THE STEEP climb and fast descent of Beefy's Nab at Oxenhope proved decisive in the AIREDALE ATHLETICS OFF-ROAD CHALLENGE.

The 16-race series drew 128 runners from the six Airedale clubs.

Debbie Bland scored enough points to take her past Ian Hartman into first place, and Neil Fairburn moved ahead of Jim Goddard into third as Baildon Runners dominated the podium.

Mick Coe (Queensbury) played his joker on the final event, the Good Shepherd Fell Race, doubling his 925 points there to move into fifth.

Mick Hogan (Eccleshill), in 13th, Nuno Cesar de Sa (Skyrac), in 14th, Laura Marchant (Saltaire), in 16th, and Marc Howard (Bradford-Airedale) were the top scorers for their respective clubs.

Each runner can score 1,000 points per race based on their time relative to the age and gender category winners.

The Queensbury club had a good turnout at Oxenhope, and their third team place was consolidated over tricky Calder Valley country at the Good Shepherd.

Not only Coe but Chris Williams had a great run to take third place and, in a very competitive field, both Coe and Baildon's Michelle Morris were involved in fast finishes after 14 miles of demanding gradients and tough terrain.

Baildon were convincing winners of the team trophy, with Saltaire Striders in second.

Bradford Athletic Network welcomed England Athletics and coaches from across the north of England to University Academy Keighley (UAK) last weekend for the NORTHERN REGIONAL NATIONAL COACHING CONFERENCE.

Based on the theme "From Good to Great", delegates enjoyed a wide range of technical coaching workshops as well as two inspirational keynote speeches from Malcolm Brown (former director of sport at Leeds Carnegie and coach to the Brownlee brothers) and Paula Dunn (former UK international sprinter and now heading UK Athletics' Paralympic development).

The workshops ranged from generic (such as diet for performance) to specific (such as jumps and throws), and a wide range of national expertise was on hand to provide up-to-the-minute tutoring.

There are plans to hold further top-level events at UAK, building upon its use as a key development centre for athletics and other sports.