ONE of Britain's top distance runners led the way last Sunday at Skipton Athletics Club's annual Applied Photonics 10k Road Race, (writes Roger Ingham)

Dominic Bannister from London's Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers - a world-ranked athlete over both the road and cross-country - was seeking a quality 10k race as a speed test as part of his Commonwealth Games marathon bid, in which he represents England.

His decision to take part in the Skipton event was a tremendous boost for all concerned with the event and he did not disappoint with a high-quality performance.

The Londoner headed a field of well over 300 runners to triumph in a very speedy 30mins 5secs. This was only marginally outside the race record and was in fact the quickest over the new, more undulating route.

Bannister triumphed ahead of Clayton-le-Moors runner Andrew Hartley, with Keighley & Craven's Laurence Hellawell third and Alex Rowe of Wesham AC, Fylde in fourth place.

Hellawell, son of former England soccer international Mike, won a high-quality road race in Blackpool the previous week and turned in another top-class performance to carry off the top veterans' award, the Over 40 class.

Following Hellawell home in fifth place was another evergreen, Barnoldswick's Dave Wilson (Northern Vets AC, who took the Over 50 honours.

Virtually all the senior runners from the promoting club were on marshalling duty, but the club did see one of its former members, Steve Sayer, clinching a top-ten place.

Nor were the ladies left behind in terms of numbers or quality. Over 70 were involved, with Blackburn AC's England international, Pauline Powell, striding to an impressive victory. She triumphed ahead of Harrogate AC's Cathy Wright, Joan Jackson (Northern Vets AC) and Settle Harriers' Karen Slater.

Among the many 'down the order' competitors sweating it out on a warm day was Skipton RUFC's new skipper, Adam Oldfield, while Julia Murfin of the Craven Herald staff and a Settle Harriers member, also completed the first race of her comeback when she got round in an hour.

The prelude to the main attraction was the 2k Fun Run which featured almost 200 entrants.

Predominantly youngsters, Skipton AC's high-flying trio of Stuart Hunn, Daniel Walmsley and Alex Baldwin, led the way home, while among the cavalry charge for the line, Alice Monach and Helen Brown brought home the girls' contingent.

A schools challenge within the individual race went to Water Street.