Fisher represented Yorkshire on Saturday in the Inter-Counties Championships at Woolerton Park, Nottingham. His 48th place overall was good enough to make him first counting finisher in a slightly below par Yorkshire team.

The other local event was a fell race held to raise funds for a charity set up in memory of the talented fell racer John Taylor, who died suddenly last year. First Otley finisher was Andrew Robertshaw in 10th place.

West Yorkshire Schools

Jodie Gregorczyk, of Leeds City AC and Menston St Mary's School, continued her excellent season's cross-country form at the West Yorkshire Schools' Championships at Leeds Grammar School. A strong run from the 12 year-old saw her finish in fourth place in the junior (U-14) girls' race.

This ensured her a place on the West Yorkshire team to contest the English Schools' Championships later in March.

Leeds City clubmate Alex Davy, of Guiseley, could not quite match Jodie's achievement. Nevertheless, he ran well for 17th place in the junior boys' race, just pipping Horsforth's Johnny Brownlee .

However, there was tremendous Brownlee family success when Alistair won the intermediate (U-16) boys' event - he too will feature at the English Schools' Championships, where he could well start as one of the favourites for a national medal.

Aother Horsforth athlete who is capable of making a big impact at the National Schools is Elizabeth Spencer (Holmfirth Harriers).y