Amy hits the English Schools qualifying distance

This pleasing result was gained from many fine performances from the Guiseley-based athletes of the club, especially Benton Park schoolgirl, Amy Howard. Under-15 girl Amy was victorious in the A strings of all her three field events. She won the shot with 9.26m and then took the discus with 28.20m, an English Schools' Championship qualifying distance. Finally, she won the long jump with 4.85m, an outdoor personal best.

In the same age group Laura Kirk, of Guiseley School, was also outstanding, winning the 1500m with the excellent time of 4mins. 53.6s, and then taking equal second place in the high jump with 1.40m. Schoolmate Amy Cawthorne enjoyed a successful afternoon with second in the A string javelin (16.60m) and second in the B 800m (2mins. 47.1s).

Many other girls from the powerful Guiseley School team were also very valuable points earners for the Under-15 and Under-17 girls' teams.

At the opposite end of the age range, Over 35 veteran lady Nicky Butters, was a high scorer for the club. A quartet of second places was gained when she threw 25.35m in the A string discus and 20.83m in the B string

Hammer. Nicky then putted 9.16m in the B string shot and finished off with 31.18m in the A javelin. The A string of the senior hammer saw a magnificent performance from 15 year-old Ralph Thoresby student, Alex Merrill, who came second with 39.78m.

Shanelle Smith, an international athlete with learning difficulties, completed a busy afternoon for the seniors when she came second in both A strings of the 100m (13.6s) and the 200m (27.9s), and was first equal in the B high jump with 1.40m.

Meanwhile the boys (under-13, 15 and 17) made the journey to Macclesfield for the McDonalds' Young Athletes League Division One North West. Here they came third, a position which just beat the fourth placed senior men's team in the Northern Men's League Division Four Central.

Competing at Horsfall Stadium, Bradford, debutant Bill Wheeler won the shot with 10.27m, while Adam Wiles was first equal in the pole vault (2.80m).

The middle distance runners were in good form at Macclesfield in the Young Athletes League with Under- 13 boys Sam Webster and James Clayton doing particularly well. Sam won the A string 1500m in 5mins. 12.0s and James took the B 800m with 2 mins. 40.3s. James also won the B 200m (29.7s) and Adam Hawkyard was third in the long jump (3.88m) in this age group.

The Under-15 boys' team was rather depleted but Nick Howard had a successful afternoon, winning the A 3000m in the excellent time of 10mins 18.5s. He also achieved two third places in A string events with 2mins 29.6s in the 800m and 1.35m in the high jump. Andrew Thompson ran well for first place in the B string of the Under-17 boys' 400m (54.1s) and Nathan Tugwell won the Under-17 B 1500 (4mins 58.7s).

The annual Kit Bell Memorial Open Meeting at Grimsby's King George V Stadium saw Horsforth brother and sister Andrew and Bethany Staniland came home with five trophies between them.

In the Under-15 girls' age group, Bethany, of Kingston upon Hull A.C., set a new personal best in the shot of 8.69m for first place. She then went on to achieve two third places in the 800m (2mins. 31.2s) and the long jump (4.47m).

Andrew Staniland, of Skyrac A.C. was able to long jump for the first time since September, and despite registering only one valid jump, out

of six, took second place in the Under-15 boys' competition with 5.21m. He was then fifth in the 100m final (13.4s), but the highlight of his afternoon was a magnificent personal best of 11.15m for a gold medal in the shot.

The day after competing in the Northern Women's League at York, Amy Howard travelled to Hexham to compete in the Under-15 girls' pentathlon championships. Leading after three events, Amy finished in a very creditable fifth position overall with 2283 points. This fine score was achieved with 4.51m in the long jump, 1.30m in the high jump, 13.4s in the 75m hurdles, 9.56m in the shot and 2mins 55s in the 800m.

Skyrac AC Fellrunners

With fell races since February cancelled and the road race calendar also curtailed it was unfortunate that Wednesday. May 9, saw a clash between the first of Allan Greenwood's Oakwell Hall off-road races and the first of the three John Carr 5K series mounted by St Bede's AC at Esholt.

The John Carr series is now well established and the 233 runners who

completed the first race included the elite of Yorkshire athletes because the event incorporated the Yorkshire Vets 5K Championship. Overall winner was David Watson (Holmfirth) in 14 min 47 sec just four seconds ahead of Otley Harrier Ian Fisher.

For Skyrac John Forsyth finished in 96th (19.02) followed by Malcolm Coles in 107th (19.32) who was third in the Over 60 category behind the Bingley duo of Fred Gibbs (17.26) and David Barber (19.01).

