Many anxious local young athletes gathered together at Cleckheaton's Princess Mary Stadium to contest the West Yorkshire Schools' AA Championships. Not only was the honour of being county champion at stake but the additional achievement of selection for the English Schools' AA Championships.

Five local athletes achieved the ESAA Championships' entry standard and will now represent West Yorkshire Schools at the national championships, which will be held at the Harvey Hadden Stadium in Nottingham in mid July.

Skyrac AC will be represented at these prestigious championships, the third largest track and field meeting in the world, by three of their youngsters, all from the under-17 section of the club.

Amy Howard exceeded her own expectations with a magnificent throw of 35.50m to win the intermediate girls' discus (1kg). Laura Kirk ran a superb 800m in 2 mins.16.3s for victory in the intermediate girls' category and Andrew Staniland leaped to 6.42m for third place in the intermediate boys' long jump.

What is especially pleasing for the Yeadon-based club is the fact that all three athletes have achieved the English Schools' qualifying standard in their first year in this under-17 age group.

Two other local discus throwers will also represent the county in Nottingham. Horsforth's Bethany Staniland (Kingston-upon-Hull AC) threw 27.48m for second place in the junior girls' (under-15) competition and Lewis Williamson (Woodhouse Grove School) was in tremendous form to win the intermediate boys' event with 44.12m.

However, the championships were not all about ESAA entry standards and there were five county champions amongst the Skyrac athletes. Hayley Roberts won the junior girls' 100m in 13.2s and Sarah Whitehead emulated her Guiseley schoolmate in the 200m with 28.0s.

In the under-17 (intermediate ) age group, there was a victory for Hollie Swaine in the girls' triple jump with 10.33m, while Jade Nowland was victorious in the shot (4kg) with a putt of 8.82m.

Damien Hines just missed out on national qualification in the intermediate boys' shot (5kg), but nevertheless, took the gold medal with a putt of 13.28m.

Other local results were (All Skyrac unless stated): Firsts: Jill Harrison (Woodhouse Grove School), junior girls' 1500m 5 mins.20.2s.

Seconds: Emma Moutrie, junior girls' 100m 13.6s; Nicola Whitehead, intermediate girls' 100m 13.3s; Emily Smith, intermediate girls' 300m 43.6s; Catherine Simpson, senior girls' 400m 63.3s; Nick Howard, intermediate boys' 3000m 9 mins.51.1s; Alex Fox (Leeds City), intermediate boys' 400m 53.9s; Elizabeth Spencer (Holmfirth), senior girls' 3000m 10 mins.36.0s; Menston's Richard Ettenfield (Leeds City), intermediate boys' high jump 1.66m.

Thirds: Fraser Davies, junior boys' 100m 12.3s; Paula Forster, junior girls' 200m 28.8s; Alex Merrill, intermediate girls' discus 31.59m.

Others: James Murray, junior boys' discus; 24.93m (5th); Lucy Foxhall, junior girls' 800m 2 mins.54.3s (4th Heat).

Three of Skyrac's senior boys produced impressive performances at the North Yorkshire Schools' Championships. Newcomer Peter Drake won the 400m in 50.9s; Graham Powell took the 800m in 2 mins.01.4s and Joel Riley was victorious in the 1500m with 4 mins.11.4s. However, none of the times were of English Schools' Championships' qualifying standard.

Many athletes continued to perform in the West Yorkshire Track and Field League. The fourth round meeting was held again at Cleckheaton's Princess Mary Stadium.

Two of Skyrac's senior women were well placed at this meeting as Fiona Thomas won the shot (4kg) with a 10.21m, and Carol Humphry ran 2 mins.24.4s for second position in the 800m. This latter event saw a multitude of entries from the under-13 girls' section of the cub and several top class performances.

Elizabeth Hall came third in the A race with 2 mins.35.9s and her twin sister, Eleanor, was sixth with 2 mins.39.4s.

In the B race 11 year-old Rebecca Hall was second (2 mins.45.3s) and Grace Chattaway was just behind in third position (2 mins.46.1s).

The previous evening had seen some tremendous throwing from Skyrac's under-17 woman, Alex Merrill, at the latest Trafford AC Grand Prix meeting at Stretford's Longford Park Stadium. Here she won the under-17 discus (1kg) with an ESAA qualifying distance and personal best of 34.07m. She then launched her 4 kg hammer 37.41m for second in the same age group.

Otley Athletic Club

The June Handicap race was held over a circular course through the Harewood Estate, starting and finishing at the New Inn, Eccup.

This was won easily by Nick Hodgkinson, benefiting from an increase in training mileage with an autumn marathon in mind. Second, and also in excellent form, was Jennie McKenzie, winner of her age category in the recent short 5k series, which incorporated the Yorkshire Veteran's Championship over 5k.

Ian Fisher, highly accomplished at road and cross-country racing, was tempted onto the fells for the European Championship Trial Race in Keswick and surprised some of the more established fell runners, to take a useful sixth place.

Other Otley runners chose the Penn-y-Ghent Fell Race from Horton-in-Ribblesdale. This was won by Craig Roberts in 47.47 with Otley's first counter Ray Hawksby 31st in 58.28, closely followed by Andrew Willis, 44th in 59.52, and Andrew Sumner in 67.43, just holding off Phil Robinson on 67.50.

Three Otley runners had a highly successful evening at the Ackworth 10k. Ian Fisher won in 31.32 with Dale Foster fifth and Julian Mawson sixth to easily take the team prize.

New Ilkley race

Bob Hamilton of Wharfedale Harriers produced a new race starting at White Wells car park, taking the climb to Gill Head, follows the moor track past the Twelve Apostles to Dick Hudson's and back. The race finished with the challenging descent down the stone steps.

The potential of the race was obvious when 72 runners turned out for its initial run including many Ilkley Harriers and Skyrac runners who later appeared amongst the prizes.

Winner was Robin Lawrence (Bingley) in 45.23 and first lady was Emma Barclay (Ilkley Harriers) in 55.22.

Category winners included: Over 45 Billy Kerr (Ilkley Harriers) 10th in 50.12, Over 50 Graham Breeze (Skyrac) 25th in 53.30 and Over 60 Norman Bush (Ilkley Harriers) 27th in 53.58. First lady Over 40 was Alison Bennett(Ilkley Harriers) who was 46th in 58.01 and Rachel Gooch (Ilkley Harriers) was first lady Over 45 in 59th on 62.26.

Full results on www. wharfedaleharriers.org.uk