THE Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay is one of the highlights of the fell running season for many clubs, a chance to compete as a team over majestic mountain terrain.

The race covers a total distance of 24 miles and 8,400 feet of climb around the fells to the south of Patterdale in the Lake District, run in four separate stages, with a different pair of runners on each leg.

The handovers all take place near the main Kirkstone Pass road so it is easily possible to support each stage and witness the pattern of the race unfold.

It has to be said that there is perhaps no better organised event on the entire fell running calendar than this relay, and tribute must be paid to all the hard work and logistical skill of the organisers, Shirley and Dave Hodgson, who, along with their team of helpers, run a truly fantastic show.

With a few days to go half of the originally selected Wharfedale Harriers team had dropped out through a combination of sickness, injury, and other commitments, necessitating team manager James Wadsworth to do some last minute recruitment and shuffling of pairings.

The final team selection wasn't made until late the night before, with two of the four eventual pairings not being familiar with the route of their particular leg.

A mad dash to pick up the numbers and the map/baton allowed Damien Scholes and James Hughes to reach the back of the start line at precisely the moment the whistle blew for the start.

The youngsters literally thrust into the new experience of running a tough mountain leg over 7.5 miles and 2,800 feet of climb in virtually zero visibility, there was nothing left for the rest of the team to do but relax for a while.

Considering their lack of experience of racing over this kind of mountain terrain, Damien and James survived the murky conditions well, running a great leg to finish in 43rd position in a time of 1.38.11.

Most importantly, they thoroughly enjoyed their run and placed the team just two minutes behind the red and green stripes of local rivals Keighley and Craven.

Taking over on the second leg were Bob Hamilton and Sam Hounslow who were granted much better conditions than the first pair, enjoying beautiful views on their traverse past Angle Tarn as the mist gradually lifted from the tops.

With Bob leading out the climb and Sam, on youthful 17-year-old knees, leading out a tearaway descent, the oldest and youngest pairing came through in a time of 43.38, overhauling 11 teams along the way to bring the club into 32nd position.

Next up was the pairing of John Wootton and Sam Wadsworth to climb to the top of High Street and then down to the Kirkstone Inn.

John and Sam had a storming run, finishing in 1.16.13 and bringing the team up to a competitive 26th position.

On leg four James Wadsworth had drawn the short straw for himself - running with Ted Mason.

Despite an unusual preparation that had given him only a couple of hours sleep, Ted was his usual irrepressible self, and James had to risk life and limb to stay with him.

Surviving a bad bang on his shin, and a minor navigational blip which cost a couple of places, James got back with Ted in a time of 58.20 for a team finish of 4 hrs 36 mins and 22nd position overall.

With no disrespect, James looked as though he'd just come through a few rounds with Audley Harrison.

The event was won by Borrowdale in a time of 3 hrs 35 mins, well over 10 mins ahead of second place Ambleside.

Although only a very few clubs have the strength in depth to compete with the likes of Borrowdale and Bingley (although they were absent this year), there is intense competition right throughout the field, with local and historic rivalries between the smaller clubs being just as important as those at the front end of the race.

We are all looking forward to renewing those rivalries next year, and, after this year's tremendous experience, the competition for individual places in the squad is going to be very hot indeed.

As a final note it is worth mentioning that the Wharfedale team was almost certainly the youngest in the whole race by quite a way, with an average age of only 26.

Wharfedale Harriers is a family oriented club aiming to promote fell and cross-country running across all ages and abilities.

Senior training takes place on Monday and Tuesday evenings from Silsden, Wednesday evenings from Skipton, and Thursday evenings from Ilkley at the Grammar School.

For more details please contact David Hird on (01535) 653826, or visit the website at www.wharfedaleharriers.org.uk.

Ilkley Ladies relay success

ILKLEY'S Ladies took top honours in the Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay in Patterdale, beating all the other ladies' teams by a good margin, finishing about half way up a quality field and only eight minutes behind

the Ilkley men's team.

Andrea Priestley and Helen Sedgwick led off into the mist, and shook off Clayton Ladies to finish well ahead in 31st place in 90 minutes.

Jo Foster and Clare Cheesewright almost caught the Harriers' men on the second leg, running 54 minutes.

Sally Malir and Julie Harvey ran the long third leg, with a good finish in 92 minutes, to set Rachael Gooch and Alison Weston off on the long climb up Red Screes to finish 73 minutes later.

The men entered a Vets team starting off with Mike Baldwin and Nick Pearce, a creditable 19th place in 83 minutes.

The second leg pair of Bernie Connor and Peter Ellis suffered from a navigational error, finishing in 61 minutes.

Clive Smith, just qualifying as a Veteran, and Geoff Howard picked up four places to finish 33rd in 87 minutes, leaving Peter Shields and Dennis Ackroyd to finish in 71 minutes for 37th place overall: again, a very good position in a field of some 60 quality teams.

On firmer ground, seven Harriers raced in Sunday's Horsforth 10km.

Andy Wade was first home, in 34.49 for 6th place. John Coen was next in 38.58, with Neil Chapman close behind in 39.04. Phil Atkinson ran 40.20, Brian Sweet 56.50, and Mandy Chapman 58.30.

Ilkley Harriers is a friendly running club, training at 7pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Ben Ryhdding Sports Club.

To find out more, contact captain Ken Souyave on (01943) 609597 or visit the web site www.ilkleyharriers.org.uk.

Oustanding performance

FOR the first time in its history Otley Athletic Club has qualified for a national road relay event.

It follows the team's outstanding performance in the Northern Six Stage Road Relay Championship held at Sefton Park, Liverpool, on Saturday.

Dale Foster, who was only 18 when he joined the club in 1988 led off over the first leg of 6.4km to finish 42nd out of the 83 competing teams in 21.15.

Neil Eccles, despite his lack of recent race fitness, performed admirably to keep Otley in 44th position after the second leg with a time of 21.49.

Otley's team captain, Ian Fisher, ran a devastating leg three and improved the overall team position by an incredible 19th places to 25th in 19.32.

On leg four, Andrew Robertshaw continued his recent good form with a time of 20.55 and this performance helped close the gap on teams in front to enable Julian Mawson to move up to 23rd place on leg five with a time of 21.17.

Chevin Chase winner in 1999, Neil Cayton, ran the final leg and powered through in 20.22 to ensure Otley qualified on merit in 20th place.

The club's previous best position for the same championship was 32nd set two years ago.

With club secretary Chris Carver also performing strongly at the moment and Mark Hall and Duncan Burgess temporarily absent, Otley currently have at least nine runners who can all comfortably beat 35 minutes for 10km.

A qualifying race for basing the team selection for the National is to be held on Thursday, October 12.

David Cattanach had an excellent personal performance in the Snape 10km also held on Saturday. In a mainly off-road race that was started by the ringing of a school bell and followed by lunch in the village hall, David was well pleased with his time of 48.43.

In Sunday's Nidderdale eight-mile race, John Armitstead was well placed in eighth position overall in 49.55 over the demanding course and wife Carol finished as second lady in 59.31.

On Saturday the club's latest handicap race takes place around Fewston reservoir starting at 11.30am.

Rrunners of all standards are welcome to join in with training each Tuesday and Thursday night from Cross Green, Otley, starting at 7.15pm.