THE last race of 1999 was the Auld Lang Syne Fell Race at Penistone Country Park, Haworth, and over 500 runners participated in what turned out to be six miles of very heavy going.

Four of these were representing Otley AC and their first runner to finish was Dale Foster who was 52nd in an approximate time of 41 mins.

Duncan Burgess, in the middle of a rapid return to form, was close behind in 43.17 whilst Ray Hawksby finished in 47.28. Colin Best, recovering from his efforts in the Chevin Chase where he had the added handicap of canine accompaniment, brought up the rear in 55.10.

The first British Marathon of 2000 was the Millennium Marathon at Leyland in Lancashire and Otley's Nick Hodgkinson avoided excessive New Year celebrations to particpate. His abstinence was rewarded with a personal best time of 3hrs 17 mins and his sights are now set on the London Marathon in April where he will be hoping to crack the three hour barrier.

Next weekend sees the resumption of the cross-country season with the Yorkshire Championships taking place at Rotherham. Men's and ladies' teams from Otley AC will be taking part. On the Sunday the annual Harrogate Ringway Relay will commence in Knaresborough at 9.30 am and there will be three teams from Otley.

Otley AC welcomes runners of all abilities at their training sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.15 pm

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