Owen Bielby (Wharfedale) took first place in the Leeds Half Marathon on Sunday.

A field of 4,500 enjoyed warm if windy conditions on a course that ascends throughout the first half before plunging downhill from Lawnswood to Horsforth, prior to a relatively flat but strength-sapping three miles to finish in Millennium Square.

Bielby’s 1hr 13min 54sec was ten seconds ahead of Stephen Bailey (Bingley). Frederick Slemeck (Pudsey & Bramley) took third while his team-mates, Neil Armitage and Martin Landells, won the M40 and M50 categories.

Emily Birchall (Leeds City) was first female in 1:22:57, followed by Pauline Munro (Bingley) and Donna Edmond-son Booker (Idle), who were first ladies over-40 and over-35 respectively. Bingley’s Andrea Dennison was first F45.

The second race of the John Carr 5k Series took place amid torrential showers in Esholt last week.

Jonathon and Charlotte Wills made it a family affair by splashing their way to comprehensive victories.

Jonathon (Bristol and West) finished a minute clear of the field in 14min 53sec, while Charlotte (Leeds City) held off Ilkley’s Sally Morley by 50 seconds in 17:36.

Behind Wills, the men’s race was highly competitive with Lee Athersmith (Bingley) coming through the field after 2km to take second spot in 15:54, cementing his series lead.

Another 12 runners broke 16 and half minutes – including Kevin Ogden (Spen AC), in top form after the London Marathon and leading the over-40 category with sixth place in a time of 16:08.

Simon Pass was ninth and Will Kerr 13th for organising club Saltaire Striders.

Longwood’s Lewis Crank and Ilkley’s Lucy Williamson lead their respective youth age-groups with composite times of 34:24 and 39:27, while Baildon’s Joel Griffin (38:05) leads the male juniors.

The untimely death of Arthur James (76), who was a long-standing member of Pudsey Pacers and Eccleshill Road Runners and a dedicated fundraiser for charity, was marked by a massive turn-out in his memory at the Bradford Park Run on Saturday.

A field of 374 was treble the normal attendance and a heartfelt reflection of Arthur’s popularity at an event he completed 77 times.