When the evening light allows, Skyrac fellrunners train off-road on either Baildon Moor, Rombalds Moor or the Chevin so naturally there is always a good turn out for the Rombalds Stride which from its start at St Oswald's School in Guiseley goes into the Aire Valley before joining the routes of Skyrac's training runs.

Originally designed for walkers the time limit for the 20 miles plus event is ten hours but the top runners finish in around three hours and in time for an early lunch.

Conditions last Saturday were excellent with clear visibility under a blue sky and bone hard terrain all of which are conducive to fast running.

From the usual entry of 400 plus the winner was Otley-based Jason Hemsley (Pudsey and Bramley) in 2.53.06.

In the absence of last year's winner Andrew Robertshaw of Otley AC the first Otley finisher was Dale Foster who ran well for second place. For a large part of the race he ran with eventual winner, Jason Hemsley, who was a member of Otley AC a couple of years ago. Foster finished in 2.54.38 with Graham Stephens (Kenilworth) third in 2.55.02 having come fourth and fifth in the last two years.

Another tremendous run saw the Scotland-based Ilkley Harrier Andrea Priestley charge home as first lady and amazing sixth overall in 2.57.14, over eight minutes faster than her victories in 2001 and 2002.

Other finishers for Otley AC included : John Armitstead, Ray Hawksby, Nick Hodgkinson, Andrew Sumner and David Hainsworth who all ran well and finished easily inside four hours. Andrew Sumner, in fact, finished in 3h 32 - over 30 minutes quicker than last year.

Carol Armitstead and Aidan Smith were the next Otley finishers and may also have broken the four hour barrier (despite Aidan fading badly towards the end of the race).

Otley's Caroline Wood was much improved over last year's performance despite falling in the woods near Esholt while trying to overtake a group of walkers who stubbornly refused to move out her way.

Behind her was clubmate Emma Payne who ran and walked her way around the course.

Also taking part for Otley AC was Beth Massey who ran around with her partner, Mark Hall (also representing Otley AC), a noted road runner living in Barnsley.

First Skyrac runner in tenth place was Duncan Asquith (3.07.42) followed by 22nd Derek Emsley (3.16.48), 37th Graham Grinstead (3.24.32), 79th Andy Brear, 81st John Forsyth (3.53.44) and 94th Peter Rawnsley (4.03.04).

Skyrac's Joanne Dennison was also running as part of her training for the London Marathon.

Skyrac AC

In contrast the weather on Sunday for the 12 miles Mickleden Straddle from Langsett on the edge of the Peak District was atrocious. Ankle deep mud from melting snow, ice covered pools and hail and snow driving into the faces of runners on Mickleden Edge.

Runners were turning back within a mile of the start and over ten per cent of the field dropped out before the first checkpoint.

Winner was local orienteer Tim Austin (Dark Peak) in 1.32.07. Skyrac's Malcolm Coles and Graham Breeze were there braving the worst of the weather and finished in the second half of the field pleased just to have completed the course.

Skyrac welcomes new members and can be contacted on www.skyrac.org.uk or 0113 229 0924.

Otley AC

On Sunday six Otley AC members opted to take part in two off-road races at Roundhay Park. The slippery and windy conditions were not suited to fast times but in the 10k event James Cullen performed well to record 40:45.

Mike Jeffrey was the next Otley finisher with 42:28 followed by Carl Walsh with 44:24.

In the 5k event Helen Walsh was the first Otley runner home (in road shoes) recording 23:54. She was followed by Louise Cullen (hopefully soon to be a member of Otley AC) who ran well in the conditions for 30:50. Sally Blake and Fiona Hilton were the next Otley finishers in their first race recording times of 33:54 and 33:59 respectively.

Otley AC welcomes runners of all standards and training runs (from Otley RUFC at 7.15pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays) reflect the wide range of abilities within the club, eg 10k times from 30 mins to 55 mins and marathon times from 2h 20 to over 4h 30.

Many members also prefer fell and/or cross country racing and as such rarely, if ever, race on the roads.

This year's Otley Ten Mile Road Race is scheduled for Wednesday, June 25, and again will be kindly sponsored by Otley Motors thus ensuring a well organised race with a substantial prize list.

This year the race will also incorporate the three separate Yorkshire ten mile road race championships, ie men, women and veterans. For the second time, the race also incorporates the North East Region Police championships. The Leeds and Holbeck Building Society have also provided sponsorship.

Race entry forms are expected to be available within the next few weeks. For further details about Otley AC visit www.otleyac.co.uk or phone Chris on 01943 468109.

John's Run

No one will be surprised if 500 runners turn out next Sunday to honour the memory of the great but modest and popular Yorkshire athlete John Taylor.

The inaugural John's Run starts at 11.30am from Penistone Hill, Haworth, in memory of the international Bingley Harrier who died suddenly last year from cardiomyopathy.

Dave Woodhead has organised the race and all proceeds will go to the John Taylor Foundation for Young Athletes which has been set up to raise awareness of sudden death syndromein young athletes. John was a green keeper at Bradley Park Golf Course.

Dave's races are always events rather than just races and John's Run will include a rolling start behind John's closest friends including his fianc Kirstin Bailey of Addingham.

There will also be a raffle, a Scottish piper at the start and 25 spot prizes of cabbages each with a reward of something more palatable.Of course the whole thing will be on video.

Details of the event can be obtained from Dave and Eileen Woodhead on 01535 669100.

Bronze for Andrew

THE AAA's Indoor Championships at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, saw 16 year-old Leeds City AC athlete, Andrew Staniland, of Horsforth, enjoy his most pleasing track and field performance of his career so far.

In the Norwich Union AAA National Indoor Championships Andrew was third in the under-17 men's long jump with a personal best leap of 6.51m.

Second placed jumper Simon Bailey of Shaftsbury and Barnet AC, also leaped to 6.51m but won on countback while gold medallist Danny Harris of Exeter Harriers, achieved 6.77m.

Andrew was delighted with a bronze medal at this level of competition, especially as he only made it through to the long jump final in sixth place.