BIRCHFIELD'S Julian Moorhouse edged out Teessider Martin Scaife (Mandale) to head a record field in the Horsforth Harriers staged Horsforth 10K Road Race on Sunday. The 14th annual event - sponsored by Horsforth's Mid Yorkshire Nuffield Hospital - attracted a record field of almost 800 runners who competed over a new course which started and finished at Horsforth School.

Leeds student Moorhouse finished in 31.05 to pick up the £200 winner's cheque. Scaife finished in 31.09 and in third place in 31.34 was former Horsforth winner Ian Mitchell (Longwood). Mitchell, a 21 year-old student, won the Horsforth race two years ago at his first attempt at the distrance on the roads.

A group of six, which included Moorhouse, Scaife, Mitchell, Horforth's John Convery, Otley AC's Ian Fisher and Leeds City's Shaun Winstanley, cut the pace until the hill at two miles. Convery broke away but was caught at the top and Moorhouse and Scaife took control on the fast incline.

Moorhouse always had the edge and coasted in ahead of Scaife with Mitchell well behind in third place.

In the women's race Sue Abbiss of Morpeth took 81st place overall and won the women's prize with her 37.25. Sue's husband Ian is a former Horsforth Harrier. Pauline Munro of Abbey Runners took second place with 38.02 and Alison Raw of Darlington was third with 38.11.

In the Yorkshire Veterans Championship held in conjunction with the race Paul Venables of Rotherham Harriers took the title finishing in 33.03 and taking 11th place overall.

The women's title was won by Karen Slater of Keighley and Craven in 38.17..

Results were:

Men - 1, Julian Moorhouse (Birchfield) 31.05; 2, Martin Scaife (Mandale) 31.09; 3, Ian Mitchell (Longwood) 31.34; 4, Ian Fisher (Otley AC) 31.39; 5, John Convery (unattached) 31.47; 6, Shaun Winstanley (Leeds City) 32.10; 7, Andrew Kilding (Mandale) 32.20; 8, Scott Mitchell (Leeds City) 32.42;; 9, Mark Ruddleston (Rotherham) 32.45; 10, Mark McGlinchy (Bingley) 33.00.

Men over 40 - 1, Paul Venables (Rotherham) 33.03; 2, Steve Whetstone (Abbey Runners) 33.25; 3, Eddie Irving (Bingley) 34.07.

Men over 45 - 1, Richard Gay (Beverley) 34.18; 2, Robert Burn (Thirsk and Sowerby) 34.47; 3, Mick Page (Doncaster and Stainforth) 35.46.

Men over 50 - 1, Malcolm Palfreyman (Rotherham) 35.00; 2, Michael Walker (Gosforth) 35.38.

Men over 55- 1, Les Haynes (Bingley) 35.29.

Men over 60 - 1, Tony Child (Longwood) 38.51.

Men over 65 - 1, Gerry Spink (Bingley) 38.36.

Men over 70 - 1, Ron Appleby (Bingley) .

Women - 1, Susan Abbiss (Morpeth) 37.25; 2, Pauline Munroe (Darlington) 38.02; 3, Alison Raw (Darlington ) 38.11; 4, Karen Slater (Keighley and Craven) 38.17; 5, Sue Garrod (Goole) 38.45.

Women over 35 - 1, Susan Abbiss (Moprpeth) 37.25; 2, Alison Raw (Darlington) 38.11; 3, Cathy Wright (Imperial ) 38.54.

Women over 40 - 1, Karen Slater (Keighley and Craven) 38.17; 2, Sue Garrod (Goole) 38.45.

Women over 45 - 1, Sue Cariss (Bingley) 39.28.

Women over 50 - 1, Sylvia Watson (Valley Striders) 43.23.

Women over 55 - 1, Moira Lenaghan (Crossgates).

Women over 60 - 1, Marlene Wood (Ackworth).

Teams - Leeds City. Women - Abbey Runners. Men's veterans - Rotherham.

Prizes were presented by the Mid Yorkshire Nuffield Hospital's manager Mrs Semeen-Pollock.

Race organiser Howard Roberts expressed the club's delight with the event.

He said: 'The new venue at Horsforth School was excellent and the course was the fastest we have ever had. This is borne out by the fact that we had 50 runners under the 36 minute mark which is very good for a 10K.'

Roberts - whose career in professional football was ended by a knee injury - was keen to praise the people of Horsforth - particulary the residents near whose homes the course ran.

'They were terrific. Their co-operation is greatly valued and we are indebted to them for the race running so smoothly. We also owe thanks to our own members who marshalled the course, the St John Ambulance Brigade, Raynet and the police. They all did a wonderful job - it was a real community event.'

Howard added: 'Since I took over organising the race four years ago we have seen the event go from 300 runners to almost 800 and it is a fantastic sight. We were well pleased with it.'

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