With 860 finishers in Sunday's York Half Marathon, it may come somewhat of a surprise to those in athletic circles that Otley AC provided the first two finishers home in this popular and fully subscribed road race.

Ian Fisher led from start to finish to retain his title in 67.56 and was followed by the ever improving Mark Hall who finished in a clear second place in 72.31 (and first veteran too).

Julian Mawson finished tenth in 74.36 ensuring Otley won the team event as well.

Beth Massey finished 142nd in 90.13 (one second behind her time from last year), Malcolm Court in his first half marathon finished 172nd in 91.39 and then Graham Stead was 219th in 94.30.

Phil Robinson finished 282nd in 98.05 and Kath Robertshaw recorded a new club record for female vet 60 by finishing 352nd in 100.57. Neil O'Brien finished 398th in 103.07 and Ann Atkinson completed the pleasing team outing in 630th place in 114.36.

The previous day (Saturday), six members participated in the top quality Northern Cross-Country Championships at Heaton Park, Manchester.

Over the continuously undulating 12km course, Neil Cayton finished 84th in 40.20, Dale Foster 121st in 41.21, Duncan Burgess 140th in 41.57, Andrew Willis 474th in 48.57, Aidan Smith 562nd in 51.23 and David Hainsworth 633rd in 54.35.

There were 710 finishers and the Otley sextet finished as 36th team out of the 61 full teams competing.

A number of members including last year's winner Andrew Robertshaw will be tackling the Rombald's Stride this coming Saturday. The Club welcomes local runners of all standards to join them in training from Otley RUFC every Tuesday and Thursday evening commencing at 7.15. For more information click on to www.otleyac.co.uk

Skyrac Fellrunners

The seven mile Stanbury Splash is the best of Dave Woodhead's jolly jaunts, with four stream crossings, one cliff to climb, plenty of mud and usually lots of weather.

"Surf''s Up!" could therefore have been the cry before the start of last Sunday's race as ferocious winds propelled mountains of water to the edge of Lower Laithe Reservoir below the race start.

Most of Skyrac's beach boys were obviously still in California, or perhaps just chose to stay in bed, but intrepid veterans Graham Breeze and Malcolm Coles (the older they get, the tougher they become) joined 240 other stoics on the top of Penistone Hill.

Ian Holmes (Bingley) won for the ninth consecutive time (in 47.57) attributing his success over the Haworth Moors to toasted malt loaf and who would doubt it?

Graham and Malcolm came in 98th (64.24) and 160th (72.00) respectively so there were no prizes for them.

But it does say that it is more blessed to give than to receive and so Graham, as co-organiser of the prestigious Lakeland Classics Trophy, could present Alison Weston of Ilkley Harriers with a limited edition mug to recognise her coming second lady in the 2002 series.

Of the nine prizes awarded only two went to ladies and Alison is also the only runner from Yorkshire to receive an award.

Skyrac welcomes athletes in any discipline and at any age.

Contact 0113 229 0924 or www.skyrac.org.uk.

Cross-Country trials

Three young Leeds City AC athletes did themselves proud at the Leeds Schools' Cross-Country Trials at Leeds Grammar School's Alwoodley Gates course.

Pride of place went to 12 year-old Jodie Gregorczyk of St Mary's School, Menston. Fresh from a fine sixth place the week before in the under-13 girls' race in the final round of the West Yorkshire Cross-Country League, Jodie took on the older girls of the junior (U-14) age group at the trials. She came home in an excellent first place over the long course in 15 mins.57s.

Guiseley School's duo of Alex Davy and Robert Hall were also well placed in the junior boys' (U-14) race. Alex finished in second place in 20 mins 40s and Robert was close behind in fifth in 20 mins.59s.

All three have now ensured selection for the Leeds Schools' team which will contest the West Yorkshire Schools' Cross-Country Championships on Saturday, again at Leeds Grammar School.

At the same event, there was a comfortable victory for Horsforth School's Elizabeth Spencer (Holmfirth Harriers) in the senior girls' (U-20) race. She covered the course in 19 mins.50s, some 5mins.35s ahead of the second placed girl. She will also run in the West Yorkshire Championships, where she must start as one of the favourites.

Convery in Spain

Athletic life has certainly begun at 40 for John Convery the Horsforth

roofer.

This weekend he follows up his first England international cross-country appearance with a visit to Granada in Spain as part of the Bingley Harriers cross-country team who are taking part in the European Clubs championship.

In effect Bingley are representing England and Convery expects to put in a good performance against the cream of Europe's athletes.

Ilkley Harriers

On a windy Sunday Ilkley Harrier Neil Chapman was 75th in the Brass Monkey Half Marathon, in 85:32; Rob Pawson finished in about 100 minutes; Richard Midgley was 421st in 104:17; and Amanda Parnaby 717th in 119:55

Over at the 20th Stanbury Splash fell race, Bingley's Ian Holmes had a clear win in 47:57 over seven miles with 1200ft of climb. This was the first race in the 2003 Harriers Running League, so despite the bad conditions there was a good turnout of Harriers.

Placings were:32, Nick Pearce 56.40; 37, Graham Pearce 57.53; 43, Geoff Howard 58.44 (2nd O-50); 58, Mike Baldwin 59.56; 63, Ian Johnson 60.41; Clive Smith; 70, Emma Barclay 61.51 (4th Lady and 2nd Vet. Lady); 76, Norman Bush 62.55 (1st o60); 99, Ian Marshall 64.26; 104, Ian Mann 66.53; 125, Alison Weston 67.39 (3rd Vet Lady); 164, Rachael Gooch 72.21; 184, Bridget Doherty 75.29. Geoff, Norman, Emma, Alison, Rachael and Bridget were all in the prizes.

In the junior races Emily and Sam Wood both ran well. Sam led the field out in the under-8s race, only to lose a shoe. Luckily mum was on hand to help lace it back on, but not quick enough for Sam to regain the lead. He was 5th in 3:55 - 40s down on the winner.

Emily had a much tougher race, out in the wind, and ran well to finish in 12:02 and 30th place in a good field.

Ilkley Harriers is a friendly running club, training from Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club every Tuesday at 7pm. See www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk for more information.

Brownlee's fine run

Five young Horsforth athletes took part in the North of England AA Cross-Country Championships at Heaton Park, Manchester.

A tremendous run from the talented Alistair Brownlee, of Bingley Harriers and Bradford GS, over the Under-15 boys' 4km course, saw him win the silver medal in the fast time of 12 mins.35s. His younger brother, Johnny, also enjoyed success in the large Under-13 boys' field, finishing in 31st place over the 3km course in 11 mins.38s.

Good Horsforth family fortunes continued for Elizabeth and Robert Spencer (both of Holmfirth Harriers). Elizabeth ran a storming race to finish 5th in the junior (U-20) women's 6 km event (21 mins.33s), while older brother Robert also had a strong run over the junior men's 8 km course for 53rd (29 mins.23s).

Bradford GS's Nick Howard found the Under-17 men's 6 km course a little tough but considering that he is only in his first year in this age group he had a fine run in this company for 103rd place (20 mins.46s).