There must be some days when the sun shines gloriously over the Pennine Country Park near Haworth but fellrunners will never know because Dave and Eileen Woodhead organise their Withins Skyline, The Stoop, Auld Lang Syne and Soreen Stanbury Splash races between November and January when the weather is either bad, or awful.

Eight runners from Skyrac turned out last Sunday for the first race in the ten race year long Derek Emsley Memorial Trophy which, as the Skyrac Handicap Fell Championship, is now in its 17th year.

The weather was as good as it gets, that is it was freezing. Rock hard ground is at least conducive to fast times although the four stream crossings-hence 'Splash' - were, as ever, cold and wet.

Ian Holmes (Bingley) is alleged to attribute some of his racing success to eating malt loaf for breakfast before he races but what is indisputable is that he won the Stanbury race for the tenth consecutive time in 44.46 ahead of fellow international John Brown (Salford) in 45.07.

First lady in 26th was another international, Natalie White (Holmfirth) in 52.52 ahead of 38th Sharon Taylor (Bingley) in 55.11.

Amongst the 249 runners were Skyrac's Duncan Asquith who was 77th (58.29) and 82nd Martin Farrar (59.14), 92nd Robert Pritchard (60.45), 113th Graham Breeze (63.16), 142nd Stephen Batley (66.37), 180th Max Wood (71.40), 212th Malcolm Coles (77.56) and 223rd Roger Dawson 82.20.

Fell runners, juniors, fun runners, it does not matter. If you can put one leg in front of the other you will be given a warm welcome at Skyrac which can be contacted via www.skyrac.org.uk or 01943 874046.

Ilkley Harriers

At the weekend Ilkley Harriers were running on road, fell, and cross-country. The Brass Monkey Half Marathon in York is hugely popular - 12 Ilkley Harriers got their entries in early enough to join almost 1,000 other runners.

First home was Tim Ashelford 76th in 1:23:10, with Neil Chapman 82nd getting a PB in 1:23:41. Then came Rob Pawson 257 in 1:33:32, John Tindall 392 in 1:40:06, and Keith Wood 417 in 1:41:18.

He was being chased by Sue Bickerdike finishing 426 in 1:41:56, with 2nd claim Harrier Antonio Cardinale 494 in 1:44:30. Richard Midgley was 650 in 1:52:10, with Andrew Wright having a great run 703 in 1:55:33 and Peter Bedwell finishing 704, only a couple of seconds behind in 1:55:35. 776 was Richard Smith in 1:58:36 and Amanda Parnaby 856 in 2:05:46.

The 22nd Stanbury Splash Fell Race on the Bronte Moors was also run in perfect conditions. Bingley's Ian Holmes won this race for the 10th consecutive time, beating off top-class opposition, in 44.46.

Jason Hemsley was 6th in 49:03; Stefan Macina 12th in 50:37; and Shane Green 20th in 52:17. Then there was 29th Jim Ryder 52:59 closely followed in 32nd place by Graham Pearce 53:49.

Then we had 46 Helen Sedgwick (third lady) 56:30; 48 Jamie Hutchinson 56:36; 54 Nick Pearce 57:10; 60 Nick Richardson 57:26; 65 Emma Barclay (fifth lady) 57:52; 76 Eddie Winslow 58:27; 89 Sally Malir 60:08; 108 Bob Wightman 62:57; 114 John Smith 63:18; 116 Jo Foster 63:24; 117 Phil Atkinson 63:29; 126 Dennis Ackroyd 64:26; 174 Peter Cooke 70:44; and 208 Nick Mellor 77:28.

Richard Malir ran but was unfortunately injured. The Ilkley ladies won the team prize. All runners received a malt loaf from sponsors Soreen at the finish!

This was the first counter in the 2005 Harriers Running League.

On Saturday, Heather Dawe was first lady in the Kinder Trial, a navigational fell race over and around Kinder Scout from Hayfield. Conditions were clear and cold and frozen on top - it was very nice not to go knee deep in peat on the Kinder plateau for a change!

Ilkley Harriers helped stage the very succesful Primary Schools Cross-Country at Clevedon House School, with many Junior Harriers representing their schools.

Ilkley Harriers is a friendly club, training from Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club every Tuesday at 7pm. As the dark nights draw in, come and run in one of their friendly groups. See their web site www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk for more information.

Otley Athletic Club

OTLEY Athletic Club's Ian Fisher represented Team Great Britain in the Mumbai Marathon in India and in temperatures averaging above 30c recorded an impressive time of 2.28.04.

As the penultimate race of the four race The Greatest Race Series, this result improved the UK's overall placing in the integrated Nation's Challenge to fifth position.

On the back of such a performance, Ian reluctantly declined his defence of the popular York Half Marathon held on Sunday morning. However, Otley AC were still superbly represented by 18 members (including a handful of personal best performances) in the field of 969.

Official times (and positions) show Neil Cayton 70.47 (4th), Matthew Cox 72.58 (11th), Julian Mawson 73.27 (12th), James Cullen 84.37 (95th), Howard Jeffrey 87.57 (147th), Hugh Pearson 88.46 (165th), Mick Jeffrey 88.55 (167th), Carl Walsh 90.52 (204th), Graham Stead 95.45 (295th), Helen Walsh 100.22 (398th), Dave Hainsworth 100.22 (399th), Neil O'Brien 101.59 (428th), Antonio Cardinale 104.30 (494th), Mark Blagg 105.45 (516th), Hannah Peacock 106.27 (528th), Peter McManus 113.04 (660th), Jennie McKenzie 119.16 (784th) and Clare Kellett 126.38 (866th).

On the same morning and undeniably more undulating than York with a total ascent of 1,200ft over seven miles, three members participated in the Stanbury Splash Fell Race at Haworth.

Andrew Robertshaw finished 15th followed by Colin Best and then David Cattanach who recorded 83.20.

This weekend, a number of members will be participating in the North of England Cross-Country Championships at Consett and a further two members are continung the international theme by racing in the Las Vegas Half Marathon.

A week tomorrow (Friday, February 4), the club will hold its annual Presentation Night at Korks, Otley.

For further information on Club activities visit www.otleyac.co.uk or club training nights every Tuesday and Thursday from Otley RUFC commencing 7.15.