Entries have now closed for the AireCentre Pacers Boxing Day Chevin Chase. Planning is well under way for the annual event which attracts hundreds of runners.

The race faces the very-growing health and safety requirements of the police at road closures. This has caused delays to the preparation but these are now complete.

This year sees a return to the old route. Entries will not be taken on the day. All finishers will receive a long-sleeved T-shirt. The closing date for entries was December 14.

The Abbey Dash is always a popular event with the Pacers heavily represented in the 2,344 finishers.

Richard Thompson ran so well that he was recorded as having finished twice. Not content with a 39.15, he re-appeared to cross the line in 507th place with a very creditable 42.36 despite the atrocious conditions.

Similarly stream-lined was Adrian Lee, making a rare public appearance these days, to file 42.16 and 484th place. Splashing in next for the Pacers was the sodden Chris Hill in 579th place.

Bounding from puddle to puddle was Yvonne Hampshaw, who finished in 48.52. Following closely behind were Angela Crawford, Lynne Morris, Carol Kershaw, Julia Cooke, the ever-present Candy Gable 56.39 and Lorice Cavagin in 1,975th place.

The ladies were following up on their success in the Temple Newsam five-mile race in No-vember. The team of Candy Gable, Sheila Mauder and Tina Heath came home as first ladies' team.

Heroics at Temple Newsam were not sufficient to tempt the ladies out at the Ackworth Cross Country. The course was water-logged and extremely muddy, and the weather wet and cold. Enjoying the atrocious conditions was Chris Hill, who finished in 77th position. Richard Archer ploughed his way to 86th.

Ilkley Harriers

A loyal band of Ilkley Harriers cross-country racers made it to distant Ackworth on Sunday to find a muddier than usual course for the second race in the Sport Direct Cross-Country League.

They were rewarded with third men's team place (behind Horsforth and Ackworth) and third ladies' team place (behind Horsforth and Abbey), as well as much-deserved points in the Harriers Running League.

Ilkley Harriers results were: 9, Andy Wade 30:47; 11, Jim Ryder 30:55; 14, Mark Iley 31:14; 15, Nick Pearce 31:20; 46, Phil Chappell 34:54; 47, Ian Marshall 35:00; 53, Keith Wood 35:43; 65, Jeff P

aget 37:10; 91, Andy Wolfenden 39:21

Ilkley ladies results were: 4, Alison Bennett 35:20; 9,Cath Wolfenden 37:00; 13, Jo Foster 40:11; 20, Shirley Wood 42:32; 26, Chris Porritt 44:00; 34, Amanda Parnaby 47:00

The next race in the league is hosted by Abbey Runners on January 12.

Ilkley Harriers is a friendly club, training every Tuesday (except 24 and 31 December) from Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club at 7pm. Find out more at www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk

Otley Athletic Club

Otley AC were well represented in last weekend's Sport Direct Cross-Country fixture at Ackworth. The two lap course was quite testing in view of the muddy conditions and some hilly terrain.

The race was won by Trevor Wilks of Leeds City but newcomer Malcolm Court finished in 39th position to be the first Otley finisher.

Carl Walsh was 42nd and the resurgent Howard Jeffrey finished 44th. Jack Robertshaw, now in the V60 category, achieved 49th place followed by James Cullen, who was not helped by wearing road shoes in these conditions, in 56th place. Graham Stead, having recently shed some excess baggage, weighed in in 68th position followed by Colin Best (73rd) and Phil Robinson (78th). Tom Hannah, suffering from breathing difficulties, struggled to achieve 85th position whilst club president David Hainsworth brought up the rear in 89th place.

The Ladies Race was won by Helen Sly of Horsforth, with the Otley contingent performing well in 11th (Helen Walsh), 21st (Bridget Barr), 28th (Ann Atkinson) and 40th (Emma Payne).

Otley AC welcome runners of all abilities to their training sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.15pm at Otley RUFC. For further details, telephone 0113 2842572.

Orienteers on the map

Ilkley Grammar School was catapulted onto the national schools' orienteering map last weekend by two pupils.

Hector and Chloe Haines were the only representatives from the school in the British Schools Championships held in the Forest of Dean last weekend, but their sensational runs shook the foundations of more traditional orienteering establishments.

Hector, running in Boys' Year Nine, started relatively early. A steady run over the first half kept him in contention and a storming finish over the last five checkpoints took him into a well-deserved lead. In spite of attempts to displace him by some of the more established leading orienteers, including national champion Robert Farringdon, he held them off for over an hour.

Finally, late starting Chris Smithard, from Wirral Grammar School, benefited from tracks through the bracken made by earlier runners and pipped Hector into second place by 35 seconds.

In the Girls' Year Seven race, a steady run by double British and Irish champion Chloe brought her into contention, only for a small mistake of a minute near the end to affect her final time.

Although placing third for much of the day, she finally had to settle for sixth as the later runners finished. Nevertheless, both were pleased with their results which leaves both of them gunning for the top spot next year. Ilkley Grammar School has now arrived on the orienteering map.