THERE was excitement at LISTER PARK on Saturday when three runners broke the 17-minute barrier in the 5k parkrun.

Only 17 had beaten the time in 234 previous races

The event has been attracting 400 runners each Saturday (9am) at the bandstand.

This weekend saw 368 at the start. Training mates Peter Hopson, Will Kerr and Chris Williams had planned an attack on the 17-minute target, and gain individual personal bests on this tough three-lap course.

Sharing the load, the trio ensured that the mile splits were on target (5.17, 5.23 and 5.22).

Hopson pushed on with a half-mile to go, leading to a sprint up the final hill to the finish line. Hopson's track speed got him home in 16min 49sec. Williams held off the faster-finishing Kerr to dip second. Both were accredited with 16.51.

The previous Saturday, the traditional HARRIERS v CYCLISTS race took place, from the Fisherman Inn at Dowley Gap through Shipley Glen to Hope Hill, Baildon and back.

Course records were broken in the men's and women's races by host club members from Bingley Harriers on what admittedly was a revised course.

This should not detract from Rob Jebb winning by almost two minutes in 35min 43sec, ahead of Andy Peace, who was also on a bike. Andy Brown from Bingley was the first runner, third in 37.54, edging out Saddleworth's Colin Bishop.

Several runners took to their bikes – Tom Hooper and Ian Holmes from Bingley Harriers finished in 16th and 17th.

Victoria Wilkinson was first lady in 40.07. Newcomer Lydia Farley, a student at Buttershaw Business & Enterprise College, was a fine ninth, only having taken up the sport four months ago.

Sally Morley finished tenth in the HOME CHAMPIONSHIPS MASTERS CROSS-COUNTRY at Wollaton Park in Nottingham as England's over-40 ladies beat a strong Irish team.

The Ilkley Harrier ran 22min 55sec for three two-kilometre laps of parkland. Her English team-mates were all on the podium: Claire Martin (Telford, 21.14), Louise Insley (Heanor, 21.23) and Nicola Brookland (Bristol & West, 21.44). Jackie Carthy (22.09) was first of the next three runners, all from the Irish Republic.