Ashley Hardwell was the first Ilkley Harrier home in Saturday's long (17m/3500ft) Borrowdale Fell Race, in 4h34; then came Jim Ryder 4h36; and Jane Leather 4h40.

The next day, Jill Cooke ran in the shorter (3m/950ft) Latrigg Fell Race, and was 57th in 34:19

On the roads the 16th Harrogate 10km race was in very warm conditions. Ken Souyave who had a very good run in 38:40 followed by Neil Chapman in 40:59.

Then camen Amanda Parnaby and Mandy Chapman had a close battle to finish 57:31 and 57:32 respectively, with Heather Duke finishing in 59:15, followed by Brian Sweet in 61:00.

In the Sale 10, Terry Lonergan made a return to his old club of the 60s, Sale Harriers, for this very flat four lap(!) course. In pleasantly warm and still early morning conditions he ran 66:18 after starting cautiously.

A few Ilkey Harriers are also orienteers, running for the local club Airienteers, and were competing at the six day international event in the challenging and varied forests near the Moray Firth.

Top honours went to Tony Thornley, third in his V55 class. Shirley Wood was 12th in her class, Joyce Marshall 18th in hers and Ian Marshall 40th in his. Paul Wood was also there (but never quite where he should have been).

Young Sam Wood won the White class three times, and was second on another day, showing us all how it should be done!

Ilkley Harriers is a friendly club, training from Ilkley Lawn Tennis ans Squash Club every Tuesday at 7pm - see www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk for more information.

Otley Athletic Club

The last week saw much activity on both road and fell. On July 26 three members took part in the prestigious Snowdon International Fell Race. This covers a distance of ten miles and involves 3,300 feet of climbing.

Conditions were described as humid and the wet rocks were slippery. 363 runners finished the race, which was won by Tim Davies of Wales, in a time of 65.57

First home for Otley was Andrew Robertshaw who had an excellent run to finish 25th overall and fifth in the open category in a time of 76.03.

Andrew was followed home by clubmates Dale Foster (54th/21st) in 82.28 and Duncan Burgess (131st/81st) in 93.22.

The following Sunday saw another group tackle the Worsthorne Mag 7 Fell Race near Burnley. The race, which was run in very warm conditions, covered seven miles and required 900 feet of climbing.

First home for Otley was Jack Robertshaw (47th in 54.35), followed by Graham Stead (49th in 55.32), Kath Robertshaw (73rd in 61.33) and David Cattenach (91st in 71.19).

Kath was also first Lady V60.

On the same day, nine members took part in the Harrogate 10K road race. Ian Fisher finished third in 32.20. Other Otley finishers were: Malcolm Court (38.33), Chris Carver (39.28), Tom Hannah (41.38), Phil Robinson (42.18), Howard Jeffrey (43.00), David Fox (43.37), Don Buffham (47.50) and Antonio Cardinale (48.40)

The club caters for serious competitors and recreational runners and meets at Otley Rugby Club, 7.15 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. New members are welcome.

Skyrac fellrunners

When Leonard Cohen wrote about stepping into an avalanche he had in mind the torture of love rather than fellrunning but the words are equally evocative of the Borrowdale race because the route is famous for two steep scree slopes.

The descent off Scafell Pike on the corridor route towards Great Gable is one of the most thrilling in fellrunning.

However, but the ascent up to Bessyboot, with boulders liable to fall onto fellrunners lower down the climb, was finally recognised as so dangerous that the FRA asked the race organisers to find another way.

This they did for the 30th race last Saturday adding almost a mile to the course.

A final fourth climb over Dalehead near Borrowdale is a tough event (17 miles, 6,500 feet) and it is ranked third in the pantheon of classic fellraces behind the longer and higher Wasdale and Ennerdale races.

The record goes back to 1981 when Billy Bland, sui generis, finished in 2 hours 34 during a period when he dominated fellrunning, only concluding in 1988 when he retired after his last Borrowdale victory.

A good field of 215 starters included winner Simon Booth (Borrowdale) in 2.49.12 ahead of inform Rob Jebb (Bingley) 2.51.03.

A surprise was to see the gifted but semi-retired Gavin Bland come in 8th (3.13.46) whilst the shock of the day was to see current English and British Champion Ian Holmes (Bingley) trail in 11th in 3.17.45.

For Skyrac Martin Farrar had a storming first try in the event to finish 67th in 4.10.11 whilst Graham Breeze, not wishing to upstage the great Ian Holmes, sauntered around in 4.48.50.

Skyrac caters for runners of any age, ability, discipline and www.skyrac.org.uk or 0113 229 0924 will explain how.