Running Log

A brisk headwind cooled almost 5,000 participants in the Leeds Half-Marathon and Fun Run as Longwood’s Andrew Pearson won in 65min 54sec.

It was a great day for Liams, with Eccleshill’s Liam Brearley conquering the elements in the junior race with a time of 11:17 and Otley’s Liam Dunne finishing the half in 28th place with an impressive 79:21.

Justin Philips (Ilkley) broke the top-50 barrier in 1hr 23:19, three seconds ahead of leading Pudsey Pacer representative James Clark.

Philips’ team-mate Dave Ibbotson ran 1:54:08, six minutes faster than his recent Blackpool race on a far harder course.

The Sunday event was a highly successful fundraiser, with £30,000 collected for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre.

Pearson’s rival Darran Bilton (Leeds City) opted instead for the fast BEVERLEY 10K, beating 1,038 other runners to win in 31:42. Otley’s Julian Mawson was a fine eighth in 34:10.

Most runners avoided the huge downpour during the RIPON TEN-MILER, the second of the Black Sheep Series.

The tricky and hilly multi-terrain course finishes with a swift downhill to the Hell Wath playing fields.

Mick Brearley (St Bede’s) was first local runner home in 66:10. This is a series he targets, having completed his spring marathon this year in Lochaber.

Keith Pailing (Rothwell) and Peter Shields (Ilkley), despite running the race simply for fitness, finished first and second by sizeable margins in the men’s over-60s category.

Elizabeth Tomes (Keighley & Craven) took second place in the women’s over-45s.

Upcoming races in the Airedale Athletics SUMMER OFF-ROAD CHALLENGE SERIES are the Jack Bloor fell race on Ilkley Moor (today) and the Meanwood Valley trail race on Saturday at Old Leodensians in Alwoodley.

After excellent performances in the Bluebell Trail and Crowden Horseshoe, Baildon Runners duo Chris Burke and Sue Coates were closing the gap on leading St Bede’s men Adrian Worger and Jack Verity, whose efforts are helping to keep their club ahead in the team tally.