Next weekend sees the 48th running of the Three Peaks Race, the most famous fell race in England.

Once over 1,000 entries would be received but in recent years the event, which at 24 miles and a total of 4,500 feet of climb over Pen Y Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, along with similar arduous fell races, has suffered from a fall off in entries and around 320 have entered for next Sunday's event.

Normally Skyrac would send about 15 runners. However, the Coniston race on the weekend following has been chosen for the English and British Championships and many runners who aspire to glory are saving themselves for this.

For Skyrac Malcolm Coles, Roger Dawson and Graham Grinstead will be running the Peaks but most eyes will be on Neil Clayton because when Neil has finished his run the Three Peaks Association will present him with a framed engraving, depicting various scenes on the Three Peaks route, which is awarded to runners who have completed the race 21 times.

This prestigious award is held by only 24 runners and Neil, who completed his 21st finish in 2000 (the Foot and Mouth epidemic meant that the 2001 race was not held) will be the only recipient of the award on Sunday.

Neil's best position was in 1978 when he was 53rd (336 finishers) in 3 hrs 22 min 5 sec and his fastest time was in 1982 when 59th out of 314 finishers he came home in 3.10.43.

Last Saturday the Anniversary Waltz race from Stair village in the Newlands Valley was held which, notwithstanding its whimsical name, at 11.25 miles and 3600 feet taking in Robinson, Hindscarth, Dale Head, High Spy and Cat Bells, is a serious fell race.

First run from 1997 in 1999 it was accorded Championship status and last weekend Graham Breeze completed his third consecutive race. He was 80th in 2.13.54 from 153 runners. Winner was ex-Skyrac runner Simon Booth (Borrowdale) in 1.30.50.

On Sunday representing Skyrac's road runners Peter Rawnsley, who will organise the Guiseley Spring Wood Chase on Sunday, May 12, recorded 37.22 in the Rothwell 10K.

Skyrac AC are based at the new £500,000 ANSA clubhouse on Nunroyd Park, Yeadon. Call 01943 874046 for details of training nights.

Skyrac AC

Athletes of all age groups and from all the county's clubs gathered at York's Ryedale Stadium for the first meeting of the 2002 West Yorkshire Track and Field League. Every category from U-11 girls to senior men saw Skyrac athletes enjoying the early season competition.

Several of the club's results were outstanding. In the senior women's shot (4kg), Fiona Thomas was in magnificent form with a personal best 10.94m. Sisters Elizabeth and Rebecca Hall were impressive in the U-13 girls' 800m races. Elizabeth was second in the A race in 2 mins 39.9s while ten-year-old Rebecca ran 2 mins 48.2s for second in the B race. For the men, Andrew Staniland passed the six metres barrier for the first time in winning the U-17 men's long jump with 6.09m. He also set a personal best 200m with 24.7s for second place

The following Tuesday at Oldham and Royton AC's Open Medal Meeting there was a rare double act for Skyrac father and son Andrew Staniland jnr. (U-17) and Andrew Staniland snr. (M-45) who competed in the same open graded shot putt competition. They came home with the gold and silver medals respectively. Andrew jnr. won the event with10.49m with a 5kg shot while Andrew snr. managed 8.82m with the 7.26kg.

Young multi-eventer Andrew went on to win the U-17 long jump with a leap of 5.97m and equalled his personal best in the U-17 100m with 12.4s for second place, thus gaining a hat-trick of medals on the night.

Four local young athletes revelled in the atmosphere of the London Marathon as they had been selected to represent West Yorkshire in the Mini Marathon.

These races are run before the main race and take in the last few kilometres of the course.

Skyrac's Laura Kirk (15) had a splendid outing in the U-18 girls' race, finishing 45th out of the 249 starters in 16 mins.43s. Horsforth's Alistair Brownlee (Bingley Harriers) came home in an excellent 15th position out of the 270 runners in the U-15 boys' category (14 mins.30s), and two U-13 boys also enjoyed the tremendous experience.

Alex Davy and Robert Hall (both of Leeds City AC) achieved 38th position (16 mins.29s) and 69th position (16 mins.56s) respectively out of the 269 entrants.

Alistair Brownlee took part in the second Bunny Run fell race at Keighley winning the Under-16 boys' race in 19 mins.45s.

Otley Athletic Club

Returning to business as usual, several Otley AC members participated in Sunday's Rothwell 10k which is renowned for being fast and therefore attracted a large, high quality field. Although accurate results are not known at the time of writing (full results will be available shortly on www.rothwell-harriers.org.uk), Otley's Julian Mawson finished seventh overall in a new personal best time of 33.07. Following shortly after was Duncan Burgess in 36 minutes which was impressive in view of his longstanding injury problems.

Howard Jeffrey recorded 41 minutes which is pleasing in view of the limited opportunity he now has to train and he was closely followed by Phil Robinson in 41.45 who also ran well despite recent reduced training chances.John Straiton packed well with his team mates finishing shortly behind Phil in 41.55. Next finisher was new member Carl Walsh wearing his Otley AC vest for the first time and Carl also recorded a new personal best by some 14 seconds finishing in 43.18.

On Tuesday evening, members were participating in the first Summer Harrogate League race and for the up to date results and pictures of this event click on to www.harrogate-league.co.uk

Otley AC is a small, friendly running club which caters for all abilities and encourages local runners to join them in training every Tuesday and Thursday 7.15 from Otley R.U.F.C.

Horsforth Harriers

Not only Paula Radcliffe ran fast and set new standards at the recent London Marathon as Horsforth Harriers were rewarded for slogging through the long dark nights of winter in preparation for their London efforts.

Pride of place went to Tony Hazell whose 2:44 gained him elite status, while Steve Large's 2:56 saw him set new personal best figures and duck under the three hour mark for the first time.

Close behind was club skipper Marcellus Springer in 2:58, while Howard Roberts, the club's reigning marathon champion, finished in 2:54.

Ken Kaiser crossed the finish line in 3:12 - not a bad effort for a man who has twice claimed to have retired from marathon running!

A host of Harriers made their debuts at the 26.2 mile distance in London and were led home by Michael Senior, 3:06, with Paul Shaw 3:37, and Chris Isherwood 4:17.

Julia Day set new personal best 3:25 and Hilary Wharam completed in 4:17. Many local charities benefited from the Horsforth runners' hard work.

Not to be outdone Graham Dawson headed to Stratford on Avon doing the Shakespeare Marathon in 5:06, adding to his list of well over 100 marathons run.

Horsforth Harriers own 10K road race is set to take place this year on September 29, moving forward a week so as not to clash with, and also to provide an excellent warm up for, the Great North Run.

The Fun Run will become a race in its own right and being moved to the Sports Day in Horsforth Hall Park, which will take place in the summer months.