The start-line for the traditional Easter Sunday Guiseley Gallop promised an intriguing contest between Shaun Dimelow (Barnsley Harriers), the in-form Tom Adams (Ilkley) and Tim Midgley (Bingley), who was a clear winner of the Baildon Boundary Way a fortnight previously.

Glorious conditions beckoned over 500 starters on their 10k multi-terrain run. It was no surprise to see Chris Miller (Harrogate) join the leading trio in a blistering start through the trails of Esholt Woods to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

Adams and Dimelow stretched away on the canal, with Adams eventually proving the stronger by 22 seconds in 35 minutes dead, drawing clear on the road section to Esholt village and the climb through the woods to Guiseley.

Miller ran alone to take third, while Midgley fell back before eventually pulling out at two-thirds.

Midgley’s misfortune opens up the competition two races into the Airedale Triple Challenge, which culminates at Meanwood Valley on Saturday, May 28.

Baildon’s Quentin Lewis is now handily placed for the series title after his sixth place at Guiseley and fourth at Baildon.

Emma Barclay (Ilkley) was first over-40 lady and third overall behind Margaret Beever (Stainland) and Jennie Guard (Leeds), who stormed to victory by a margin of nearly three minutes in 40min 20sec.

For Baildon Runners, Claire Greenwood was an excellent fourth in the over-40s and Lorne McNeil managed 44:33 only a week after his 3hr 19min effort in the London Marathon.

For organising club Skyrac, Duncan Asquith was third over-50 in 42:46 and Emma Inglis was seventh senior lady in 47:59.

Sunday’s spring classic, the Salford 10k, saw Sale’s Antony Ford failing by two seconds to break the 30-minute barrier. He held off Holmfirth’s Matt Pierson in a sprint.

Performance of the weekend was by Leigh’s Lauren Howarth, who was tenth overall in 32min 33sec, with Kendal international Sarah Tunstall second lady in 35:18, just holding off Todmorden’s Lauren Jeska and Salford’s Tess Walker.

Keighley & Craven’s Marko Gvero was fourth over-40 in a nippy 34:51, with Wakefield’s John Convery just behind as the third over-45 (35:04) and Saltaire Striders’ second-claimer, Dave Safranauskas eighth over-40 in 36:32.