In the final event in the Harrogate and District Summer Road League, Ilkley Harriers tried to beat the handicap based on their own performances earlier in the League.

Ian Marshall did best, finishing 28th in the 96 strong field.

He was followed by: 39th Amanda Parnaby; 41st Jo Simpson; 49th Neil Chapman; 51st Richard Gray; 54th Jeff Paget; 58th Alison Bennett; 59th Lloyd Best; 62nd Mark Iley; 71st Jim Simpson; 73rd Richard Midgley; 77th Vic Verecondi; 78th John Woodward; 80th Steve Fletcher; and 90th Bridget Doherty - all finishing within 3 minutes of each other after a scenic 9.2km course around Ripon.

Saturday's Ingleborough fell race, 7M with 2000ft of climb, was won by John Taylor (Bingley) in 47.09. Nick Pearce enjoyed a good run, 16th in 54,24.

He was closely followed by Jim Ryder 19th in 54.52 and Mark Iley 22nd in 55.39. James Lind was 60th in 60.15; Ian Marshall 76th; Steve Cockerham 104th in 66.25; Andy Wolfenden ran 70.07. Keith Wood was also well up in the results.

Meanwhile, in the final eight hour race in the Salomon X-Adventure GB Series held in Kielder Forest Eddie Winslow and Adrian Hall, together with Thorlene Egerton, raced to third place in a competitive field.

The event started with a ten mile fell run followed immediately by a long mountain bike ride through the forest. After a brief section of rope work the team continued on mountain bikes to the Canadian canoes.

With the weather threatening to close in, an impressive hour long paddle on Kielder Water (greatly assisted by Thor's ability to steer) put the team in a strong position into the final bike section where they took their tally to 24 checkpoints out of a maximum of 27 before racing back to the finish at Kielder Castle in 7 hours and 45 minutes. A good result following 5th position in the last two races.

In Sunday's Kentmere horseshoe fell race, 11.9M with 3300ft of climb, results were:

Mike Baldwin 1.56.43, Alison Weston 2.02.47 (2nd lady), Emma Barclay 2.07.27 (4th lady); and Ewan Welsh 2.11.19.

Amanda Parnaby successfully completed the 26 mile (or further) Nidd Vale Circuit, a navigational cross-country run, in 7h16m.

Ilkley Harriers is a friendly club, training and racing over all terrain. They train every Tuesday from Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club every Tuesday at 7pm. Join them there, or contact them on 01943 831765, or at www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk for more information.

Skyrac AC

Both Skyrac senior track and field teams took part in the first round of the North of England inter Club Track and Field Championships at the South Leeds Stadium.

In the main Cup competition, the women finished a disappointing seventh, despite three particularly impressive individual performances.

Fifteen year-old Amy Howard, fresh from her English Schools' Championships' silver medal, launched her discus 35.17m to take second place. Fiona Thomas was also in second position, but in the 100m with a fine 13.0s. She then putt the shot (4kg) 10.45m for third.

In the secondary Plate event, Skyrac's men were victorious and qualified for the final.

Matthew Clay was in excellent form and set a new personal best to win the high jump with 1.96m. He also won the long jump with 6.76m. Joel Riley's 1500m showed maturity beyond his years as he recorded the excellent time of 4 mins.03.5s for second place. Both Matthew and Joel are still in the junior men's category.

Finally, S O'Neill gave Skyrac a rare long distance track success when he finished second in the 10,000m in 34 mins.33.6s.

Amy represents England

First year under-17 Skyrac athlete Amy Howard completed a dream week at the Under-17 Schools' International Athletics Match at the Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow.

In the intermediate girls' discus at last week's English Schools' Track and Field Championships, she was selected to represent England against Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Here, in atrociously wet conditions, she threw her discus 34.33m for fourth place, just missing out on the medals.

England was a comfortable winner of the match and Amy returned to Yeadon with an international vest and tracksuit - an excellent week for an athlete who will still be eligible to compete in the same age group next year.

AireCentre Pacers

THE Otley Ten Miler is a race for masochists and for innocents. AireCentre Pacers' participants fell into both categories, with Jonathan Smith confirming his return to competitive action with a steady run. He managed 68th place, curiously in a time of 68 minutes, which was little below his best.

Russell Oliver continued his rich vein of form, with a sterling 78 minutes, to give him 152nd place. In between was the refreshed Richard Thompson, compiling a steady 72 minutes. Diane Craven was first lady Pacer home in a shade over 80 minutes.

The most impressive performance came from Adrian Lee's daughter Rosalind, who charged back in 81 minutes, beating father by around six minutes. Among the novices in the race were Sheila Maunder and Candy Gable.

In the Skipton 10k Peter Phillips skipped down the by-pass in a merry 47 minutes, closely behind Angela Crawford; both, however, were trailing in the wake of Diane Craven who had positively flown down the dual carriageway to net a 44 minute finish. Peter was no doubt feeling the effects of his blistering run in the Wakefield 10k, where he had been over a minute quicker.

Aside from his midsummer madness in Ripon, Richard Thompson has also found time for the Masham half-marathon and the Rainton 10k. Richard Archer finished in 44 minutes and Paul Forkins in 46 minutes.

Startrack coaching

NORWICH Union Star:track, a fun outdoor summer athletics coaching event for children be-tween eight and 13 years, will be taking place at four venues around Leeds this summer.

Norwich Union Star-track is a non-competitive summer scheme with children being able to take part in a wide range of games and activities designed to improve the running, jumping and throwing skills that are the basis of all athletics disciplines. The emphasis of the event is for children to have fun and to en-courage them to take part in and enjoy athletics as a sport.

Each venue will also offer the opportunity to meet at least one British International athlete, get photographs and autographs as well as ask questions.

Norwich Union Star-track venues include: South Leeds Stadium, Monday-Thursday, August 5-8, 10am-12.30pm - cost £20. Beckett Park, Headingley, Monday-Friday, August 12-16, 10am-12.30pm - cost £25. For further information, please contact Jim Cowan, Leeds Athletics Development Officer, South Leeds Stadium, LS11 5DJ. Tel: 0113 3950162. Mob: 07802 817796. E-mail: jim.cowan@leeds.gov.uk

Open Meetings

Bethany Staniland was one of three Horsforth-based athletes in action in Lancashire. At the latest round of the Trafford BMC Grand Prix series, Robert Spencer (Holmfirth Harriers) qualified for a place in the BMC 800m B race.

He produced the pleasing time of 1 min.59.1s for sixth position and was second fastest under-20 man.

Meanwhile at the Pre- Commonwealth Games Open Medals Meeting at Radclyffe Athletics Centre, there was triple gold success for under-15 girl, Bethany Staniland (Kingston-upon-Hull AC).

This was achieved with victories in the 100m in 14.2s (-w), the 800m with 2 mins.29.6s and in the shot (3.25kg) with 9.83m. Her brother, Andrew Staniland (Skyrac AC) was also a shot (5kg) winner, taking the under-17 men's event with 11.05m. He then undertook some Octathlon preparation with second place in the 400m in 56.2s.