At the Rivock Edge Fell Race in 2003 the first back for Skyrac was Robert Pritchard who thereby cemented his victory in the ten race 2003 Derek Emsley Memorial Trophy. Third Skyrac runner was Martin Farrar and he finished the Trophy in 'snail' position by scoring the fewest points from five counting races.

Rivock Edge was not a counter for this year's Trophy but last weekend Skyrac were back. Martin Farrar could run in his pomp as the 2004 Skyrac Fell Champion and Robert was now running as the 'snail'. A long year of fellrunning indeed.

Race winner on a new course was Lloyd Kellet (Keighley and Craven) in 50.03 and first lady was Sharon Taylor (Bingley) 40th in 57.36.

There were six runners from Skyrac in the field of 168 and they finished: 32nd Duncan Asquith (56.15), 45th Robert Weston (58.27), 57th Robert Pritchard (59.43), 61st Martin Farrar (59.56), 101st Malcolm Coles (65.04) and 128th Michael Swales (70.17).

Skyrac's Joel Riley won the open senior cross-country race at the Scunthorpe Memorial Races. Junior Nick Howard was sixth overall. Joel has already won the West Yorkshire race series with three successive wins. The fourth and final race will take place at Thornes Park, Wakefield, on Saturday starting at noon.

In the Under-11 girls event A Jeavons was third collecting her first individual medal and Jay Riley was sixth. In the Under-113 girls' race R Harrison was eighth.

On Saturday in the Aaron Memorial Cross-Country races the under-11 girls' team won the team prize with Lisa Jeavons third, Jay Riley fourth, Harriet Middleborough 7th and Daisy Agar 11th.

James Common won the U-11 boys' race. Skyrac are now building a very good group of 8-11 year-olds who are now starting to take part in events.

Anyone interested in joining the group can turn up at Nunroyd Park, Yeadon (Green Lane Crocket Club) pm a Thursday at 7.30 pm.

Laura Kirk won the junior women's 800 metres at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

Skyrac can be contacted on www.skyrac.org.uk or 01943 874046.

Indoor victories

Four local athletes kicked off their 2004-2005 indoor athletics campaigns on Saturday at the North of England Indoor Open Meeting at Sheffield's English Institute of Sport.

Horsforth's Bethany Staniland (Leeds City AC), although still only 16 years-old, has now moved up to the under-20 age group and proceeded to make her official debut in this category with a victory in the shot (4kg) with a personal best putt of 11.46m.

However, the England Schools multi-event international was unable to do her usual complement of events due to persistently niggling foot injury.

Another Leeds City athlete who has just moved up into a new age group is Cookridge's James Sleigh. He had a fine opening start to his season with a win in the Under-17 men's long jump, just short of his best with a leap of 5.82m. He was also third in the 60m hurdles in 9.47s.

Teammate Thomas Wagner of Guiseley was also impressive as he equalled his personal best to win the Under-17 men's pole vault with a clearance of 3.10m.

Skyrac AC's England under-18 international, Laura Kirk, again showed that she is going to be a force to be reckoned with as she was victorious in the Under-20 women's 800m in 2 mins 18.7s.

Otley Athletic Club

Last Sunday members of Otley AC had the choice of two local races. The first was the Leeds Abbey Dash, a 10k road race from the centre of Leeds to Kirkstall Abbey and back. The second was the Rivock Edge Fell Race from Silsden which had a new route this year.

For the road race the weather was cool and dry but with quite a strong wind blowing down the road from Kirkstall towards Leeds. Matt Cox was the first Otley finisher with a new pb of 33:04.

New member Jamil Parapia was next (also with a new pb) with 37:40 - he had never been under 40 mins before - and he was followed by Chris Carver who was disappointed with his disappointed 38:14. James Cullen was the fourth Otley finisher with 39:10. Matt Cox ran 42:05 for another pb and Mark Blagg managed to run under 50 mins. Other Otley runners'times remain unknown at present.

At the Rivock Edge Fell Race there was a cold northerly wind and the ground was quite boggy in places. The new route included a long stretch alongside the Leeds - Liverpool Canal at both the start and at the finish. The race was won by Lloyd Kellett of Keighley and Craven AC in 50:03. Andrew Robertshaw (8th) was first Otley finisher with 51:28. Next of Otley's 11 runners was John Armitstead (56th) with 59:39 and he was followed by new member Dominic (60th) who recorded 59:55. Other Otley runners were: Carl Walsh (69th) 61:14, Phil Robinson (102nd) 65:34, Colin Best (117th) 68:27, Helen Walsh (121st) 69:28, Carol Armitstead (127th) 70:16, Phil Robertson (156th) 78:03, Kath Robertshaw (157th) 78:25 and Antonio Cardinale (163rd) 87:28.

