"For when the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name, he marks, not that you won or lost, but how you played the game" was the exhortation of Fell Captain Graham Breeze as he despatched the first pair of the Skyrac Veterans team on leg one of the 50 mile, six leg Calderdale Way Relay on Sunday.

Skyrac once came fourth in the event but after 19 years the number of teams entering has grown to over 90 and Skyrac's finishing position has steadily slipped down the rankings and its runners have become philosophical about the effects of advancing age.

It is a Skyrac tradition that the initial team selection is completely changed at Neil and Sue Clayton's party, which is always held two days before the relay, when runners, emboldened by the flowing wine, admit to ailments and injuries and ask to be excused from the team.

Uniquely this year everyone selected made it to the start lines and they were, in leg order: Derek Emsley and Howard Sawyer, Malcolm Coles and Graham Grinstead, Steve Batley and Neil Clayton, Andy Brear and Duncan Asquith, Dave Hill and Max Wood, John Forsyth and Peter Rawnsley.

Winners were Bingley Harriers, who have now won seven of the last 11 races, in 5.45.40.

Skyrac finished in the middle of the field and will be back next year for the 20th anniversary for the pleasure of taking part knowing that, as Izaak Walton wrote "no man can lose what he never had."

Skyrac is a friendly club and can be contacted on www.skyrac.org.uk or 0113 229 0924.

Ilkley Harriers

Ilkley fielded three teams of 12 runners in the Calderdale Way Relay on Sunday. This is 50 miles around Halifax in six stages. As last year, they had a ladies team, an open team, and a mixed team.

By the eve of the race the club had called on nearly all their reserves as runners called in sick or injured, but such is the club's strength in depth that they still had three great teams.

For the men, Mike Baldwin and Geoff Howard ran the first leg, ten miles from Copley to Cragg Vale, in 81:11, 34th out of a hundred or so teams. Dave Ibbotson and Dennis Ackroyd for the mixed team ran 94:47 minutes to finish 75th, just pipping the ladies' team pair of Caroline Howard and Jean Uniacke (who had been ahead until the final stages) 95:29.

Mark Iley and Dave Cheesewright ran a strong leg two, over Stoodley Pike and on to Todmorden, 7.5 miles in 68:41 to finish 25th overall. The ladies' team of Sally Malir and Julie Harvey pulled clear of the mixed team - 46th in 75:05 to Karen Page's and Jo Foster's 72nd position in 83:19, but even though this team lost time with a nasty fall they still beat the mass start for leg three.

Next up was the 4.5 mile steep climb to Blackshaw Head. Graham Pearce and Roy Ruddle made short work of this, bringing the men's team in 23rd place, 42:18. Clare Cheesewright and Alison Crane ran the leg in 48:42 (59th place) to keep ahead of the leg four mass start, and Linda and Victoria Wright ran well, coping with the mass start hordes setting off just minutes after them, finishing 71st in 54:31 (then running back!)

Leg four is one of the toughest, ten miles with big climbs to Wainstalls. Nick Pearce and Jim Ryder ran a great leg for the men's team, bringing them in 20th in 76:44. Andrea Priestley and Emma Barclay pulled the ladies up to third - 55th overall in 85:59; and Tony Thornley and Mike Rhodes ran a sound leg for the mixed team - 88:53 to bring the team into 66th place.

The 4.5 mile leg from Wainstalls to Shelf is muddy with complicated navigation, mitigating against fast times. Pete Shields and Ian Marshall kept the men's team ahead of the mass start in 24th place, despite an injury, running 67:32. Cath Wolfenden and Alison Bennett ran a sound 72:12 for the ladies' team (47th overall); and Shirley Wood and Susie Jollie brought the mixed team in in 66th place with 80:26

On then to the last leg, from Shelf via a circuitous ten mile route to Copley and the finish. Phil Atkinson and Neil Chapman ran 91:56 for the men, giving them 26th place. Joyce Marshall and Anna Liuba brought the ladies in in 58th position, and third or fourth ladies' team. Ashley Hardwell and Rob Pawson brought the mixed team in in 68th position.

Ilkley Harriers are reminded that Sunday sees the Ackworth Crocc-Country event and they hope for a great turnout.

Ilkley Harriers is a friendly running club, training from Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club every Tuesday at 7pm. Find out more at www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk

ESSA Cross-Country

Three young Horsforth athletes competed in the ESAA Schools' Cross Country Cup Final at Northwich, Cheshire. Pride of place went to the talented Brownlee brothers from Bradford Grammar School.

Alistair had a magnificent race over the intermediate boys' (under-16) 4,478m course. He finished in second place (15 mins.37s) with his team placed fourth overall out of the 24 schools who had made their way through their respective county and regional rounds to the national final.

Younger brother Johnny was also very successful and came eighth over the junior boys' (under-14) 2,727m course (10 mins.14s). In this age group, the Bradford GS team finished 13th overall.

Multi-events specialist Bethany Staniland, captain of the Bradford Girls' Grammar School cross-country team, found the 2,727m of the intermediate girls' (under-16) course rather challenging after an autumn of heptathlon training.

She finished 95th (12 mins.42s) out of the 144 individual national finalists but was pleased with her team's overall 11th place out of the 24 qualifying schools.

Johnny Brownlee was also in action at the Aaron Memorial Races where he finished fourth in the under-13 boys' race in 11 mins.54s.