Running Log

Quentin Lewis of Baildon and Airedale Athletics marked his first-ever vets race with a strong fourth-place finish at Kirkstall.

It was his first outing since recovering from plantar fasciitis and he earned a time of 35min 23sec.

Team-mate Duncan Asquith also made a welcome return from long-term injury with a promising 42:14 in the race on Tuesday.

The second race of the YORKSHIRE VETS GRAND PRIX SERIES was on a new, relatively fast course which takes in a bit of road, finishing in the abbey grounds.

The first three home were Colin Walker (Pudsey & Bramley), Darren Burnley (Pudsey Pacers) and Paul Stevenson (Pudsey & Bramley), all in under 35 minutes.

Off-road specialist Adrian Worger (Airedale) went out with all guns blazing but paid for it later, dropping down the field to finish 41st in 40:19.

Karen Pickles (Pudsey Pacers) was first woman by over three minutes, crossing the line in 37:31. Chasing her were Helen Barber (Horsforth) and Margaret Skyes (Holmfirth), who were the first two female over-40s in 41:18 and 42:24 respectively.

The strong Airedale performance pushed them up into sixth place overall behind the traditional top teams from Pudsey Pacers, Horsforth, Pudsey & Bramley and Holmfirth, although they are now within fighting distance of Wakefield.

This year’s MUCKY DUCK 8½-MILER in Driffield had a record number of 229 participants completing the tough, multi-terrain course.

Even with some brutal gusts of wind testing her stamina, Pickles set a new course record of 53:51, helping her club retain the ladies’ team trophy.

Phil Taylor (Bridlington RR) won Sunday’s event in 47:25, knocking two minutes off his 2009 winning time and setting another new course record.

Pudsey Pacers duo Darren Burnley and Paul Gaile ran well, with Burnley winning the men’s over-40s (50:52) and Gaile (53:17) not far behind him for another top-ten spot and first in the men’s over-40s.

Wednesday night’s OTLEY CHEVIN FELL RACE was won by Pudsey & Bramley’s Graham Pearce in 17:32 from a field of 84 finishers.