Athletics: German Bernd Schapdick produced a swift time of 14min 52sec on the fast course around the Esholt treatment plant on Tuesday night.

The 28-year-old is on a year's teaching post at Woodhouse Grove School, and has a track personal best of 14-25.

The race incorporated the Yorkshire Veterans' 5km Championships and Schap-dick's teaching colleague, Ken Robinson of Bingley, was a winner in the over-45 category.

Top veteran on the night was Bingley's John Cordingley. He finished third overall behind Pudsey and Bramley's Paul Sheard who was using the race as a sharpener for the forthcoming British Championship Fell Race at Donard-Comedagh in Ireland on Saturday.

Guiseley-based Sheard will now miss the chance of making it four consecutive wins in Sunday's Baildon Boundary Way, also from Esholt Sports Club (10.30am).

This popular off-road half marathon has once again attracted entries from all over the UK, but has an altered course this year, due to police traffic control.

Starting and finishing at Esholt, the route now goes through Tong Park, over Baildon Moor to Shipley Glen, and follows the River Aire and Leeds-Liverpool Canal to Thackley before a woodland section brings the runners back through Esholt village to the finish.

Idle-based Ian Fisher (Otley AC) looks the pre-race favourite in the men, while the Beverley AC pairing of Jim McGivern and veteran Richard Gay should be prominent, as should Abbey's London-based runner Joe Gonzales, winner of the Coley Canter in December.

Baildon's own Oventin Lewis should also be to the fore after setting a half marathon personal best at Leeds last weekend.

Three of the regions top veterans - Malcolm Pickering of Ilkley, Jonnie Butler of Keighley and Craven and St Bede's Jack Verity - will do battle in the over-40 category.

There are no entries on the day for this year's event, due to lack of car parking spaces.

Bingley Harriers veteran squad will travel to Sutton Park in the Midlands on Saturday to compete in the National Open Veteran Road Relays.

Unfortunately their over-50 team have been depleted by injuries to Bill Padgett, Mike Critcheley and Peter Probin, which could cost them vital seconds.

Neil Robson will lead off, what is still a strong side containing Terry Lonergan, Les Haynes, Neil Jennings, Bob Dover and Peter Moon.

In the over-60 category, Gerry Spink, John Smithurst and Fred Gibbs will provide a formidable trio against main rivals Oxford, and Barnet.

More locally on Saturday, Allan Greenwood is promoting the Windmills Whizz - a multi-terrain event from the Withens Inn at Wainstalls, Halifax.

The 51/2-mile event has an 11am start and covers tarmac, moorland bridleways and fell. Pudsey and Bramley's Gary Oldfield looks the one to beat. Entries on the day only.

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