Graham Breeze continued to resist the calls from the sirens of the road and joined an elite field of 36 runners in Allan Greenwood's off-road event at Oakwell Hall near Birstall. Competitors expected country park terrain but in fact the race route included uncultivated farm field, plenty of climbing and enough mud to justify runners wearing their fell shoes and it was regrettable that more runners were not able to experience the pleasures of a well thought out and interesting route.

Although the field was small the quality was high and international John Taylor (Bingley) continued to display the superb form recently demonstrated in Dave Woodhead's Urban Bunny Runs by winning comfortably in 22min 08sec.

The race was advertised as 'near as dammit three miles' and although Allan Greenwood had expanded this to four miles by the time of the prize giving in a nearby pub the truth probably lay somewhere in between.

For Skyrac Graham Breeze was 20th in 27.05.

A second race is to be held at Oakwell Hall on May 30 and although this clashes with another John Carr race it does allow fellrunners to get away from tarmac and experience a more interesting course than the venue suggests and so is worth supporting.

Skyrac AC, who will be organising the Otley Chevin Fell Race on Wednesday, June 7, can be contacted on 0113-229-0924.

Ilkley Harriers

SIX Ilkley Harriers turned out for the first race in the John Carr 5km Race Series, last Wednesday evening at Esholt. The race was won by Holmfirth's David Watson in 14.47. Ilkley's Nick Pearce was 45th, and third Vet 45, in 17.07; Mark Iley was 51st in 17.19; Billy Kerr 64th in 17.51; Peter Shields 82nd in 18.27; Mike Baldwin 93rd in 18.53; and Diane Kitchen 142nd and 3rd Lady Vet 45 in 20.30.

There was a great turnout of 23 Harriers the next evening for the second race in the Harrogate Summer Road League, at distant Thirsk. Otley's Ian Fisher won in 26.09, with Nick Pearce the first Harrier in 15th place (second Vet 45) in 30.03. Indeed, five of the Harriers first six runners were Vets in Dave Matthews 34th (second vet 50) with 31.32; Ken Souyave 42nd in 31.58; Clive Smith 43rd in 32.07 and Mike Baldwin 55th in 33.05 - these five gave Ilkley second place in the male

vets' competition.

In the team competition, with 10 runners to count, they were fifth, with the runners above plus Ewan Welsh 47th in 32.29; Peter Shields 62nd in 33.35; Dennis Ackroyd 66th in 33.50; Phil Hirst 81st in 34.43; and Emma Barclay 86th in 34.56.

Emma led Ilkley ladies to a strong first place being fourth lady; Alison Bennett was 10th in 37.03; Joyce Marshall 12th in 37.30; Susie Jollie 19th in 38.51; and Cath Wolfenden 21st in 39.02.

Alison, Joyce, and Alison Crane with 39.17 gave Ilkley third place on the night in a closely fought lady vets' competition, with only two points separating the first three teams.

So after two races Harriers are fifth in the main team event, leading the

ladies' race by a good margin, hanging on to second place in the male vets' and chasing Harrogate hard in the lady vets'.

On Sunday, in 75-degree temperatures, Andy Wade finished 19th out of some 3,500 runners in the popular Blackpool 10km with a time of 35.56

Ilkley Harriers is a friendly club, running from Ben Rhydding Sports Club on Tuesday nights at 7pm. Circuit Training recommences on Monday at 6.30pm, and next Thursday's (21 May) run at 7pm will be from Danefield, opposite the Ramblers' Tearooms.

To find out more about Ilkley Harriers, contact the captain Ken Souyave on 01943 609597, or visit the web site www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk

Danefield relay

For the last few months and for the forseeable future there is little prospect of any off road running - unless you enter the Danefield Relay.

Organisers, Horsforth Fellandale, were given the go-ahead last week by the Council to hold its annual event on the Chevin on Wednesday, July 4, at 7.15pm.

This is the third year that Fellandale has staged the event - and it attracts around 50 teams from West Yorkshire clubs.

"It has proved very popular in the past with both road and fell clubs," says Fellandale Chairman, Mark Saville. "Using existing tracks and paths make it ideal for both types of runner, especially when a lap is around three miles. As with all fell races there is always a sting in the tail - to get back to the handover point requires negotiating one of the hardest ascents on the Chevin."

Teams of three, which can be mixed, each run the same lap on the fully flagged and marshalled course. The lap starts and finishes adjacent to the main car park off East Chevin Road. A range of prizes will be given at The Ramblers' Tea Rooms at the end of the event.

Teams can only enter on the night, with registration from 6pm. The club recommends coming early as it is likely to be popular this year, and car parking close to the start could be at a premium.

For further information call Alan Judd (0113) 295 6447 or check out the club's website: www.fellandale.com