The increasingly popular Golden Acre Relays drew 92 three-runner teams to the woodland trails and grassy parkland near Bramhope.

The fun-based races, with lots of scratch teams made up of friends, did nonetheless lead to a new course record among the women by Spenborough’s Jenny Walsh. She covered the undulating 2.75-mile route in 15min 33sec to anchor the Spen Mixed team to fourth place overall and first mixed team.

Spen had two other mixed teams out, with Simon Bolland (15:52) opening for the third team running well.

City of York junior Will Smith was fastest youngster in 14min 59sec, anchoring his club to third spot and the winning junior prize.

The top two teams were from Leeds City with Ben Dyson, Peter Branney and Greg Hull collectively running 45min 49sec, and defending champions City of York with Andy Hilton running the fastest leg of the night at the start (14:18), James Metcalfe and Mark Metcalfe.

Otley’s Julian Mawson ran an opening and an anchor leg for two different Otley AC combinations. His final leg for their “Cheetahs” team placed them fifth, though he had been passed in turn by Will Smith, who then overtook Jenny Walsh near the tape.

Baildon Runners’ over-35s team were seventh, and won the Vets prize thanks to fine runs by Steve Pickard (16:02), Chris Burke (15:56) and Steve Watkins (15:38). Watkins was accredited fastest vet of the evening.

Eccleshill Road Runners carried on from the recent Washburn Valley Relays with a collection of five teams named after birds of prey. The “Eagles” and the “Hawks” battled for supremacy, with Gary Scott’s final leg of 16:56 taking the carrion for the Eagles.

Meanwhile, a strong Pudsey Pacers team of Karen Pickles, Nigel Armitage and Gary Bailey finished sixth in 47min 35sec and second mixed team. Four Pacers men’s teams followed, while the Pudsey “Golden Girls” of Jenny Cooper, Carol Parkinson and Sam Raven came home an enjoyable 75th in 67:42.