Brighouse postman Dave Turner made it three wins in a row in the 99th Bradford Whit Walk yesterday.

The 44-year-old member of Bradford-based Yorkshire Race Walking Club also won the Northern Area title, clocking 4hr 55min 53sec for the 32-mile course ahead of 39 other entrants.

Turner, claiming his fifth title in all, led from start to finish in ideal conditions - a cool and damp start but warming up later.

Second was Bradford's Martin Fisher (York RWC) in 5-07-23 and third was Sheffield's Pete Ryan, who was overtaken a mile from the finish by the fast-finishing Fisher.

The team award went to Birchfield Harriers, but Yorkshire RWC's second place was enough to give them the Northern crown.

Ilford's Bob Dobson won the supporting 14-mile Bradford to Ilkley race in 2hr 9min 51sec ahead of Yorkshire RWC's John Paddick (2-10-28).

Morecambe's Charlie Colman, joint winner in the main event in 1952, was fourth in 2-38-46, and then presented the main awards after the finish in Peel Park.

Results - J M Reynolds & Co 99th Bradford Whit Walk: 1 D Turner (Yorkshire RWC) Northern champion in 4hr 55min 53sec, 2 M Fisher (York RWC) 5-07-23, 3 P Ryan (Sheffield RWC) 5-08-22, 4 S Arnold (Coventry Godiva RWC) 5-38-25, 5 G Tranter (Birchfield Harriers) 5-42-20, 6 J Hardy (Lancs RWC) 5-43-13. Team: 1 Birchfield Harriers, 2 Yorkshire RWC (Northern champions).

Bradford to Ilkley 14-mile walk: 1 B Dobson (Ilford) 2-09-51, 2 J Paddick (Yorkshire RWC) 2-10-28, 3 H Fairhurst (Lancs RWC) 2-30-18, 4 C Colman (Morecambe) 2-38-46, 5 B Jackson (Bradford) 2-44-05, 6 G Dowling (Yorkshire RWC) 2-50-10.