Otley AC train on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Otley RUFC (7.15pm). Runners of all abilities are welcome to join - simply come along and introduce yourself or phone the secretary (Chris Carver) for more details on 01943 468109. He can also be contacted via email chris.carver@btopenworld.com or you can visit the club's website at www.otleyac.co.uk

Ilkley Harriers

Sunday's Abbey Dash was a big10k race, with some 4,000 runners - it's very popular for its fast course.

Initial results are: Neil Chapman 38:20; Jamie Hutchinson; a great result for Cath Wolfenden in about 38.30, (a PB by 1min30) beating most of Ilkley's men and about 25th lady; Dave Jepson; Mark Iley; Ewan Welsh 39:28; John Woodward about 42.20 coming back to form; Andy Wolfenden 43:34; Jane Bryant having a good run; a great result for Suzanne Bickerdike 45-ish and a PB by 3 minutes.

Unfortunately more detailed results are not freely available from the organisers.

This year Neil Chapman was the only Harrier to do the double of the Abbey Dash and the Rivock Edge Hill race the same morning (!), arriving at Silsden with minutes to spare. The race was shorter and gentler this year (but still tough enough), at 7.3 miles with 785ft of climb, and was won by K&C's Lloyd Kellet in 50:03.

Jason Hemsley was 4th in 50:38; Shane Green 6th in 51:11; and and Stefan Macina 16th in 53:23. Other Harriers gaining Harriers Running League points were new member Steve Turland 23rd in 54:32; 38th Geoff Howard 57:27; 40 Mike Rhodes 57:35; 44 Emma Barclay 58:18 (2nd lady); 47 Iain Gibbons 58:30; 51 Mike Baldwin 59:01; 67 Ian Marshall 60:50; 73 Pete Shields 61:35; 74 Sally Malir 61:46; 75 Iain Mann 61:53; 76 Richard Malir 61:58; 81 Brian Melea 62:15; 83 Neil Chapman 63:22; 89 Ashley Hardwell 63:40; 95 Dennis Ackroyd 64:20; 140 Rachael Gooch 71:48; and 163 Antonio Cardinale 87:28

Vic Verecondi did the Cheddleton Christmas Pudding 10K - three laps of an extremely undulating/hilly circuit - to stagger across the finish line in 47.15 for his Christmas Pudding, shortly followed by tea, mince pies and scones in the village hall.

Ilkley Harriers is a friendly club, training from Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club every Tuesday at 7pm. See their web site www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk for more information.

AireCentre Pacers

A WELCOME development in Pacers' activities in recent years has been their involvement in team cross-country races. The first Sport Direct Cross-Country event of the season at Eccleshill was no exception with the men in particular putting on a strong showing.

Leading the way was Will Morris in 48th place a little way ahead of Jozef Partridge on his debut run for the club who finished 69th.

The old campaigners Richard Archer and Richard Thompson were further back with another debutant John Duffy not far behind,

The conditions proved tough for Paul Forkins who was suffering from a virus and for Steve Horne who unfortunately fell a couple of times.

However, their heroic efforts in securing 120th and 130th places enabled the team to score enough points to get sixth place.

Among the ladies however it was a different story. Denuded of regular campaigners just Lynne Morris in 35th place and Candy Gable in 49th were able to get on the scoresheet.

The AGM and presentation evening was held generously sponsored by Club President Richard Archer. After a lively debate on some aspects of club policy awards were presented to Will Morris and Nancy Mellor in the open category and Angela Crawford, Chris Hill, John Tate and Jonathan Smith in the veterans. In the super veterans Richard Thompson, Steve Horne and Peter Phillips picked up the men's awards and Lynne Morris and Yvonne Hampshaw the ladies.

A number of special awards were made with Mike Grindrod and Diane Streets the most improved, Helen Brabinber the most promising new member and Richard Archer producing the best performance by a super veteran.

A presentation was made to Peter Gable for his work on the IT side, to Will Morris for his inspired artwork over a number of years for the Chevin Chase T-shirts and to Lynne Morris for her all round committment to the club.

Entries for the Boxing Day Chevin Chase close on December 10.