Bradford Airedale's Simon Shoesmith came of age as he won the Yorkshireman off-road marathon from Haworth.

The Wibsey-based self-employed joiner who celebrated veteran status - 40 - only days earlier, timed his finish to perfection, overhauling the leading runners in the final stages of this demanding hilly course to win by over two and a half minutes in 3hr 23min 8sec.

As the leaders reached halfway over the wild Ovenden Moors above Ogden reservoir, the front runners were James Callaghan and Chris Loftus of the promoting Keighley and Craven club with Neville Rickard of Darwen chasing and Shoesmith some way behind.

However, over the section past Doe Park reservoir near Denholme and the viaduct at Hewenden towards Cullingworth and Harden Moor, things began to change dramatically, the Lancastrian moving up to the front for a spell.

Through the hamlet of Barcroft near Keighley to the road crossing at Sugden End, Cross Roads village, Shoesmith dug in to catch the leading trio and by Brow Moor, near the wind turbine of Gillson's quarry above Haworth, the Bradford man was back on terms.

Though troubled by an attack of severe cramp as the quartet descended into the Worth Valley, Shoesmith stuck to his task and by Hole Farm, Marsh, with around a mile to go, made his bid, opening up a winning margin of 1min 44sec by the finish at Oxenhope. Lancastrian Rickard was second, just ahead of the Keighley men who were first paired team home.

The women's race saw a winning double for the Horsfall-based Bradford outfit as Pauline Oldfield produced a thrilling finale in almost carbon copy style.

Great Horton-based Oldfield, whose husband is international veteran star Steve, overhauled long time leader Kath Drake of Spenborough at almost the same spot as Shoesmith had gunned for home, to take victory by a minute and a half in 3-55-53.

First mixed-sex pair were husband and wife Chris and Liz Tomes of Keighley and Craven, ahead of Halifax duo Mike Fryer and Carole Waterhouse, with Bingley's Mary Green and Helen Livingstone winning the paired women's category.

Local runners competed in the World Mountain racing championships in Germany. Bingley's James Mason led home the England junior men's team in Bergen, placing a creditable 18th in a high class field.

Keighley's Kate Rogan finished 34th in the junior women's race amid fierce international competition.

In the senior events, Bradford Airedale's Richard Findlow finished a disappointing 19th for England in the senior men's race, while Bingley Harrier Helen Jackson was 39th on her debut in the women's world event.

Yorkshireman Off-road marathon: 1 S Shoesmith (Bradford Airedale) 3-23-08 (V40), 2 N Rickard (Darwen Dashers) 3-25-52, 3 S Thompson (Bingley Harriers) 3-35-24 (V50), 4 M Bottomley (Bfd Aire) 3-37-17, 5 T Clegg (K'ley & Craven) 3-38-42, 6 J Marsh (Tarren Hendre) 3-43-30, 7 J Nolan (Road Runners) 3-47-33, 8 S Webb (Valley Striders) 3-51-50, 9 M Grundy (Spenborough) 3-55-30. Paired teams: 1 C Loftus & J Callaghan (K'ley & Craven) 3-25-54. Women: 1 P Oldfield (Bfd Aire) 3-55-53 F40, 2 K Drake (Spenborough) 3-57-24 F40, 3 A Gull (Bingley Harriers) 4-21-38 F35. Paired team: 1 M Green & H Livingstone (Bingley Harriers) 4-25-14. Mixed pairs: 1 C Tomes & E Tomes (K'ley & Craven) 4-00-10.