In 1981 snow 6-8 feet deep in Horton meant The Three Peaks Race had to be postponed until October and in 2002 the weather was so bad that 57 runners were treated for hypothermia.

But for the 50th race last Sunday the sun shone and shone and the runners' biggest concern was avoiding sunburn and trying to be caught looking fit and untroubled by the Yorkshire Television cameras filming the event for transmission on May 6.

And of course coping with the small matter of running 24 miles and climbing a total of 4,500 feet over Yorkshire's famous three peaks without being timed out because, despite the carnival atmosphere of the 50th anniversary celebrations, the Three Peaks Race remains a seriously challenging event - and unlike southern events like the London Marathon pantomime horses are not accepted for entry.

The organisers accepted 625 pre-entries, 508 runners reached the start line but only 407 achieved the glory of finishing with 101 runners suffering the indignity of being driven back to base in the mini vans provided by the organisers.

Dave Hodgson, compiler of the excellent 20 page colour booklet on the history of the race (Copies £2 via telephone number below), in introducing proceedings suggested that the day had attracted the most outstanding quality entry in the history of the race.

In addition to celebrating its 50th Anniversary the race also determined the Yorkshire Championship and was a counter for the English Championship. All of which meant the field included many past winners.

It was a past winner who won on Sunday. Bingley's Andy Peace (winner in 1994/95/96) set off at a storming pace and by the top of Pen-y-Ghent was already 22 seconds ahead of club-mate Ian Holmes (winner in 1997) followed by the Borrowdale pair Simon Booth (winner in 2000/2002) and Mark Roberts (winner in 1998).

Although the gap closed to three seconds at the Hill Inn, Peace eventually won in 2.55.46 with Booth finishing in 2.56.38. Holmes was well adrift in 3.02.38 and Roberts was 4th in 3.07.03.

First lady was current English and British Champion Louise Sharp (Keswick) who finished 57th in 3.39.49 as a first time winner ahead of 85th Sharon Taylor (Bingley) in 3.53.30 and 97th Sue Becconsall (Bingley) in 3.58.31. The ladies race has now had eight different winners in the past nine years in contrast with the

period in the late 1980s/early 1990s when Vanessa Peacock, Carol Greenwood and Sarah Rowell were sequential multiple winners.

Whilst the drama on the fells was being played out under the scorching sun, VIP guests were relaxing over a celebratory buffet, viewing the two previous video films which have been made about the race which Yorkshire Television had made available or just enjoying the ambience of what everyone agreed had been a wonderful day.

Four Skyrac runners completed the race. For Bob Pritchard and Martin Farrar it was their first peaks race and they finished well in 128th (4.06.28) and 175th (4.17.33) respectively. For Malcolm Coles and Graham Breeze the pleasure of the first time is long gone and they finished in 258th (4.36.43) and 389th (5.16.08).

However as one runner was heard to say to the TV camera "this is the greatest fell race in Britain. Time does not matter because just to finish is a celebration in itself."

Skyrac can be contacted via www.skyrac.org.uk or 01943 874046

Otley Athletic Club

Conditions for the London Marathon were cool and overcast, Almost ideal for the runners.

As expected Ian Fisher led the Otley team home, going through 10K in 32.10 and halfway in 68.27 to finish in 2-21.04 for 36th position.

Next for Otley was Julian Mawson running a superbly judged pace, through halfway in 76.20 to finish in 2-33.53 for 108th overall. Close behind in 120th overall was Neil Cayton, halfway in 75.58 and full distance in 2-34.41.

Carl Walsh, in his first London run, had trained carefully through the winter and was on target for 3-15 until 20 miles when slight over-enthusiasm in the early stages took its toll and he slowed to 3-29 - still a very useful time for a first marathon.

The Three Peaks fell race is Yorkshire's answer to the London Marathon and conditions could not have been more different for the 50th running of this famous fell race with hot sunny weather prevailing throughout the day.

There were only two starters for Otley in this year's race and both finished: John Armitstead in 3-58.39 for 97th place and Edward Davies in 4-09.08 for 137th.

Also last Sunday a full entry of 650 perspired their way round the Rothwell 10K. Just seven days after a marathon most runners are pleased if they can walk downstairs forwards without serious discomfort, so Ian Fisher had entered the race just as a post-marathon 'loosener'. He was surprised and delighted to win in 31.17, over a minute in front of second man Andrew Pearson.

Second claim Otley member Jamie Noon was fourth in 33.28, Julian Mawson also recovering well from London, was fifth in 33.40, and in 29th in a time of 37.34 James Cullen completed a winning Otley team.

Other Otley results were - 41st, Chris Carver, 38.56; 86th, Phil Robinson, 40.56 (second V60); 102nd, Tom Hanah, 41.53; 119th, Carl Walsh, 42.32; 220th, David Hainsworth, 46.27; 265th, Helen Walsh, 48.11; 315th, Hannah Peacock, 50.54; 322nd, David Cattanch, 51.30.

Youngsters show style

Leeds City AC's Under-20 teams began this season's Pennine Division of the National Junior Athletics League in grand style.

Both the men's and women's teams dominated the first round of four and must now be favourites to secure a place in the end-of-season play-off match for promotion to the Northern Premier Division.

A big points earner in the under-20 women's team was 15 year-old Bethany Staniland as the Horsforth athlete won the A strings of her three permitted events.

Her day started with a victory in the javelin with 33.46m and this was closely followed by another victory in the discus with a season's best throw of 33.77m. Inbetween these two throwing events she won the 400m in a personal best performance of 59.0s. Finally, she ran the first leg of the winning Leeds City 4 x 400m-relay team that took the honours by over half a lap in 4.05.9s.

In the same under-20 women's team Guiseley's Emma Moutrie was equally impressive in the triple jump. Despite giving away three years to some other competitors, she won the event with a pleasing 10.99m.

In the men's competition, Bethany's brother Andrew was also a big points earner for Leeds. Comfortably winning his specialist event, long jump, in 6.93m, Andrew went on to win both the pole vault in 3.50m and the discus, setting a new personal best with the 1.75kg weight of 40.96m. He was also second in the A 110m hurdles in a new PB of 16.4s and led off the second placed Leeds 4 x 400m squad (3.31.7s).

Teammate Fraser Davies of Menston also had an excellent day and won both the B discus with 34.08m (a PB with the 1.75kg implement) and the B pole vault (3.05m). He was also second in the B high jump with 1.65m. In this latter event Matthew Hudson was second in the A string with 1.75m. Matthew also played a valuable part in the second placed Leeds City 4 x 100m relay team.

In the women's match Skyrac's Amy Howard was a key member of the Bingley Harriers team, for whom she can compete in this league in a second claim capacity.

A second place in the A shot (10.35m - PB) was closely followed by a victory in the B string 400m hurdles in 76.7s. A third place in the A string hammer in another personal best of 34.22m preceded a second place in the A discus in 30.23m. Amy rounded off a busy afternoon by running leg three of the third placed Bingley Harriers' 4 x 400m squad.