Running log

The tightest championship finish in years seems likely after reaching the halfway point of the YORKSHIRE VETS LEAGUE at Honley.

The fifth of the nine races sees Pudsey Pacers and Horsforth with sizeable gaps over a chasing group of four clubs.

The Pacers were out in force again, fielding 11 of the 56 women competitors and 17 of the 115 men. The cumulative scores give them 13,937 points, with Horsforth on 10,730.

Home club Holmfirth have the slenderest of advantages in third place over Airedale Athletics (6552 to 6540), with Pudsey & Bramley (6508) in fifth and Stainland (6065) sixth. York Knavesmire (4626) lead the chasing group.

The Airedale composite team had their biggest turnout ever with ten men, led home by Bradford-Airedale’s Gerard Mills. Baildon’s Teresa Duckett led their women home in an impressive 14th spot.

The revised six-mile course from last year took in a two-mile climb onto the moors at Thurstonland, where the runners were greeted by a stiff headwind, before a steep descent to lap the playing fields at Honley.

Holmfirth’s David Watson took an early lead but was almost hauled in by Pudsey & Bramley’s Colin Walker. Watson finished in 37min 14sec – ten seconds ahead of Walker, whose team-mate Paul Stevenson just pipped Andy Whitworth from Meltham for third place in 38:49.

Karen Pickles (Pudsey Pacers) was, as always, a clear winner among the women in 42:12. Almost five minutes behind was Holmfirth’s Margaret Sykes.

Eccleshill Road Runners were led home by Janice Magennis in 31st place and remain an impressive fifth in the women’s all-to-count league.

The season of gala-based fell races continues on Sunday with the OLDFIELD GALA event over 5.5 miles. Then the following Sunday there are a cluster of races over road, trail and fell.

The KENTMERE HORSESHOE 12-mile fell race counts for the Skyrac and Airedale Athletics off-road championships.

The HARROGATE TOWN CENTRE 10K uses a fast road circuit, while the PUDSEY CHALLENGE 10K trail race and ROUGEMONT CHASE 7.4K trail race at Weeton, outside Harrogate, offer alternatives. Most can be entered on the day.