THE Rombalds Stride is described by the organiser as a Winter Challenge but to a fellrunner the prospect of running over Baildon Moor, Rombalds Moor and The Chevin in one outing can only be one of delight.

The event has taken several forms over the years and at one time several routes of different length were offered but these have coalesced into the current single route which is described as 25 miles but is probably two or three miles shorter.

The event has always appealed to local runners and Skyrac athletes have been outright winners of the event in its different forms over the years.

The usual huge field set off from St Oswald's School in Guiseley last Saturday for the 20th time and after 2 hours 56 minutes long distance specialist Andy Hauser (Pudsey & Bramley) surprised no-one by being the first home.

Two minutes behind was Brian Goodison (Abbey Runners) and third was Ilkley Harrier Nick Pearce on 3 hours.

The first lady and fifth overall Was Andrea Priestley on 3 hrs 8 mins.

Andy's winning time was a surprise in being only three minutes slower than last year's winning time in conditions that organiser Brian Gill described as amongst the worst of the 20 years of the event with standing water on the moors, low cloud and drizzle.

Skyrac were out in strength with eight entrants and placed four runners in the first 30 finishers.

Nigel Kirkbright was 7th in 3.14 followed by 14th Andy Brear (3.22), 17th John Forsyth (3.23) and 26th Graham Breeze (3.26).

Next home was Malcolm Coles on 3.30, who won an engraved glass memento as the First Veteran (now categorised as Over 60), followed by Graham Grinstead (3.37) and first-time entrant Dominic O'Hooley (3.45) who has only recently returned to racing in preparation for the forthcoming 31 miles Wuthering Hike.

Cheryl Grinstead was Skyrac's lady entrant and finished in 5.21.

If weather conditions were poor on Saturday they were even worse on Sunday for the Dewsbury 10K road race where 1200 runners lined up in falling snow.

In just four years the event has grown in status as athletes are attracted by the fast flat course which is normally conducive to fast times, although not when run in snow.

Skyrac's up and coming Stephen O'Neill had a temporary halt early in the race but still finished in 38 min 15 sec two places in front of super-vet Peter Rawnsley who finished on 38.18.

Skyrac AC is the all-round athletics club which provides coaching for juniors upwards in track, field, road, cross country as well as fellrunning.

Skyrac can be contacted on (0113) 2290924.

Otley AC out for Rombalds

LAST Sunday one of Otley AC's members, Caroline Marler, competed in an open meeting at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham.

She won the 400m for women aged 50 and over in the new world record time of 63.2sec (bettering the old mark by a massive 2.4sec).

On Saturday, the best day of the weekend regarding the weather, a number of runners took part in the Rombald's Stride - a 25-mile cross-country race taking in Guiseley, Esholt, Baildon , Ilkley, Burley Woodhead, Menston and the Chevin. Ray Hawksby was the club's first finisher in a very respectable 3hr 19min. Andrew Sumner was the next Otley finisher in 3hr 41min, closely followed by Colin Best (3hr 45min), Tom Hannah (3hr 54min) and David Hainsworth (4hr 01min). David Cattanach was also competing in this event as was new member Antonio Cardinale but their times are unknown at present.

Also on Saturday Emma Payne ran in the Ogden Moor Fell Race about halfway between Halifax and Keighley. She completed the six miles in 53.59 for 165th position in the race, which climbed 700ft in very cold and very wet conditions.

Members are reminded that the Annual Presentation Evening takes place at The Wharfedale, Arthington, tomorrow evening and the next club handicap will be from The Wellington in Darley on Saturday, February 17, at 11.00am prompt.

Otley AC is a friendly club which welcomes runners of all ages and abilities to their training nights which are: Tuesday and Thursday from Otley RUFC, Cross Green, Otley, at 7.15pm.

Internationals picked from district

AIREBOROUGH and the Wharfedale will be well represented at the annual international indoor athletics match at Dortmund, Germany on March 17 and 18.

Boys and girls from the district aged from 10 to 15 years have been selected to represent the City of Leeds in the Seven Cities Indoor International against teams from Germany, Poland, Sweden Holland, Yugoslavia and the former East Germany.

The team event will take place on the Saturday (March 17) and then the youngsters will be able to take part in Dortmund AC's indoor open meeting on the Sunday (March 18). It will be a great experience to compete in the 200m track complex.

Those selected include Under 16 Boys Andrew Staniland (Skyrac) Shot Putt/Long Jump/High Jump/Relay, Alex Fox (Guiseley S) 60m/Long Jump/Shot Putt/Relay.

Under 14 Boys Kyle Kerley (Skyrac) 50m/High Jump/Relay, Matthew Hudson (Skyrac) Shot Putt/Long Jump/High Jump/Relay.

Under 16 Girls Amy Howard (Skyrac) 60m/Shot Putt/Long Jump/Relay, Sarah Eamon (Skyrac) 60m/Long Jump/Relay Laura Kirk (Skyrac) 800m/High Jump.

Under 14 Girls Bethany Staniland (Hull S'head) 800m/Long Jump/Shot Putt/Relay, Georgina Ablett (Skyrac) 50m/High Jump/Relay Gabby Rowell (Skyrac) 800m.

Under 12 Girls Hannah Thompson (Skyrac) Long Jump/High Jump/Relay.