Athletics: The Pace Three Peaks race starts at 10am on Sunday and over 500 runners will embark on a 24-mile route over the tops of Ingleborough, Great Whernside and Pen-y-Ghent in the Yorkshire Dales.

Bingley's Andy Peace is the course record holder with a time of 2hrs 46min 3sec set in 19996, but he will not contest the race this time.

The best chance of honours for Bingley lies with Mark Croasdale and last year's fifth-placed Paul Mitchell.

The long course should suit Croasdale, who has enjoyed good recent form.

The Devon-based serviceman came second in the Forces Marathon in America last autumn, as well as having a top-25 finish in the Great North Run.

He followed that more recently with 23rd place in the National at Newark and 15th place in the English Fell Championships at Noon Stones.

Mitchell, however, will be hard pressed to emulate his performance of last year.

He became a father earlier this year which has seriously affected his training pattern.

Clayton-le-Moors' Mark Horrocks, who was runner-up last year, and third-placed Andrew Schofield (Borrowdale) should provide stern opposition.

Pudsey & Bramley pair Paul Briscoe and Andy Hauser have entered and if Andy completes the race he will receive a special award for finishing the event 21 times.

A battle royal is on the cards in the women's race, with last year's winner Carol Greenwood set to face in-form course record holder Sara Rowell (Pudsey & Bramley) and British fell racing champion Angela Mudge of Scottish club Carnethy.

Some doubt must remain over Greenwood, though, who has been beset with back problems this year.

Athletes looking for a road race will have to travel to the Rothwell 10km from the Sports Centre, Oulton, Leeds.

Sunday's event should provide some fast times.

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