Eight members of Otley AC made the trip to Ingleton last weekend to compete in the Ingleborough Fell Race which involves a distance of around seven miles and over 2,000 feet of climbing.

In a high-class field two Bingley Harriers, Rob Jebb and Andy Peace, were first and second, with Otley's Andrew Robertshaw coming home 22nd in just over 52 minutes.

Duncan Burgess, despite a fall on the descent which left him with lacerated hands and knees, finished in a creditable time of 58 minutes. He was followed closely by John Armitstead in 59.20 and a slightly below par Dale Foster in 61.43.

Phil Robinson fancied his chances of beating the course V60 record but had to settle for 68.22, approximately 90 seconds outside the record.

Tom Hannah was pleased to finish in under 70 minutes followed by David Hainsworth in 71.11. Kath Robertshaw managed an excellent time of 80 minutes which was almost seven minutes faster than her previous best on this course.

On Sunday, Otley AC sent three teams to the Yorkshire Veterans' Road Relays at Esholt. The V40 team, consisting of Mick Jeffrey, Phil Robinson, Ray Hawksby and Graham Stead finished 17th in a total time of

62.59 for the 4 x 2.5 mile legs, the fastest of which was Mick Jeffrey's 14.55. The V50 team of Steve Haywood, Tom Hannah and Tony Allen finished 18th with an aggregate time of 52.21 for their three legs.

The Otley Ladies' team consisted of Caroline Marler, Ann Atkinson and Jennie McKenzie and they managed 9th place with an aggregate 55.19.

Finally, four other members of Otley AC competed in the Eccup ten mile race which was won by Martin Scaife

of Chester-le-Street in 52.36. Otley's Carl Walsh managed 71.20 (a personal best) followed closely by Howard Jeffrey in 71.59. Antonio Cardinale achieved 79.48 and David Cattanach brought up the rear in 91.10.

Otley AC welcome runners of all abilities to their training sessions at Otley RUFC, Cross Green, Otley, every Tuesday and Thursday at 7.15pm. Tel 0113 2842572 for further details.

Skyrac Fellrunners

Although the casual observer may consider fellrunning to be a dangerous sport, in reality because of responsible race organisers, the aegis of the Fell Runners Association and the general good sense of fellrunners, the total of four deaths over the last 25 years compares very favourably with, say, road marathons.

When deaths occur it is primarily from hypothermia when runners have gone off route in extreme weather and this was the case with Judith Taylor who died in the 1994 Kentmere Horseshoe.

The race was then held in the first week in April and could be held - as in 1994 - in blizzard conditions notably on the exposed High Street.

Whilst the Coroner attached no blame to the race organiser or the FRA, which has always been anxious to maintain fellrunning's traditional ethos of freedom from over-regulation, the race date was subsequently moved to mid-July.

Last Sunday saw the 28th race, which in its 12 miles (3,300ft climb) takes in Kentmere Pike and Ill Bell, won by Rob Jebb (Bingley) in 1.31.08.

Rob won the 21 miles 9,000 feet Wasdale race during the previous weekend and he is leading the British Championship table with one race to come so perhaps this is his year.

For Skyrac Graham Breeze was 63rd from 142 runners in just over two hours which is faster than the time he recorded, with 15 other Skyrac runners in the field, when he first ran the event 15 years ago.

"This illustrates the benefit of racing every weekend or perhaps just drinking good red wine," said Graham.

Skyrac can be contacted on www.skyrac.org.uk or 0113 229 0924

Yeadon athlete stars

Several local athletes played valuable parts for Leeds City AC in a very busy weekend for the club.

First off the mark were those who were representing the combined male and female senior team in the semi-final of the British Athletics League Cup at Gateshead's International Stadium.

Competing against some of the country's top teams, such as Edinburgh, Trafford, Gateshead, Piteavie and Wakefield, Leeds finished in a creditable sixth position out of the eight participating clubs.

In this pride of place went to Yeadon's Celia de Maria who set a magnificent PB to win the women's 400m hurdles in 68.4s.

She then showed great diversity and came second in the 3,000m (10.40.1) and immediately afterwards ran the 100m hurdles in which she finished fifth in 19.3s.

There were also some fine performances from Horsforth's Bethany Staniland, who the following day was South Africa bound on a hockey tour. The 15 year-old youngster achieved two third places in the women's discus (32.32m) and javelin (32.45m). She was also fourth in the long jump (4.89m) and ran the first leg of the third placed 4 x 400m quartet (4.10.7).

In the men's events Yeadon's Martin Roscoe came third in a quality 5000m field (15.25.5) where the final positions were not decided until the last 80 metres.

Teammate Simon Deakin, of Horsforth, went one position better and came second in the 1500m (4.03.4).

The following day many of Leeds City's younger athletes were in action in the fifth and final match of the Young Athletes League Northern Premier Division at South Leeds Stadium.

Here there were mixed emotions for the boys and girls teams; joy for the former as they finished in fifth position out of the 16 premier league teams but disappointment for the latter with a final position of sixth. As a result the boys have qualified for the Young Athletes League Auxiliary Final which will be held at Birmingham's Alexandra Stadium in late August - the girls missed out by one place!

Menston St Mary's Y7 pupil Jodie Gregorcyzk ran her heart out in an effort to raise Leeds's points and duly set a PB in the Under-13 girls' 1500m (5.04.2).

Another middle distance PB came from young Robert Hall of Guiseley who finished third in the Under-15 boys' A 3,000m (10.22.6) while Benton Park's Alex Davy came a well deserved second in the B event (10.43.9).

In the under-17 boys' events three local lads were each big points' earners. None more so than former Skyrac multi-eventer Matthew Hudson.

Finally back to some fitness after a broken arm he set three personal bests in his three technical events. These came with a third place in the A high jump (1.75m), first position in the B long jump (5.61m) and, last but not least, victory in the A 100m hurdles (15.1s).

Menston's Richard Ettenfield, despite suffering from a long-term hamstring injury, turned his attentions to throwing and promptly won the A shot (11.22m). He was also second in the A javelin (41.46m) and third in the A discus (29.09m).

There was a welcome return to the track from Menston St Mary's star rugby player Alex Fox. A fourth place in the A 400m (55.5s), a victory in the B discus (25.13m) and two fine relay legs were welcome contributions to the Leeds boys' cause and a place in the Birmingham finals.

Staniland superb

AT the British Schools' International match in Cardiff Horsforth athlete Andrew Staniland pulled out a tremendous long jump performance in this Under-17 event.

Having finished second in the intermediate boys' long jump at last week's English Schools' AA Championships with 7.08m, the 16 year-old Leeds City athlete was representing England against Scotland, Wales and a combined all Ireland team.

In the Cardiff International Athletics Stadium the Y11 Leeds Grammar School student went one place better this time for victory with a leap of 7.02m, only the second time that he has crossed the seven metres barrier. England were comfortable winners of the match.

AireCentre Pacers

The Otley Ten Mile road race brought out a particular breed of Pacers. Leading the Pacers was Jonathan Smith, on familiar territory.

However, on this occasion he was not firing on all cylinders and managed only 97th place in just over 69 minutes, nearly three minutes outside his personal best.

Richard Thompson was next to finish, in 75 minutes, but the two performances of note came from Diane Craven a minute further behind, and from the fast-improving John Tate. John's solid winter of training paid off to land him 185th place in 79 minutes.