Running log

The final round of the Complete Runner West Yorkshire Cross-Country League was staged in defiance of grim weather conditions at Thornes Park in Wakefield.

Katie Walshaw (Holmfirth) made sure of the open title in the women’s competition with her third victory. She beat Katie Parry (Leeds) and Rachel Bamford (Otley), who were second and third on the day.

Georgia Malir (Ilkley) had been victorious throughout the series to win the under-17s ladies category but was denied a clean sweep by four seconds as Hannah Brown (Skyrac) came home first on the final Sunday.

Malir’s clubmates Sue Morley and Sarah Pickering were first in the V55s and runner-up in the under-13s respectively.

Bingley trio Jo Buckley, Andrea Dennison and Sue Becconsall finished top of the standings in the V35s, V45s and V50s age groups.

In the team standings, Holmfirth made it a hat-trick of wins by taking the plaudits in the under-11s and under-13s categories, as well as the senior ladies competition.

Two of their junior runners battled throughout for a supremely close finish in the under-11s section.

Libby Shepherd improved from tenth spot in the first fixture at Nunroyd Park to win at Northcliff and Wakefield, drawing level on points with Sunnivah Waterman. Composite times decided the overall result, with Waterman hanging on by just one second over the series.

Among the men, Simon Deakin (Leeds) could not make it three wins in as many appearances – due to a nine-second deficit on Mark Buckingham (Holmfirth) – but still headed the open-age category.

Jorge Thomas (Keighley), a winner at Northcliff, was third on the day.

A comprehensive team win by Leeds City in the senior men’s section was always on the cards.

In the junior events, Francis Whitehead led Ilkley to the under-11s title with a four-race whitewash. Wharfedale took the under-13s age group, while their under-17s runner James Hall was first in his category.

Stephen Broadbent managed an impressive third overall in the strong V35s age group, while an age group win on the day propelled Dave Westhead to an overall victory for Ilkley in the V40s. Three category wins meant a title for Pudsey & Bramley’s Jon Holah in the V50s.