Hot on the heels of Paula Radcliffe on Sunday are a group of New York marathoners from Airedale Athletics: Jen Willingham (St Bede’s) and Claire Elener and Robert Sutton (both Eccleshill).

It is a first road marathon for Jen, while Claire is hoping to better her London time of 3hr 23min 38sec.

Last Sunday, Stewart Macdonald (Bingley Harriers) was a clear victor in the 42nd Holmfirth 15-miler with a time of 84min 45sec.

Macdonald finished nearly two minutes clear of Julian Mawson Otley AC) over the hilly two-lap course to take both the overall Yorkshire and the Yorkshire over-40 titles.

He was ably supported by John Convery (fifth and first over-45) and Tim Midgley in 12th to bring the men’s team prize to Bingley.

Martin Firth (Queensbury) finished in 1hr 33min 22sec to take 14th place out of 170 finishers and win the over-50 prize. Matlock’s Christine Howard was first woman in 1hr 35min 13sec.

Meanwhile, gale-force winds and driving rain greeted the 260 hardy souls at Penistone Hill, Haworth for the 18th Withins Skyline seven-mile fell race.

Kendal international, Tom Addison, 19, romped over Oxenhope Stoop to Top Withins. From Bronte Bridge, he built a big lead up to Bronte Waterfalls. His 45min 4sec time was a minute quicker than last year.

Ian Nixon was second and led Pudsey & Bramley to team victory, 2002 winner Steve Oldfield finishing ninth to win the over-50 category for the fourth year in succession.

British under-23 fell champion Emma Clayton won the ladies’ race in 52min 16sec.