Lewis has field day in Woods (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Lewis has field day in Woods

2:03pm Tuesday 27th January 2009 in Sport By Simon Forde

Running log

Black Carr Woods was the setting for the penultimate race of the West Yorkshire Winter League season.

It involved a true mud-fest in the trees and along Pudsey Beck before a killer climb to finish at Fulneck.

The series, organised by Idle AC, splits into two events: a top end, where clubs invite ‘second-claim’ runners from neighbours or as far afield as Salford, and an entry-level event for normal club runners.

The league lost one club recently due to this split aim and it will remain a challenge to hold together.

Quentin Lewis of Baildon, a genuine ‘first-claimer’, is best-placed of the local runners. His fifth place at Pudsey lifted him to a clear third overall behind fell runners Ben Mounsey and Karl Gray, appearing under the guise of Stainland Lions.

As the season closes, clubs are bringing in big-hitters to earn points. Pudsey’s James Kovacs scored 199 by pushing Gray into third place, while Stainland duo Adam Breaks and Chris Loftus were split by Lewis’s marvellous performance.

Overall team positions, before the final race at Baildon on February 9, are as follows: 1 Stainland 6364pts; 2 Pudsey Pacers 6262; 3 Dewsbury 6249; 4 Leeds-Bradford Triathlon 5695; 5 Baildon 5339; 6 Skipton 4966; 7 Idle 4920.

The women’s positions are less distorted, with the race winner contributing 100 points.

Karen Pickles won for the third time, with main rival Melanie Woodhouse (Dewsbury) finishing fourth on the day behind Clare Pearson (Skipton) and Donna Edmondson-Booker (LBT).

The true spirit of the event is marked best by Idle’s Ana Lincoln – who was 75th finisher but, by doughtily completing each event, has raised herself to 51st of the 105 competitors.

Joy Good of Pudsey is top in the women’s Dowson Trophy for best improver since the first race, while David Binns (Dewsbury) leads the men’s equivalent.