Delight for Moore as Bingley lift team golds

Both runners were credited with 36min 59sec over the 11km course. Bingley international Colin Moore kept the duo company for most of the race and attempted to push on for a win with a lap to go, fearing the faster finishing speed of Critchley and Mitchell, who are 15 years his juniors.

It was not to be, but Moore should be well satisfied, not only with a highly creditable third place in a class field, but also because his club packed six scorers into the top 20 to win the team award.

The hilly, muddy circuit was tailor-made for a team consisting mainly of fell running specialists. Andy Peace was inspired in finishing fifth and Matt Whitfield finished six seconds ahead of Ian Holmes in seventh place. Rob Jebb, 23, was 18th and Phil Tedd completed the Harriers' scoring in 19th to give them 60 points with Leeds City runners-up with 103.

Ian Fisher (Otley AC) was sixth at halfway, and moved through strongly to finish fourth, while Holmfirth's Dave Watson and Pudsey and Bramley's Paul Sheard faded slightly on the final lap to finish just outside the top ten. Holmfirth's Kyle Goulding was third in the junior men's race, where Bradford Grammar School took the team award. Scorers were Gareth Stevens, Chris Wrighton, James Manuel and Johnny Cook.

John Scott led the BGS under-17 squad to bronzes, and the under-13 boys claimed silvers. Local runners dominated the under-15 boys race in which the highly-talented Steven Enright (Halifax) took gold ahead of Skyrac's Robert Spencer.

Spenborough's top prospect James Henry, a student at St Bede's, was fourth, finishing between Holmfirth's David Sugden and Mark Dewhirst, who lead their club to team gold ahead of Skyrac.

In the women's section, Bingley's Carol Greenwood, although not fully fit after back problems, was a clear winner ahead of ex-Spen athlete Penny Thackray (Hallam-shire). Pudsey and Bramley's Jane Clark took bronze.

Spenborough's Amy Green was more than satisfied with fourth and county selection in a section where Skipton's junior woman Sarah Dugdale took top honours in her category with a fine 13th place overall. Team-mate Rebecca Taylor took bronze, and with Nicola Hyslop in fifth Skipton would have easily have taken the team award had there been one.

Skipton girls also took third team award in the under-17 section through Kate Rogan Victoria Rogan and Rebecca Jefferies, daughter of TT star Nick.

There was a gold medal team performance in the under-15 girls for Bingley with Grace Bendle (fifth), Rebecca Smith (seventh) and Victoria Stainburn (18th). They had four points to spare over Skyrac.

There were further honours for Bingley at the Yorkshire Veterans Cross-Country Championships in Sheffield. Peter Probin was a clear winner of the over-50 category from Brian Hilton (Leeds), Neil Robson claiming bronze. New recruit Mike Critch-ley, now of Littondale, finished eighth to enable the Harriers to take team gold. Keighley's Peter Carr and Tony Knowles were 12th and 14th.

Les Haynes was victorious in the over-55 section, team-mate Bob Dover taking silver a minute behind. Hot favourite Fred Gibbs took the honours in the over-60 category, with St Bede's super vet Mick Mahoney taking bronze, and Bingley's Gerry Spink took gold in the over 65s.

Mudlark Andrea Dennison (Bradford Airedale) took the women's title in a tight finish from Bingley's Sue Carriss, who scooped the over-45 award.

Quentin Lewis powered his way around a testing course at Tong Park, Baildon to take a commanding lead in the West Yorkshire Winter League.

The 23-year-old had a minute to spare over Aireborough Triathlon's Tim Ashelford, who held off Eccleshill's fell specialist Steve Bottomley for runners-up spot. Dewsbury's Treena Carney won the women's race ahead of Aireborough's Laura Martin.

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