ON Sunday five members of Otley Athletic Club took part in the tenth running of the Bronte Way. This nine mile cross-country course starts at Wycoller and finishes at Howarth taking in the scenic Wuthering Heights.

The day was cold with a head wind for most of the distance. The only respite came in the valley bottom where conditions were slightly warmer.

Nick Hodgkinson was unfortunate to fall in the boggier parts and came home with mud clinging to him while Phil Robinson needs to improve his navigational skills after traking the wrong route and having to back track for some distance.

Transport was provided to take runners back to their cars and a warm meal was provided to make this a very enjoyable event.

The event was staged by Keighley and Craven AC and a field of around 150 took part. First home was Steve Oldfield in 54.40 with first Otley man Tom Hannah in 68.19 followed by clubmates Colin Best in 71.42, Nick Hodgkinson 72.54, Phil Robinson 73.58 and David Cattanach 82.00.

In the Eric S mith Handicap Dream Mile at the Becketts Park track ten members endeavoured to run their best.

As this was a sealed handicap everyone started together but the field was soon spread out with Ian Fisher first home but little did he know that the handicapper had done his usual dirty trick on Ian and given him a stiff penalty. The first on adjusted times was Graham Stead with an adjusted time of 4.14 and an actual of 5.24.

Other results were: 2, David Fox 5.26 (handicap 1.0) 4.16 and John Armitstead 5.16 (1.00) 4..16; 4, Ray Hawksby 5.25 (1.00) 4.25; 5, Tom Hannah 5.57 (1.30) 4.27; 6, Tony Allen 6.03 (1.35) 4.28; 7, John Straiton 5.32 (1.00) 4.32; 8, Phil Robinson 6.09 (1.35) 4.34; 9, Katyh Robertshaw 6.50 (2.10) 4.40; 10, Ian Fisher 4.43 (0.00) 4.43.

For any interested runners who would like to run with a very sociable crowd with any standard catered for contact 0113 2843407 for more details. The club meets at Otley RUFC on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for a 7.15 pm start.

Skyrac fell runners

in Scottish race

LAST Sunday in Alva, Clackmannanshire, 500 fell-runners gathered for the 11th British Fell and Hill Running Relay Championships held on the Ochil hills. No fell-running club could hold its head high if it failed to send its best team to the annual championships and Skyrac entered an Open and a Vet's team.

The venue alters every year and for 1999 the 26-mile event included 10,600ft of climb and involved two legs for individual runners and then two legs for pairs.

The weather was glorious and overall winners were Borrowdale in 3-46.56.

Skyrac (listed in leg order) finished 36th in 4-47.04 (Graham Breeze, Alastair Boocock, Nigel Kirkbright / Howard Sawyer, Duncn Asquith / Dave Young) with the fine run of new club member Alastair Boocock being a highlight of the day.

The Veterans' team finished 55th in 5-02.20 (John Forsyth, Malcolm Coles, Steve Batley / Neil Clayton, Peter Rawnsley / Ralph Warman) after close marking of the Open team on the first two legs. Both teams improved on their 1998 places.

In recent years Skyrac has benefited from the inspiration of current club chairman Gordon Agar who is now spearheading the club's plans, as members of the Aireborough and Nunroyd Sports Association (ANSA), to secure a lottery grant and build a magnificent new clubhouse at Nunroyd Park to improve facilities for cricket, football, rugby and athletics in the Guiseley / Yeadon area.

Skyrac already caters for runners of all ages and abilities and potential new members are invited to call Neil Clayton on 01132 290924.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.