Skyrac AC

Mid July brings the Wasdale race described by Bill Smith, fell racing's historian as simply "the toughest fell race". Runners take in five major climbs surrounding Wastwater:

Whin Rigg, Seatallan, Pillar, Great Gable and finally Scafell Pike. This 21 mile circuit which includes 9000 feet of climbing deters all but the hardest of fellrunners and last

Saturday Rob Jebb (Bingley) finishing in 3.46.48 was added to the illustrious list of winners. The weather was perfect but even so 17 of the 69 starters failed to finish.

For Skyrac Graham Breeze won 3rd Over 55 Prize and since this was presented by Joss Naylor it ranks as high as any of the prizes he has won.

Summer is also wonderful because of the mid-week fell races that come with the light evenings and go in the Autumn when early dusks reappear.

Graham Breeze raced at Stoodley Pike finishing 40th in 23.31 and in front of an astonished and normally far superior Nigel Kirkbright who was 50th in 24.18.

At less than four miles the race is short and fast, with George Ehrhardt (Todmorden) winning in 18.57, and attracted 122 runners who hopefully all went home having enjoyed a perfect evening.

Contact Skyrac on www.skyrac.org.uk or 0113 229 0924.

Otley Athletic Club

IN the last counting race in the Harrogate League Series at Thirsk it was very muggy. The course was a 5.2 mile two lapper. One or two of the Otley's best runners were not available on the night.

Ian Fisher, who has had a groin strain since just prior to doing the London Marathon back in April, was there to help out. He led the race from the start, and finished ahead of the next runner with a 1minute, 15 second lead.

Otley's next counter Julian Mawson finished third, ten seconds behind the Richmond runner. Julian was robbed of second as he was leading the Richmond runner up until 500 metres to go.

Dale Foster was Otley's third counter (14th). Dale knew he had to give his best performance as they were only 30 seconds ahead off the next club. All three runners achieved their aim and increased their Elite lead by almost two minutes. The Elite trophy was theirs.

More details on www.harrogate-league.co.uk .

Next Wednesday it will be the league's non-counting handicap race/presentation night at Ripon.

On Friday an enjoyable club event was resurrected. The Washburn Relay, started out back in 1993 by the late Phil Dean. For the first few years it was an 18.5 mile, five stage loop around Washburn area which started and finished at Timble Inn.

This event lasted for a few more year's and now it is back with a new five loop stage, each leg being around four to five miles long.

The event is meant to be fun event for all standards. Once everyone has done a necessary recce it should be a breeze. This time is started at Swinsty car park.

Five Otley, two Ilkley and two Harrogate teams entered this illustrious event. Otley C were first back on leg one beating Harrogate A by 30 seconds.

On stage two Otley C lost time and Harrogate A took control despite getting a little lost. On stage three Otley B were making a determined effort and took the lead.

On stage four Harrogate A caught Otley B up on time but they were still in front at the end of the leg, Harrogate B becoming Otley's main threat. Otley B finished first on the final leg five, with four minutes over Harrogate.

Club training nights are Tuesday and Thursday at Cross Green 7.15pm. Beamsley Fell Race

With last year's winner Jason Hemsley absent on road-running duty for Ilkley Harriers, this year's race was definitely up for grabs.

The first three to the top of the beacon represented an interesting mix of youth, experience and local knowledge in the form of Shane Green, Adrian Pickles and Bob Hamilton. While local knowledge won out for a while it was youth that came through to keep the trophy in Pudsey and Bramley's hands.

Results:

1, Shane Green, Pudsey & Bramley, 40.04; 2,Adrian Pickles (V45), Settle Harriers 40.19; 3, Bob Hamilton (V45), Wharfedale Harriers, 41.06; 4, Duncan Burgess Otley AC, 41.30; 5, Jonnie Butler (V45) Keighley & C 42.08; 6, Damien Scholes Keighley & C 42.55; 7, Andrew Cutts (V40), Valley S 44.19; 8, Ralph Tench 44.40; 9, Mike Baldwin (V45) Ilkley H 45.00;10, Paul Burnett Leeds City, 45.40;11, Neil Bland (V50) Wharfedale H 45.50;12, Robert Bumstead Valley S 45.56;13, Andy Holden Wharfedale H 46.36;14, James Lind Ilkley H 46.42; 15, Rob Grillo 46.59;16, Karen Slater (LV45) Settle H 47.20;17, Sam Watson (U18) Wharfedale H 48.15;18, Iain Mann Ilkley Harriers 48.21;19,Graham Breeze (V55) Skyrac 48.29; 20, Sarah Glover (L) Fellandale 48.32; 21, Ashley Hardwell (V40) Ilkley H 48.51; 22, Neil Taylor (V40) Bingley AC, 49.06; 23, Dave Hird (V50) Wharfedale H 49.37; 24,Malcolm Coles (V60) Skyrac 50.01; 25, Barry Scholes (V50) Settle 50.18; 26, John Forsyth (V45, Skyrac 51.02; 27, Barry Slater (V45) Settle 52.22; 28, Bob Pritchard (V45) Skyrac 52.25; 29, David Swinton (V45) 52.59; 30, Jo Foster (L) Ilkley H 53.30; 31, John Wootton (V40) Wharfedale H 53.43; 32, Sharron Smith (L) Bingley AC, 54.00; 33, Chris Brown (V45) 54.01; 34, Sheryl Slater (LU18) Settle 63.52; 35, Roger Dawson (V55) Skyrac 64.11; 36, Paul Buckley (V50) 69.09.

Young Athletes Meeting

It was a great shame that the local clubs did not encourage their young athletes (Under-11 to Under-17) to enter the annual Barnsley AC Young Athletes Open Meeting at the Dorothy Hyman Stadium, Cudworth.

As one of the leading open meetings in the region, their youngsters missed out on a high quality competition in gloriously wam weather, despite the contrary wind in the home straight.

Amongst a host of Bingley and Leeds City athletes, only Horsforth's Bethany Staniland (Leeds City AC) flew the local flag and she came away with three trophies; in fact all her three events came within the space of an hour.

Her afternoon began well with a second place in the Under-17 women's 200m (27.8s).

She then progressed to the same age group's 800m for another second place (2.26.6).

Finally, saving her best for last, she broke her PB three times in the long jump, finishing with a fine leap of 5.22m for victory.