Ilkley Harriers fell runners bang on form in Keswick

The Karrimor Great Trail Challenge drew hundreds to the Lakes and incorporated junior and senior, male and female championships.

Keighley’s Zara Knappy was a fine fourth.

Malir beat old rival Catriona Graves of Scotland by 34 seconds, while Welsh youngster Rebecca Evans beat Knappy for bronze.

Holmfirth’s Katie Walshaw won the senior women’s race in dry, lovely conditions.

Meanwhile, Andi Jones of Stockport just held off Ireland’s Brian MacMahon for the men’s title. Tom Adams from Ilkley was tenth.

Nicky Green, also of Ilkley Harriers, was fifth lady finisher at the Edinburgh Marathon ten days ago in a time of 2hr 57min 9sec, three minutes down on her London time from April.

The Ilkley Trail Race the following day drew the biggest turnout since 2009 – 276 runners.

Tom Adams won in 38min 52sec, a course record over the 6.9mile route north of the town, despite being wet and muddy underfoot.

He had a gap of almost six minutes over Wharfedale’s Gareth Hird.

The difference between fell and road-running was demonstrated by Jonathan Wills of Leeds City finishing 25th, over ten minutes behind Adams.

The previous week Wills had won the third Esholt John Carr 5K race in 15min 26sec.

Hannah Oldroyd was first lady home in 49:35, just ahead of Skyrac’s Rebecca Cesar de Sa.

There was a record turnout for the junior race of more than one hundred. There were extra prizes for the muddiest finishers.

Jack Muir (Wharfedale) in 9min 58sec and Lilli Carr (Keighley & Craven) in 10:50 gained the honours in the eight to 13-year age-group.

James Lund (Keighley & Craven) in 13:25 and Victoria Merrick (Bingley) in 15:41 were the winners of the 14 to 18-year race.

Holly Williams, who has been working for SportsShare the last few months to help set up new recreational running groups, has taken a full-time position with the Jane Tomlinson charity, Run for All.

In a few months she has overseen a half-dozen new groups.