It was a busy weekend for off-road racing which was packed with coincidences: Two events, two fine winners, two course records, both athletes finishing more than five minutes ahead of their nearest rivals and beating their own previous records.

In Calderdale, the Midgley Moor Fell Race is run over five miles of tough open moorland, with 1,250 feet of climbing.

A punishing climb onto the moor from Dean House Farm in Booth to the summit of Crow Hill and the trig point.

The route contours around the moor on Dimmin Dale Edge, plunging down to Green Lane. A final steep climb back onto the moor and then a last dash through the heather to Brownhill and the fast descent to the finish.

On Saturday the weather was perfect. Dry, overcast and cool with only a slight wind from the north east.

Karl Gray (Calder Valley), chasing his own course record, was already in front as the field approached Brownhill.

As he began his final crossing of the moor, there was not another athlete in sight. He finished in 35min 11sec, beating his previous record of 36:39 set last year. He was 5min 35sec ahead of his nearest rival, Tim Ellis, also of Calder Valley.

Helen Fines (Calder Valley) took the women’s prize in 43:38.

The sun came out for the Baildon Boundary Way on Sunday but the day was cool with a biting north wind.

This gruelling multi-terrain half marathon, the flagship event of Baildon Runners, starts in Tong Park. It winds around the fringes of Baildon, through Esholt and along the canal to a final climb into the woods of Shipley Glen, then back over the moor to the Whitehouse and the finish at Baildon Rugby Club.

The pattern of the previous day repeated itself. Thomas Adams (Ilkley Harriers) led from the start and continued to extend his lead.

He finished five minutes ahead of Richard Pattinson (Pudsey & Bramley) in a record time of 74:32, 4min 35sec faster than his 2010 record. First woman home was Sue Brown, an unattached runner from Baildon, in 88min 50sec.