Running log

A tight battle for local supremacy took place between Jo Buckley (Bingley), Spenborough junior Jennifer Walsh, Laura Kirk of Skyrac and Buckley’s team-mate Mary Wilkinson at the Senior Women’s County Cross-Country Championships.

The overall winner at Doncaster was Leeds City’s international marathoner Susan Partridge (22min 18sec) after a good tussle with City of York rival Becky Penty.

Buckley eventually took local honours in fifth spot (23:28) ahead of Walsh, the county’s top junior runner, Kirk and Wilkinson, all within 100 yards of each other.

Ilkley’s Sally Morley in 18th (24:38) continued her recent good form, alongside Rachael Bamford (Otley AC) and Claire Pearson (Skipton) in 21st and 27th respectively.

Pudsey & Bramley’s Alex Bell was second junior in 31st, just edging Keighley & Craven’s evergreen Elisa Woffenden on a dip for the line.

Bingley were edged out of the team prize by Leeds City, who scored 50 points. Sheffield Hallamshire were third with 70. Buckley and Wilkinson were backed up by Emma Clayton (18th) and Andrea Dennison as counters.

Ilkley were seventh senior ladies team and Keighley & Craven, despite missing their two top performers, ended ninth.

In the younger categories, Skyrac’s Hannah Brown (fourth), Jaye Riley (12th) and Molly Keeffe (18th) in the under-17s gave their club silver behind Wetherby.

Spenborough were top local under-15s team in ninth, with Bethany Ellis first home in tenth spot. Ilkley’s Georgia Malir ran well for 21st position.

Ilkley were top performers in the under-13s, as their focus on developing younger age groups begins to pay dividends.

They had three teams competing, their A team finishing fourth thanks to Sarah Pickering (11th in 13:41), Tassy Heslop (14th, 13:52) and Lucy Williamson (22nd, 14:21).

Ilkley team manager Shirley Wood called it a “super turnout of our younger juniors”.

Skyrac, Skipton and Keighley & Craven all had full teams out for the youngest category.

Meanwhile, in a remarkable unseasonal interlude, Bingley’s Sarah Benson broke her own club record in the shot putt by throwing 12.97 metres during a grand prix meeting at the University of Wales Institute in Cardiff.