Ilkley Harrier Sally Malir won Sunday’s ever-popular Liver-sedge Half Marathon, hosted by Roberttown Road Runners.

Her 91min 38sec put her 30 seconds clear of Samantha Ayers (Cumberland Fell Runners), with Claire Elener (Eccleshill) an excellent third.

A field of 417 runners completed the course through Heckmondwike, Bailiff Bridge and Brighouse but with sharp descents in the opening mile to Liversedge and for two miles into Brighouse. That leaves the second half climbing almost constantly.

Among the men, Julian Mawson (Otley AC) missed out on a victory by 70 seconds from unattached runner Edward Mitchell (73min 16sec). Queensbury’s Martin Firth was a clear winner in the male over-50 category, finishing 11th overall in 89min 59sec. Evergreen Oliver Downing (Bingley Harriers) was first male over-65 in 1hr 41min 38sec.

Adrian Worger (89min 30sec) was first home for St Bede’s in 34th, with the improving Andrew Travis of Baildon Runners nine places behind in 91min 31sec.

Senior runners from local clubs will be looking to build on a highly successful Yorkshire Veterans’ Cross-Country Championships when the ten-race Yorkshire Vets Grand Prix gets under way next month at Meltham.

The Cross Country Championships held at Graves Park, Sheffield saw Bingley Harriers take several individual titles.

Male winners included Richard Harris (first over-35), Stewart MacDonald (first overall and first over-45) and Fred Gibbs (first over-70). Alison Raw and Sue Becconsall won the female over-45 and over-50 events.

Bingley also won the male over-70 team prize with Gibbs, Peter Covey and John Smithurst.

Baildon Runners got in on the action with Sue Coates and Liz Boothman first and second in the female over-60 category. Coates also shared third place in the over-45 team category with Denise Johnson and Carolyn Hargreaves, behind Bingley winners Becconsall, Raw and Andrea Dennison.

Not to be outdone, Keighley & Craven AC took the male 40-49 year team prize with Adrian Jones in seventh overall, supported by Nigel Bedell, Loz Hellawell and Lenny Buxton.