Otley Athletic Club's Ian Fisher had a nasty fall while attempting to overtake a lapped runner in the woods in Saturday's final West Yorkshire League fixture but he was sufficiently in the lead to retain his position to the end.

The event was held at Greenhead Grammar School, Keighley, and incorporated the school grounds with the fields and hillside woods of Cliffe Castle.

The course had awkward cambers on the woods and hillside areas with greasy mud and ice much in evidence. The narrow woodland section provided difficulties for the runners throughout the races but especially on the final lap for the leading male runners.

The positions of the eight Otley male finishers were: 1, Ian Fisher; 11, Neil Cayton; 25, Duncan Burgess; 76, John Armitstead; 104, Graham Stead; 112, Tom Hannah; 114, Dave Hainsworth; 123, Antonio Cardinale.

The winners of the ladies' three-mile race was Lisa Wilyman, of Valley Striders, in 21.39. Helen Walsh was the first home for the club in 34th position with a time of 26.13. Ten positions later was Kath Robertshaw, 27.50. Carol Armitstead missed the start of the race but managed to pull down and overtake quite a few runners finishing 56th with a given time of 30.15.

At Golden Acre Park on Sunday in the third of the Direct Sports League races the ground was generally firm with some mud and ice being encountered. The one small and two large laps provided a spectator friendly five-mile course. It also encouraged fast running for the 18 members taking part.

Kath Robertshaw was 27th lady with Bridget Barr 30th and new member Gloria Jackson 64th. Emma Payne had to retire early in the race with a badly turned ankle.

Otley men's results were: 27, Ray Hawksby; 33, James Cullen; 46, Andrew Willis; 48, Carl Walsh (voted December Runner of the Month); 58, Mike Jeffrey; 78, Malcolm Court; 82, John Straiton; 83, Colin Best; 87, Graham Stead; 91, Tom Hannah; 106, Dave Hainsworth; 122, Trevor Lambert; 128, Antonio Cardinale; 130, David Cattenach.

On Sunday, January 19, is the first handicap race of the Eric Smith 2003 Series. It is a 10k race starting at The Square and Compass, North Rigton. Meet at 10.45am.

Otley AC train out of Otley Rugby Club, Cross Green, on a Tuesday and Thursday, 7.15pm. The Tuesday session has a group doing efforts for those wishing to do some speed work. They have a beginners group on the Tuesday evening for those wanting to progress from a steady three mile run. Those wishing to gain fitness; run in club handicaps; compete in fell races; cross-country or road races, are most welcome on either night. You could also visit the web site on: www.otleyac.co.uk

Skyrac Fellrunners

Skyrac is a broad church and members include juniors, road runners, joggers and fellrunners. It is not important to the fellrunners whose name is engraved on the Skyrac Fellrunning Championship Shield; but it matters.

The true amateur English sportsman modestly shrugs off achievement but only those who still seek success know how much glory means.

Why do Skyrac fellrunners commit themselves to a year of toil, re-arrange holidays, suffer? Because winning is everything; it is the only thing.

The Skyrac Fellrunning Championship is now in its 15th year. Every fellrunner in the club remembers those who have won the trophy but no-one cares who was runner-up.

The opening race in the 2003 ten race Fellrunning Championship will be John's Run, the fell race to be held on February 9th in memory of the late John Taylor, winner of classic events such as the 16 miles Holme Moss and 14 miles Sedbergh Hills races. Each year the Fell Captain (currently Graham Breeze) has to select ten races, from the 400 fell races listed in the FRA calendar, which will provide a test of ability over different distances and terrain, introduce new races to maintain interest and support the classics.

In 2003 five races will be new to the Championship and four feature in the English Championship. The shortest race will be at the Arncliffe Gala which has a winning time of less than ten minutes and the longest will be the 21 miles Dockray Helvellyn race, with 5,500 feet of ascent, which the winner completes in around 2 hours. The final race in November will be the local ten miles Rivock Edge race from Silsden.

In 2002 Derek Emsley joined the list of trophy winners.

Duncan Asquith and Andy Brear continued their competitive year last weekend at the nominally 26 miles LDWA Scarborough Rock race. The winning time was 2 hrs 51 mins and Andy and Duncan finished in 5th (3.13) and 6th (3.15) respectively providing Andy with a rare victory over his race partner.

Jogger, junior, road runner or fellrunner? Skyrac can be contacted on www.skyrac.org.uk or 0113229 0924.

Ilkley Harriers

It was a busy weekend of racing for Ilkley Harriers. In Saturday's West Yorkshire Cross-Country League event the men packed well on a tough six mile course at Greenhead School, Keighley.

Positions were: 84, Neil Chapman 38:19; 93, Ewan Welsh 39:11; 98, Keith Wood 39:39; 102, Phil Chappell 40:21

Meanwhile, some of the fell athletes were tackling the Boulsworth Hill Race, 6.5 miles with 1200ft of climb. With snow underfoot Bingley's Ian Holmes won in 52:47 (his 1996 record is 45:43). First Harrier was Jon Sage 20th in 60:18, with Mike Baldwin 24th in 61:29 Second-claim Harrier Stefan Macina was 3rd in 55:20.

The next day, runners from both those races were called up for the Sport Direct Cross-Country race at Golden Acre Park.

Positions were:11, Jim Ryder 33:42; 15, Mark Iley 34:21; 25, Geoff Howard 35:08; 30, Billy Kerr 35:39; 40, Terry Lonergan 36:36; 42, Mike Baldwin 36:43; 44, Neil Chapman 36:49; 45, Eddie Winslow 36:53; 49, Ian Marshall 37:07; 55, Jeff Paget 37:35; 65, Norman Bush 38:28; 99, Keith Wood 40:55; 103, Lloyd Best 41:14.

Tim Ashelford, running as a guest, was 4th in 32:10.

For the ladies, Ilkley had Jean Uniacke coming home second in 36:34; 4, Sally Malir 37:40; 5, Alison Bennett 37:52; 8, Cath Wolfenden 40:26; 9, Alison Crane 40:27; 14, Suzanne Akeroyd 41:40; 15, Alison Weston 42:17; 22, Karen Page 43:33; 23, Eva Makowski 44:34 in her first cross-country for Ilkley; 32 Susie Jollie 45:57; 39, Shirley Wood 47:33; 52, Chris Porritt 49:54; 58, Amanda Parnaby 52:37.

The ladies beat Horsforth again, to share their lead in the league. The Ilkley men were second to a mighty Horsforth team.

Ilkley Harriers are reminded that the annual presentation evening is on Saturday at Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club. Contact Emma Barclay if you have not got a ticket already.

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

Check out the website www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk for more information.