As six Dutchmen lined up for Sunday’s Settle Loop Trail Race, one commented: “In the Netherlands everything is flat, here it is hills everywhere, but we love the views.”

The 8.5-mile run across Yorkshire’s finest limestone proved a tough test for the Dutch contingent – who came in towards the back of the field.

Ben Tack – who was 12th over-50, suffering with a pulled hamstring – said: “We are not used to running up and down hills; we use different muscles.”

Hans Heinkens had to retire but said: “I love the English attitude to the sport. Nothing gets cancelled. Whatever the weather, people run. We love these small races and prefer them to big events like the Great North Run.”

The Loop is organised by Tracy Wilson of Settle Harriers to raise funds for the local scouts. The course follows bridleways, green lanes and tracks, ascending steeply for 1200ft before traversing grassy moorlands and plummeting back down.

Wharfedale and Bingley Harriers were both strongly represented and were rewarded with first place to Mark McGoldrick (Wharfedale) and second to Andrew Jebb (Bingley).

Melanie Hyde (Helm Hill), who won this year’s Lancashire Championships, was the first woman in 14th overall.

Gary Scott (Eccleshill Road Runners) was the first local in the wet and windswept Newcastle-South Shields Great North Run.

His 81min 15sec placed him 170th of the 54,000 runners.

Huge bests were achieved by Brenda Peake (from 1hr 48min to 1:42:55) and Sarah Brookfield-Brewis. And there were age-related bests for Gill Jones (2:11:56) and many of the 700 runners with Bradford postcodes.

Sarah said: “It was tough but I was pleased with my watch time of 1:48. The only other half marathon I’ve done is the Leeds half, where I ran 1:55. GNR seemed much hillier!”

The group of two dozen like Brenda, Sarah and Gill on Bradford’s Adult Endurance Training programme are set for a hard autumn of “base-work”, starting on October 10.

The group welcomes runners aged 25 up who exercise regularly and are keen to make big improvements.

More details from simon.forde@brepols.net.