ON THE back of the Leeds Abbey Dash, Age UK have now established another popular 10K in the area at Harewood House.

Sunday's race had 1,845 finishers, with Frank Beresford of Otley AC taking the laurels.

His 34min 54sec was remarkable for the off-road course and the tough 200-foot climb over half a mile near Pool Bank, just before the five-mile marker.

Tom Collinge, who graduated from Coventry University last summer and returned to Halifax to join Queensbury RC, finished an excellent fourth in 36:31.

He is also part of the Wednesday 'enhanced training' group under the coaching of Brian Scobie, which pulls together half a dozen similar-level runners, in an overall group of 20.

Kirsty Allen of Baildon Runners was second lady in 43:23 (chip), although beaten by almost three minutes by winner Charlotte Wills.

The previous Sunday saw the final race in the PECO CROSS-COUNTRY LEAGUE.

A strong headwind and the hills made the course at Roundhay Park difficult but fortunately it was well drained underfoot.

Saltaire Striders were the happiest of the Bradford clubs, with a fine second in the Ladies' Premier Division behind Valley Striders.

Jen Willingham (19th), fast-improving Laura Marchant (21st), Steph Wilson (27th), official second-claimer Lesley Watson (40th) and Laura Ryall (50th) were the day's counters. They were ably supported by Tracy Foy and others.

The ladies of Ilkley and Eccleshill will be relegated from the First Division to join Airecentre Pacers, who improved to fourth, and Bradford-Airedale, whose strongest trio were never able to compete on the same day.

Saltaire's men missed a few runners. Pete Hopson and Will Kerr fought out eighth place between them, with Matt Nowell just behind in 11th, but to no avail.

The vastly-improved St Theresa's from East Leeds and the comparatively new Hyde Park club took second and third places on the day and that pushed them both above Saltaire in the final standings.

Pudsey & Bramley's men pulled out the stops in the final race to gain promotion from the Second Division. Meanwhile, Eccleshill's men, in fourth, put up a much stronger all-round performance than previously.