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

Indoor combined

The impressive new 200m indoor track and field arena at Sport City, Manchester, played host to the North of England AA Indoor Combined Events Championships over the weekend and three local athletes came home with championship medals.

First off the mark on Saturday was Horsforth's Bethany Staniland (King-ston upon Hull AC), who despite not being 15 years-old until May, competed in the under-17 women's pentathlon.

In this she surpassed all expectations to be crowned as Northern Champion and bring home the gold medal from the 26 strong field of competitors with an impressive 2,829 points.

Her day started well with a successful race, with the new spacings, in the 60m hurdles in 10.42s - this placed her in 13th position to start with.

She then produced her performance of the day to launch the 4kg shot a distance of 10.12m to move up to third place. High jump (1.40m) and long jump (4.63m) were steady performances, and she was in seventh place with just the 800m to go.

However, a magnificent solo effort of 2 mins.30.8s was good enough in a combined events field, and indoors, to move her into first place, 57 points ahead of Sarah Allison of Border Harriers and AC and 115 points ahead of bronze medallist, Emily Noble of Bingley Harriers.

Another championship gold came the district's way when Skyrac AC's Roger Hunter won the senior men's heptathlon over two days of competition. His 7.48s for the 60m sprint gave him a good start to the event, which was consolidated upon with 6.42m in the long jump, 12.76m in the shot putt (7.25kg) and 1.83m in the high jump.

His first day's total of 2,704 points placed him 112 points in the lead. Day two started well with 8.85s in the 60m hurdles, followed by 3.50m for the pole vault.

His championship gold medal was assured with an impressively gritty run in the 1000m in 2 mins.58.22s. A final total of 4,648 points made Roger a comfortable winner, 273 points ahead of City of Stoke's Sam Bishop.

In the under-17 men's pentathlon, Andrew Staniland (Leeds City AC) could not quite emulate his sister and a family double was missed by just 20 points. A personal best in the 60m hurdles of 8.91s saw Andrew begin his competition in 4th place; however, an equal personal best of 6.42m in the long jump and a shot putt (5kg) of 12.38m saw him move into the lead.

This was consolidated with 1.78m in the high jump. However, breathing down Andrew's neck was Craig Granville of Gateshead Harriers and AC - an 800m runner of renown.

In the final event of the day Andrew set a new personal best in the 800m of 2 mins 18.0s but Craig's run of 2 mins 03.8s was just enough to snatch the gold medal by 20 points - 3,184 points to 3,164 points - a very exciting contest indeed.

The only other local athlete at the championships was Skyrac's senior woman, Danni White. However, she was unable to complete the programme and did not start in the last event, the 800m.

However, earlier on she had produced some creditable performances in her first four events in the senior women's pentathlon:

60m hurdles (10.63s); high jump (1.48m); shot - 4kg (9.17m); long jump (4.44m).

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.