Bingley split resources between road and fell

Keighley-based international Steve Green, who led the club to their fourth "national" title over the country three weeks ago, again heads the side as they aim to go one better than their silver medals 12 months ago at the same venue.

In last year's race, Bingley had their title snatched from them on stage ten by Salford AC.

The Nab Wood-based side have undergone wholesale changes this year, however, with some of their top performers opting to run on the fells in a National Championship race in Lancashire.

Green, who recently destroyed a class half marathon field in Camberley, Surrey, will be joined by international steeplechaser Mick Hawkins of Grassington, together with club captain Colin Moore and Denholme's Chris Bartle.

The event is split into a dozen sections, with four "long" stages over five-and threequarter miles and eight "short" legs of three-and-a-half miles.

Runners from a range of age groups join the squad as 22-year-old former junior international fellsman Matthew Whitfield and 21-year-old Phillip Tedd will race, along with the previous weekend's Bradford Bolling 3km Veteran's Road Race winner Peter Moon, 49, and Baildon super veteran Neil Robson.

Making their debut in the team are former British Open fell running champion Mark McGlincy of Grassington and Riddlesden's Stewart MacDonald.

The big threat to Bingley's bid will be Morpeth Harriers, third behind Bingley at Roundhay Park over the country last month, though Salford will again be out in strength, as will Sunderland, who finished fourth in last year's relay.

Longwood Harrier Andrew Pearson, who set the fastest "short" stage time by over half a minute last year, will miss the event as he competes in an international 10,000 metre track race in Lisbon.

Keighley and Craven AC will be looking to improve on their previous best and hope to gain selection for the National Relay championships in a fortnight.

Adrian Jones, who recently ran a career best 29min 55sec for 10,000m on the road, spearheads the club's challenge and will be joined by top veterans Jonnie Butler and Peter Carr, along with top all-terrain runner Rob Grillo and distance man Darren Brame.

Bingley's Ian Holmes begins the defence of his British Fell Running Championship on Saturday as he heads for Lancashire's "Hill of the Witches".

The Pendle Fell Race, from the village of Barley, near Burnley has been chosen for the first round of this year's British Fell Racing Grand Prix, and Holmes will be eager for outright victory in the national series, after his joint win in 1997.

The Haworth-based international already holds a points lead in the English Fell Racing series after his record-breaking win over ten miles at Long Mynd in Shropshire, and a win for Holmes on Saturday will strengthen his lead as the Lancashire fixture incorporates the second leg of this domestic series.

Holmes will find support from team-mates Steve Hawkins and Mark Kinch - both past British champions on the fells - as well as the fast improving Rob Jebb of Eldwick and Clapham's veteran's bronze medallist Bob Whitfield.

Great Horton's Steve Oldfield of Bradford Airedale will contest the over-40s category in the race, and will be looking to go one better than his fine silver in last season's English Championship behind Dave Neill of Staffordshire-based Mercia Runners.

The route involves a punishing 1,500 feet of climbing and descent in just four-and-a-half miles, with the main ascent being up the notorious "big end" of the famous hill.

The race, now in its 42nd year, is one of the oldest in the book and only four men - all past champions - have ever laid claim to being able to run all the way up the heartbreaking incline during the heat of the race.

A notoriously powerful climber, Holmes will be looking to add his name to that famous quartet this weekend.

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