At the Doncaster Half Marathon on Sunday morning Otley Athletic Club's Julian Mawson took the opportunity to demonstrate his improvement over recent months by finishing second overall in a field of approximately 300 runners.

Tucking in behind the eventual race winner from start to finish, Julian was delighted with his performance, finishing just a few seconds behind the leader with a time of 73.19 and this was just a fraction outside his own personal best time set at York in January 2002.

Also competing on the day was Otley's Beth Massey who finished as third lady with a marvellous new personal best of 89.48. By virtue of the fact that she now lives in Barnsley, Beth also became the South Yorkshire Half Marathon Champion.

Over the weekend, a good majority of the club's membership travelled to the Lake District to enjoy the club's annual training break, which on this occasion was held in the beauty of Patterdale Hall.

This coming weekend sees members participating in both Saturday's Coniston 14 Mile Road Race and Sunday's Ackworth Half Marathon which also incorporates the Yorkshire Championships.

Otley AC welcomes runners of all abilities to join them in training from Otley RUFC, Cross Green, every Tuesday and Thursday evening commencing at 7.15pm.

Entries for the Otley Motors Ten Mile Road Race have started to arrive and for further details on this event which is to be held on Wednesday, June 25, visit www.otleyac.co.uk

Skyrac AC Fellrunners

Henri of Navarre said: "Paris is well worth a mass" and Des Gibbons, organiser of the Lad's Leap Race from Crowden on the edge of the Peak District, clearly felt that changing the direction and date of his race was worth it for English Championship status.

The race is normally classified as six miles and 1700 feet of climb but to be categorised as a 'short' championship event the start was moved a few yards to make it 5.9 miles.

Fellrunners will believe anything but what a difference English Championship status makes!

The turnout for the race in 2000 was 34 runners but last Sunday there were 420 competitors running the hills in glorious sunshine.

Winner of the ladies' race was Christine Howard (Matlock AC) in 56:12 ahead of Louise Sharp (Keswick AC) in 56:21.

Winner of the men's race was John Brown (Salford Harriers) in 44.56 but both he and second placed Tim Davies (Mercia Fell Runners) took an illegal short cut towards the end of the race and there were many in the crowd who felt that third placed Ian Holmes (Bingley Harriers) in 45.21 was the moral victor.

This is not a trivial matter because Ian thereby failed to secure maximum points towards the English Championship and so his result may become doubly significant later in the season.

For Skyrac Duncan Asquith was 167th in 59.54 followed by 228th Graham Breeze (64.46), 294th John Forsyth (73.18), 307th Max Wood (75.38) and 309th Neil Clayton (75.57).

However for many the richest memory of the day will have been the presentation made to Mike Rose who, after serving the FRA for many years including ten years as Secretary, has had to step down because of serious illness.

A glass tankard engraved with the FRA logo and a bottle of Isle of Jura whisky were presented to Mike by FRA Chairman Alan Barlow to the loudest applause of the day, reflecting the affection and respect felt for Mike by all fellrunners.

A good race, a huge turn out, a presentation to one of the great characters of fellrunning, wonderful weather; all in all a great day out on the hills.

Skyrac welcome new runners on 0113 229 0924 or via www. skyrac.org.uk

Horsforth Harriers

Horsforth Harriers dominated the Womens 20 mile road running championship at Spen on Sunday.

On a notoriously hilly course, Helen Sly finished an amazing 20th overall to run away with the women's championship in 2 hours and 13 minutes.

Denis Dean finished eight minutes behind Helen but this was good enough to clinch runners-up spot in the Yorkshire Championship and in combination with an outstanding sixth place from Dawn Walker the women could justifiably be crowned the team champions of Yorkshire.

Ken Frost ran a personal best for 10th position and second M40 in 2 hours and 7 minutes whilst Howard Roberts was 4th M50 in 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Leeds Schools

IN the Leeds Schools' AA Cross- Country League, round five, four local young Leeds City AC runners put in pleasing performances at Braim Wood School, Roundhay.

Jodie Gregorcyzk (Menston St Mary's) had another superb run for second place in the under-13 girls' race. Schoolmate Jessica Best was third in the under-12 girls' event.

For the boys Alex Davy (Benton Park) used all the experience he had gained at last week's Nationals for a second place finish in the under-14 boys' category. In this race Robert Hall (Guiseley School), who came home in fourth position, ably backed him up.

There was also another encouraging run from Woodhouse Grove School's Jill Harrison (Keighley and Craven AC) who came third in the under-16 girls' race. Meanwhile, Bingley Harriers' Oliver Webster (Otley St Joseph's) had the run of his life for victory in the massive under-11 boys' event (234 finishers).

With this last meeting, the final overall league placings were announced and the above athletes were delighted to find themselves well placed

U-11 boys - Oliver Webster (Bingley Harriers) third; U-12 girls - Jessica Best (Leeds City AC) third; U-13 girls - Jodie Gregorcyzk (Leeds City AC) second; U-14 boys - Alex Davy (Leeds City AC) second; U-14 boys - Robert Hall (Leeds City AC) equal fourth; U-14 boys - Sam Webster (Bingley Harriers and Menston St Mary's) seventh; U-16 girls - Jill Harrison (Keighley & Craven AC) third.