Athletics round-up

Laura ran one year young in the Under-14 Girl's race and came 37th, gaining a silver medal with the county team. Elizabeth was also running one year under age and finished 25th, but earned a gold medal as the second girl home in the winning West Yorkshire team for Under-16 Girls.

Sunday saw the North East Counties Championships of the Reebok Sports Hall Athletics at the Pavilion, Thornaby, on Teesside, where three other Skyrac athletes also represented West Yorkshire. Both Amy Howard and Bethany Staniland were part of the overall winning Under-13 Girl's team and both picked up two medals each.

Despite also being one year under age, Bethany ran well to gain the silver medal in the six laps race in the fast time of 1min 28.7sec; while Amy won the shot putt with the magnificent throw of 10.03m. Both girls were also part of the winning circuit lap relay team in which speed and agility were necessary.

Andrew Staniland gained a silver medal in the Two Laps Sprint (24.3sec) - after having come third in his heat! With fourth place in the shot putt (8.43m) and as a member of the third placed Two Laps Relay, Andrew's contributions helped West Yorkshire Under-13 Boys to an overall second place.

Otley AC

THERE were some good performances by members of Otley Athletic Club last weekend. At the Great Yorkshire 10k in Harrogate, Otley's Neil Cayton achieved an excellent fourth place in 33.04 behind winner A Buckley, of Gateshead, in a field of over 250.

On the same day, six Otley members travelled to Dent to take part in the Dentdale run, over 14 miles of picturesque but hilly terrain. Ian Fisher repeated his 1997 victory in the race and edged closer to the course record with a winning time of 1-15.44.

Julian Mawson was well placed in a time of 1-25.51 and Tom Hannah was third Otley finisher in 1-40.10. Max Jowett suffered in the later stages and was disappointed with his time of 1-42.00. Phil Robinson and Neil O'Brien toiled on the hillier second half or the race and struggled to finish in 1-46.05 and 1-52.12 respectively.

On Sunday, Otley AC was represented at the South Leeds Stadium five-mile road race. Chris Carver put up a good performance to finish in 38th place with a time of 29.42. Steve Mann was also pleased with his time of 33.55.

Entry forms are now available for the Otley Motors 10-mile Road Race which will be staged on Wednesday, May 24. Forms can be obtained at local sports centres, sports shops or from the club at their training nights on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.15pm at Otley RUFC (tel 0113 2842572 for further details).

Wharfedale Harriers

In last week's athletics columns there were reports of participation in no less than five different fell races, plus five other cross-country, road and track events, leading one to the conclusion that there is probably nowhere else in the world which supports such a diversity of running events as the North West of England

On the fells there was a little less choice this time around but the weekend was again blessed with beautiful weather for racing, cool and clear, although perhaps a little too windy to be perfect.

Four members travelled to the village of Barley on Saturday for the popular Half Tour of Pendle over a rugged nine miles and 2250 ft of climb. The race climbs from the village to the top of Pendle Hill followed by a long, fast descent to the Nick of Pendle, from where a more or less direct line is taken back to the finish, including the precipitous drop into and climb back out of Ogden Clough.

In a very competitive event attracting a quality field of 272 runners, Rob Hope of Pudsey and Bramley led the way home, just as he did two weeks ago at the Ilkley Moor Fell Race, in a time of 1.06.49. In his wake came Wharfedale Harriers' Bob Hamilton 38th, 1.17.35; Andy Holden 43rd, 1.18.12; Des O'Regan 51st, 1.20.00; and David Hird 59th, 1.21.37, who sneaked the only prize of the day for Wharfedale,third in the veterans' over-45 category

Inter-club rivalry is certainly hotting up with each harrier having a teammate in sight for the duration of the race. It looks like there will be some close fought battles this season, certain to add an extra edge to training in the coming months.

On Saturday afternoon, Kate Rogan was running down south for her county in the National Schools Cross-Country Championships. By her own very high standards Kate didn't really do herself justice with her 93rd place, although out of a field of over 300 of the best young athletes in the country, and away from her favoured fells, this was still a very sound performance. Kate's current target is the FRA championship race on the Wrekin at the beginning of April.

