Athletics: The major road race in the district this weekend is Sunday's Telegraph & Argus-backed Liversedge Half Marathon (noon).

This is the fourth running of the event from Roberttown Community Centre, where all finishers receive a long-sleeved T-shirt and prizes in the usual categories.

Last year's winner was Salford international Kevin McCluskey, who posted a new course record of 69min 19sec.

That will be difficult to improve upon due to the nature of the course. After a loop around Roberttown, the runners cover an undulating section towards Brighouse, and then turn towards the M62 motorway before climbing a long, steep section up to Clifton, just beyond halfway.

The course then loops around a hilly section at ten miles, before the flatter stages towards the finish.

Longwood's Micheal Pearson looks the pre-race favourite, and could approach the 70-minute barrier.

An intriguing battle should ensue in the veterans, with over-50s runners Terry Lonergan of Bingley and Bill Ewart of Dewsbury set to compete.

Lonergan is in good shape. He clocked 76.15 for the Sitges Half-Marathon in Spain at the turn of the year, and posted 35-27 in last week's Dewsbury 10k.

Ewart is the reigning Yorkshire Veteran Half Marathon champion, won in Bingley last May, and he was the 'vet' 50 winner at Liversedge last year. With Gosforth's Mike Walker also listed to run, it should prove interesting.

Bingley's Sue Cariss has won the women's race for the past three years and will be aiming to make it four on the trot, but the 49-year-old will have her work cut out as Denby Dale's Bridgette Coomber has also entered.

On their previous meeting over the distance at York two weeks ago, Coomber came out on top, but the testing nature of the Liversedge event is a complete contrast to the pancake flat course at York. Entries for the event will be accepted on the day, and they will qualify for prizes.

The fourth and final meeting in the Sport Direct West Yorkshire Cross-Country League takes place on Saturday at Woodside, where Bradford Airedale play hosts.

The promoting club look to have the likely senior men's champion in their ranks in international Richard Findlow. The Mirfield-based runner has won both races he has entered at Northcliffe, Shipley, and Nunroyd, Guiseley and, with the best three races from four to count, he only needs a half decent run to take the title.

That shouldn't be a problem. He is in superb shape, as he demonstrated recently at Graves Park, Sheffield, when he took the North of England title in a tense finish with Morpeth's Terry Wall.

The battle looks to be set for silver and bronze positions, with Otley's Ian Fisher well poised with a second and third to his name, giving him five points from two races. Bingley's John Convery has featured consistently and should figure, along with Holmfirth pair Paul Thompson and Dave Watson.

Sykrac's Chris Bryan has been un-fortunate. After winning the second race at Ilkley, he was forced to retire from the Guiseley event through injury when well positioned, and a medal now looks remote.

In the women's section, Carol Greenwood won the opening two races and missed the next through a slight injury sustained after winning the Yorkshire title at Rotherham.

Carol was back to winning ways last weekend though in the six-mile Ogden Moors Fell Race, and it remains to be seen whether she will compete on Saturday.

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