Baildon Runners have jumped to fourth in the West Yorkshire Winter League with a fine team performance on the usual tough course at Stainland.

Quentin Lewis (third) and Chris Burke (eighth), ahead of Steve Watkins and Dean Williams (11th) all navigated the dry, but occasionally icy, terrain.

Diane Campbell’s own 11th among the women was no less crucial. She was ably supported by Denise Johnson (21st), Liz Caven (26th) and Alice Buttle (28th).

Baildon are missing their fastest two ladies - Emma Hinkles and Chloe Ryall - so with four women counting this year, instead of three, strength in depth is proving important.

An excellent turnout of 19 men generated scoring finishes by Steve Pickard (26th), Gareth Hey (49th) and Damien Pearson (63rd).

The race overall was won by the home team trio of Ben Moundsey, Gavin Mulholland and Karl Gray.

Karen Pickles (Pudsey Pacers) won her fourth straight victory in the women’s league.

But Jess Riley (Stainland) used home advantage to narrow the gap overall on arch-rival Donna Edmondson-Booker, coming second to edge out the Leeds-Bradford Triathlon (LBT) runner.

Baildon scored 1,553 points on the day, just behind Dewsbury Runners. More importantly it was 184 more than LBT. It is a while since Baildon have been fourth in the league, and Dewsbury are now in their sights.

The top two clubs, Stainland Lions and Pudsey Pacers, remain tightly matched.

The 47 points that Stainland gained at home on their rivals has given them a 35-point lead going into the final race at Blackcarr Woods, Pudsey on February 20.

Pacers will hope that course knowledge can tell in the shoot-off for a place in March’s national inter-league final at Heanor in Derbyshire.

Rooted at the foot, as seventh team, Skipton are struggling to get more than eight runners out.

But Idle AC have made strides this year, with 15 competitors at Stainland.

Lawrence Doddy and Leon Winder and Clare Sweeney, Naomi Armitage and Claire McConnell all managed top-30 finishes.