On Sunday another club contingent headed to the Lakes for the Kendal Winter League Race at Torver, Coniston. Seemingly untroubled by his exertions of the previous day, Andy Holden doubled up for the second successive weekend

and showed how he thrives on racing by charging up the climb to be first to the top. Unfortunately, master descender Colin Valentine was in close enough touch to overhaul Andy on the return to win in a time of 22.09. Andy duly finished 2nd in 22.35, closely followed by Steve Hounslow 7th, 23.19 with Dave Fell 11th, 25.27 and Damien Scholes 12th, 26.07.

Steve is currently lying second in the series, 28 points behind league leader Anthony Shepherd. In the Under-17 boys, Martin Hounslow 5th in 16.20 again headed brother Sam 6th in 17.19 by a single place. In the absence of Kate, Lynn Whittaker carried the flag for the ladies finishing 6th in 22.22.

Wharfedale Harriers is a family oriented club aiming to promote fell and cross-country running across all ages and abilities. Training takes place Monday to Thursday evenings from Silsden, Skipton and Ilkley.

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

Ilkley Harriers

ONCE again Ilkley Harrier Geoff Howard showed his strength and experience in two hard fell races on consecutive days. In the Ossie Oink and Blade Combes races, both over nine miles, Geoff was first veteran over 50 and finished well up the field in the open age category.

On Saturday the popular Dentdale Run, a 14.3 mile road race over undulating countryside, attracted a good field. Otley AC's leading runner Ian Fisher was the winner in 1.15. Three Ilkley runners building up to marathons produced excellent personal bests.

Ewan Welch ran a very good time of 1,365 and with more training may get close to 3 hours for his marathon. Dave Ibbotson did 2.03 and Howard Allen 2.09 and both are on schedule to achieve their ambitions if they stay injury free.

Howard was out again the following day competing in the South Leeds Stadium 5, a five mile road race over a less than easy course. Ilkley's star performer was Andrew Wade with a time of 28.28 to maintain his recent improvement.

Mark recorded a solid time of 31.29 while Andy Sarah did 39.00 and Howard 42.50.

This weekend may see one or two Harriers take on the Wuthering Hike 2000 fell race at Oxenhope. This is not one for the feint hearted with 4,400 ft of climbing over 31 miles.

On Sunday most Harriers will be out on the local fells training and Ken Souyave will lead an additional group from the Old Bridge.

Thursday evenings are maintaining solid support and the club is now looking to develop these sessions more broadly as the lighter nights arrive. Support mnd ideas are welcome.

The next club event is on Saturday, March 25, when the Meanwood Valley Trail from Old Leodiensians RUFC at Alwoodley takes place starting at 10.30 am. This is an an eight mile race over mixed terrain providing a challenge for all types of runner.

The club meets at Ben Rhydding Sports Club on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 pm.

Skyrac Fellrunners

Magnificent Pendle Hill draws fellrunners from far and wide and currently four annual fell races include Pendle in their name.

Toughest of these is November's classic 17 mile Tour of Pendle, known as the Full Tour. Skyrac runners always choose one of the four Pendle races to include in their Fell Championship series and later this year trophy hunters will be out in force for the Full Tour.

However, it is a long wait until November and so in the meantime seven Skyrac runners travelled to Barley village to renew their acquaintance with this proud Lancashire hill in a bagatelle which, at only nine miles with 2,250ft of ascent and one visit to the summit, is called the Half Tour.

From a large field of 245 entries Robert Hope (Pudsey and Bramley) won in 1hr 6 mins 49 secs which was a slow time reflecting the fierce winds experienced by runners.

Skyrac runners ran to form with Ralph Warman continuing to show signs of a renaissance in his running., Nigel Kirkbright was 55th in 1.20.36, Duncan Asquith 66th in 1.22.36, Graham Grinstead 125th in 1.28.57, Malcolm Coles 163rd in 1.35.14 and Max Wood 174th in 1.37.50. Meanwhile on the road regular prizewinner Peter Rawnsley finished the Great Yorkshire 10K third in the over-50 category in 39.28.

Skyrac, which is part of ANSA, is Wharfedale's longest established but developing athletics club and you can learn how to join by ringing Sue or Neil Clayton on 0113 2290924 or by grabbing any runner in the striking yellow vest!

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.