Running log

Simon Pass came home first in the Kirkstall Abbey Seven-Miler to record his maiden race win.

Still tired from the Yorkshireman Half, the Saltaire runner only decided to enter Sunday’s event at the last moment after being prompted by a recommendation from Colin Walker of Pudsey & Bramley.

With the course being near his work, Pass reccied the route on Friday, getting lost regularly. But despite that he said: “It was a good run – some road, riverbank, meadows, canal towpath, some flat and some hills; something for everyone.”

Race day was fine in the Abbey grounds, with a fun run for under-17s drawing a family atmosphere. At the head of the 202 starters was a Kirkstall Harrier in full monk’s garb. The ‘Mad Monk’ finished 41st.

Pass himself took on the race from the start, Walker saying he was suffering from a bug, and won in 37min 58sec. Walker (38:34) and Sean Cotter (Leeds City, 39:26) completed the men’s podium.

Jess Nixon (Leeds City) won the women’s prize in 42:56, with Stephanie Haughton (Airecentre Pacers) impressively close in 43:29 and Kim Threadgall (Valley Striders) next home in 44:01.

Meanwhile, Quentin Lewis and three others beat the men’s course record in the Harewood House 10K Trail Race .

A three-horse race looked to have developed but Nick Maurelis (Birchfield Harriers) lost his rhythm at 4K and eventually lost the battle for third to Julian Hood (York Acorn).

Darren Bilton (Leeds City) gradually turned the screw on Lewis (Baildon ) and built a telling 30-second advantage from 7K to win in 34:31.

Rogan Ashton (Otley ) was sixth in 38:23, while over-50s runner Lesley Leggett (Denby Dale) was first female home in 43:21.

A similar turnout of a hundred ran the Spen Greenway 10K road race at Cleckheaton .

A competitive field saw Matthew Pierson (Holmfirth, 33:22) hold off Andrew Pearson (Longwood, 33:59) and the host team’s Kevin Ogden (34:11). James Wardman (Rothwell) was left in no-man’s land (35:01).

Mick Brearley (Saltaire) continued his excellent recent form with ninth place (37:16) in a sharpener before an outing in next month’s Eindhoven half-marathon.

Penny Ditchfield (Meltham) broke the 40-minute barrier to easily win the women’s race in 39:27.