The final day of the wettest English year since records began was fittingly marked by The Auld Lang Syne Race, as some of the leading names in fell racing took to the hills above Haworth amidst gale-force winds and driving rain.
A blustery Thornes Park in Wakefield welcomed over 600 competitors fighting for team and individual plaudits in the fourth and final race of the West Yorkshire Cross-Country League.
The Ingleborough Fell Race challenged 187 competitors to 1,968 feet of climbing over 6.8 miles.
Local runners scattered far and wide in search of races over a wet June weekend.
Emma Clayton (Bingley Harriers) took Lads Leap in her stride as the region’s top fell runners descended on the Dark Peak area to contest a 5.9-mile fell race incorpotating the Derbyshire Championships and 1,700 feet of climbing.
Saltaire Striders emerged from a plethora of off-road racing last weekend to take second place in the PECO Cross-Country League First Division, and settle a series of close tussles with Airecentre Pacers, in the fifth and final event.
Bingley Harriers' Emma Clayton made it a trio of consecutive victories in the 23rd Ilkley Fell Race on Sunday, setting a course record of 43min 12sec to finish over two and a half minutes clear of Jo Waites (Calder Valley).
West Yorkshire clubs stole the limelight in appalling conditions at the Norman Matthews Winter Hill Fell Race on Sunday.
The world’s leading two triathletes, Bingley Harriers duo Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, destroyed the 221-strong field to take gold and silver at the Yorkshire Cross-Country Championships.
