Otley's Ian Fisher won the Nike Yorkshire Cross-Country Championship at Boddington Hall, Lawnswood, on Saturday. Over the incredibly muddy course, he took gold in the senior men's 11,000 m with the excellent time of 40mins 43secs.

Fisher, the 30 year-old from Idle, powered his way through the Boddington Hall quagmire to finish comfortably ahead of second placed J Taylor of Bingley Harriers, who finished in 41.26. Ian's achievements were all the more impressive considering he was running with a gashed ankle, having been spiked by a competitor's shoe.

The other Otley runners were Andrew Robertshaw 33rd (45.51), Duncan Burgess 39th (46.22), Dale Foster 63rd (48.20), Julian Mawson 70th (48.35). Ray Hawksby 99th (52.05), Tom Hannah 140th (57.32), Colin Best 143rd (58.03), Steve Mann 155th (60.24) and Nick Hodgkinson 159th (66.59).

Charlotte Sanderson, of Bingley Harriers, won the Senior Women's race in 26.49. Otley's Caroline Wood finished 78th in 38.38.

Earlier in the day many other younger athletes from around the region had also achieved some outstanding performances in their respective age groups.

Pick of the bunch was Horsforth's Elizabeth Spencer (Holmfirth Harriers) who ran a determined race to take gold over the Under-17 Ladies'course. Her performance was all the more impressive as she will be in the same age group next year and she fully deserves her county vest for the Inter-Counties' Championships at Nottingham in February.

Stephanie Williams and Janine Lumley, both of Skyrac AC, came 20th and 25th respectively in the same race.

Another Horsforth girl, 800m specialist Bethany Staniland (Hull Springhead Harriers) was pleased with 11th place in the Under-13 girls' 3000m. Having not run competitively for six weeks, she just missed out on possible county selection by one position, being only one second behind the 10th placed Spenborough girl.

Woodhouse Grove School's Jill Harrison (Keighley and Craven AC) also ran well in the Under-13 Girls' race, finishing 19th.

Last year's Under-13 girls' gold medallist, Laura Kirk (Skyrac AC), had bad luck at this year's event and was unable to finish the heavy going Under-15 girls' 4,000m course but team-mates Rebecca Levins (17th), Megan Lloyd (32nd) and Sarah Manby (34th) had strong runs. Meanwhile Sarah Leigh, also of Skyrac, was in good form, coming eighth in the junior ladies' event and may well be selected to represent Yorkshire at Nottingham.

The Under-17 men were Skyrac's most successful team at the championships, gaining the silver medal with fine runs from Graham Powell (5th), Tom Coates (12th), Paul Moses (18th), Steve Shacklock (22nd) and Nathan Tugwell (32nd).

Also in this category was a pleasing 9th place from Horsforth School sixth former, Robert Spencer (Holmfirth Harriers).

The Under-15 boys' 4500m course saw two Skyrac 13 year-olds mixing it with the older boys. Nick Howard, though representing Bradford GS, was twelfth and Stuart Johnstone was not far behind in 16th position.

Finally, in the Under-13 boys' 3000m, Skyrac's Edward Clementson earned his

County vest with a fine sixth placed run whilst Jamie Humphry was 37th.

With the County selectors likely to choose the first eight in each age group to represent Yorkshire in February's Inter-County Championships, with ninth and tenth positions as reserves, the region will be well represented at the next level of competition.

Skyrac AC

fellrunners

Whilst the Long Distance Walkers' Association's name implies a pedestrian

approach to traversing the countryside many of the events the LDWA arranges are open to runners; although some LDWA members do disapprove of those who desire to cover the route in the shortest possible time.

The Scarborough Rock is a 25 mile LDWA event in which Skyrac runners have achieved considerable success. Howard Sawyer has won the race twice and Duncan Asquith has also won the event and came second last year.

Andy Brear has been second twice and third twice and returned to the event last weekend after a lengthy lay off, which included surgery, through injury and came a creditable eighth in 3 hr 21 min. Local man Ian Ellmore won the event in 3 hr 2 min but the second man came in on 3 hr 14 min and so Andy took comfort from being just seven minutes from second place.

Andy is currently co-ordinating arrangements for the 3.5 mile Aireborough Wild Race which will be run through the Esholt Spring Woods on Sunday, March 18. The first Wild Race, and the associated Fun Run, took place last October but for 2001 the date has been brought forward to the Spring and listed in the FRA Calendar. Contact Andy on 0113 255 8271 for details.

One month later on Easter Sunday, April 15, Skyrac will promote the sixth 10K Guiseley Gallop which has grown in popularity each year and in 2000 attracted over 400 runners.

This event incorporates a rich variety of terrain because the route takes in Spring Woods and the canal towpath and allows runners to display their ability before the cameras of the gaping tourists outside The Woolpack in Esholt Village. Peter Rawnsley on 01943 875516 will provide more details.

Finally on Wednesday, June 6, Skyrac will present the 22nd Otley Chevin Fell Race which is organised by Neil Clayton (0113-229 0924) who in April this year will receive the award from the Three Peaks Race Association for successfully completing his 21st Three Peaks Race last year.

Although Skyrac AC organises three off-road events each year it has a historical pedigree beyond fellrunning which includes the support of internationals up to road marathon level and the provision of fully qualified coaching facilities for children aged from nine years.

Telephone any of the contacts mentioned above for a warm welcome.

Otley AC

OTLEY Athletic Club entered three teams in Sunday's Harrogate Ringway Relay. The race covers approximately 32.5km in five stages of 4km, 6km, 8km, 6.5km and 8km.

Winners were Harrogate Hares in a total time of 2hr 15min 14sec. Otley Flyers finished second in a time of 2-17.53 (Caroline Marler 17.17, Colin Best 27.02, Andrew Robertshaw 32.42, Ray Hawksby 28.02 and Ian Fisher 32.49).

Otley Gazelles finished eighth in 2-38.10 (Caroline Wood, who lost a shoe in the mud, 20.05, Neil O'Brien 28.26, Andrew Summer 41.06, Dale Foster 27.12 and Tom Hannah 41.29).

Otley Strollers finished 17th in 2-53.20 (Emma Payne 19.02, Steve Mann 30.11, Phil Robinson 40.46, Dave Hainsworth 35.43 and Nick Hodgkinson 47.38). Twenty-two teams ran.

Otley Athletic Club welcomes runners of all abilities. Training nights are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.15pm, meeting at Otley RUFC.