MEMBERS of Otley Athletic Club visited the all weather track at Keighley for the latest round of the Runner-of-the-Year competition.

At stake were points in the 800 metres which presented a different challenge to runners more used to racing on the roads or fells.

Two races were held and in the first of these Neil O'Brien, who earlier in the year was training for the London Mararthon, set off at a blistering pace and soon opened a 30 metres gap over the rest of the field.

Unfortunately he ran out of steanm on the second lap and was caught close to the line by the fast finishing David Fox.

Their times of 2.33.7 and 2.35.4 put them well clear of Tom Hannah (2.42.7), Phil Robinson (2.50.9) and Kath Robertshaw (3.00.7).

In the A race Mick Jeffrey produced the fastest time of the night with 2.19.5 ahead of the closely grouped Chris Carver (2.23.6), Andrew Robertshaw (2.24.2) and Graham Stead (2.26.3). Bringing up the rear was Jack Robertshaw in 2.38.4.

At the weekend a choice of fell races saw five Otley members travel to Barnoldswick for the Weets Fell Race whilst the Robertshaw family crossed the border into Lancashire to compete in the Beetham Fell Race.

In the former Mick Jeffrey maintained his good form with a time of 39.16. Ray Hawksby managed 41.50 whilst Tom Hannah improved his 1997 performance by ten seconds with 43.03. Phil Robinson came home in 46.03 and David Cattanach finished in 51.40.

At Beetham Jack Robertshaw was 22nd overall with a time of 45.43 on the 5.75 mile course which involved 1,000 feet of ascent. His wife Kath was fourth lady in a time of 52.35.

Otley AC welcomes runners of all abilities at their training sessions at Otley RUFC in Cross Green on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Telephone 0113 2842572 for details.

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