A total of 36 Ilkley Harriers competed in the Calderdale Way Relay on Sunday. They were, however, distracted and distressed by the news that Helen Sedgwick had been hospitalised by an accident while driving to the race.

Fortunately, Helen's injuries were later found to be not too serious and she was discharged in the evening. All members will wish Helen a swift recovery from her injuries.

The race comprises six stages run in pairs and follows a cross-country route

of 50 miles around Calderdale with a total climb of 5,000 feet. The event organised by Halifax Harriers attracts 100 teams and Ilkley entered mens, ladies and 'mixed' teams.

With the race starting at 8 am and with Helen due to the run the first leg, it took a number of very early morning telephone calls and lots of good-natured co-operation to re-arrange the teams.

Joyce Marshall gamely took Helen's place and ran with Sally Malir on the long first leg to Cragg Vale where they finished in a very creditable 77th place

(1 hour and 38 minutes). For the men Nick Pearce and Mike Baldwin were as

reliable as ever as they set their team off with a great start, finishing in 23rd place (1.20.30).

Mark Iley and David Matthews maintained the momentum on the leg two run to Todmorden via Stoodley Pike as they also finished 23rd fastest (1.09.09).

Heavy, muddy conditions were experienced throughout which suited Shirley

Wood and Janet Hebbert (1.28.41) of the mixed team as they enjoyed the views from the Pike.

Whereas conditions had been very favourable for the first two legs with warm sunshine and clear visibility things were deteriorating during the, short but steep, third leg climb to Blackshaw Head.

Geoff Howard and Pete Shields (26th place and 45.41) continued the men's progress while Jo Foster and Claire Williams (50.40) and Bridget Doherty and Jill Cooke (55.59) completed the leg for the ladies and mixed teams respectively.

Strong winds and heavy rain showers were experienced and endured, almost stoically, by those waiting to start their fourth leg runs.

This leg is recognised as being the hardest of the race and there were exceptional performances from the pairings of Jim Ryder and Chris Gale (16th overall in 1.15.29) and Andrea Priestley and Emma Barclay (35th overall, 1.23.33).

Janet Souyave received the dreaded telephone call and filled the gap in the

teams by running the fifth leg for the mixed team with Claudia Barjolin. They provided medical assistance and called an ambulance for an injured competitor en-route and on eventful day took 20 minutes off Janet's best time for the leg.

Anchoring the men's and ladies teams home on the last leg there were very good runs from Phil Atkinson and Neil Chapman (25th place in 1.27.27) and Diane Kitchen and Johanne Kerr (1.35.44).

The race finished with Ilkley's men's team finishing a very satisfactory 24th place overall, our best performance for a few years, in 7 hours and 6 minutes with Bingley Harriers the winners in a time of 5 hours and 52 minutes.

In the ladies race Dark Peak edged out Bingley by a single second

after almost eight hours of racing with Ilkley just a few minutes behind in a very creditable fourth.

Ilkley Harriers are a friendly running club, training at 7pm on Tuesdays from Ben Rhydding Sports Club. Thursday speed/stamina sessions with Pete at BRSC are at 7.30pm.

l To find out more about the Harriers, contact our captain Ken Souyave on (01943) 609597, or visit the web site www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk.