Athletics: Bradford Airedale's Richard Findlow came out on top of a frantic sprint finish to win the Wakefield City Centre 10km by a second from Gateshead's Alan Buckley.

The super quick course, on which Kenyan Luka Cherono set the fastest 10km time in Europe in 1997 with 27min 57sec, proved more testing this time as runners were buffeted by very strong headwinds in the second half of the race.

Findlow turned his recent cross-country form into road speed to win in 30-48, and lead home the record 832 finishers.

Otley's Ian Fisher maintained his impressive form by finishing third, 13 seconds clear of Mor-peth's Alan Shepherd.

In the veteran category, John Cordingley (Bingley) finished 11th overall to give him second man over-40, while team-mates Les Haynes, who went through the first two miles in 10-40, won the over-50 section in 35-32, and Fred Gibbs the over-60 award in a speedy 36-40.

Ex-Spenborough athlete Penny Thackray, now sponsored by Sheffield University, won the women's race for the fourth consecutive year in 34-46, a minute clear of Wendy Farrow (Derby), with young Louise Brown (Scar-borough) third.

There were local successes in the Pendle Fell race when Bing-ley's Mark Kinch and Robert Jebb finished first and second to gain automatic selection for England in the Home Countries Inter-national at Knockdhu, Northern Ireland on May 9.

Kinch, English and British champion in 1994 and 1995 in Warrington's colours, won the 41/2-mile event in 31-36, 12 seconds clear of English Champion-ship bronze medallist Jebb.

Pudsey and Bramley's new recruit Robert Hope was third, ahead of Bradford Airedale's Steve Oldfield. The 42-year-old's superb fourth place also secured automatic England selection in the veteran category. Charlotte Sanderson - Bingley's new recruit from Skipton - stormed to victory in the women's race to also win an England vest. The York-based runner featured for her country last year in the World Mountain Trophy on Reunion Island, and is once again showing great form.

Her time of 38-18 was over a minute quicker than second-placed Jackie Hargreaves (CFR), with Sally Corbin of Pudsey and Bramley third and Holmfirth's Lisa Lacon fourth.

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