Ilkley Harriers

Ilkley Harriers fielded two teams in the prestigious Ian Hodgson Fell Relays on Sunday, on the high fells circling Brotherswater in the Lake District.

The Ilkley men's team had their best ever result, 19th overall in 4 hrs 25:41 The Ilkley Ladies team swept all before them, beating the ladies' course record by six minutes and finishing 36th overall (out of 67 first-class teams) in 4 hrs 43:17

On Leg 1, Andrea Priestley and Helen Sedgwick were fastest ladies on the day, beating the record by 1m55s in 1:23:22 (29th overall on leg) and ahead of Ilkley men's team pair Jim Ryder and Malcolm Pickering 1:26:17 (37th on leg). On Leg 2 Alison Eagle and Emma Barclay were fastest ladies 43:41 (25th) but were overtaken by the men's pair of Jack Wood and Graham Pearce 39:30 (7th) - Graham having a hard time!

On Leg 3 Sally Malir and Nicky Jaquiery had another good run 1:24:47 (43rd) keeping a good lead on the Keswick ladies, and Mike Baldwin and Iain Gibbons had a good one too 1:21:03 (33rd).

On the final leg Alison Weston and Jo Foster kept a good lead despite an injury - 1:11:27 (38th). For the men Roy Ruddle and Hector Haines overtook several teams in 58:51 (14th team on the leg).

On the roads, the Horsforth 10k attracted a good turnout of Harriers. Good running weather, a well marshalled course, uphill for the first 3K then down to the canal and along for the second half of the race back to Woodhouse Grove School made it a very enjoyable run for the 436 runners.

There was a close battle for first Harrrier home, with Nigel Tapper 69th and Alan Pearson 70th both in 43.04; then 163rd Richard Gray in 47.41; 170 Debbie Steele 47.55; 177th Pete Bedwell 48.06; 193 Nick Mellor 48.51; 229 Antonio Cardinale 50.47; 290 Adele Mitchell 53.14; and 412 Ann Pearson 64.12

Ilkley Harriers is a friendly running club, training from Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club every Tuesday at 7pm - more info on www.ilkleyharriers.org.uk

Orienteering

Runners from Airienteers competed in the October Odyssey run by Northern Navigators. The two day competition was over an area of old lead mines at Nenthead on day one and in Hamsterley Forest on day two.

Airienteers had the Stevens family of Ilkley doing well. George was the clear winner of the JM5M level while brother Ben (JM5L) won by over 17 minutes in the accumulated time of the two runs. Meanwhile sister Victoria won JW5L.

Other winners for Airienteers were the fast-improving Ian Marshall (M40) from Burley-in-Wharfedale, Neil Conway (M35) and Ruth Ker (W35).

However, perhaps the run of the weekend wwas by Henk van Rossum of Leeds, a club stalwart, who exceeded all previous race results with a superb second place at Hamersley beating the current Yorkshire champion Richard Payne by 25 seconds.

Other results for local runners were:

Davy Ker (JM2) 4th; Sam Brown (JM4) 2nd; Ben Gill (JM5S) 3rd; Nick Green (M21) 2nd; Martyn Gill (M50) 9th; Chris Burden (M55) 9th; Robert Ker (M65) 2nd; Jo Abbott (W21) 2nd; Joyce Marshall (W45) 2nd; Susan Stevens (W50) 4th.

Martyn Gill from Skipton has received an award from the British Federation for outstanding services to orienteering.

Martyn teaches at Ermysted's Grammar School in Skipton and has been responsible for introducing generations of schoolboys to orienteering and ferrying them all over the country to compete un regional and national competitions.

Due to his efforts a number of Ermysted's old boys have gone on to representative honours at county, regional and national levels.

Next week Airienteers will ne competing at Stoodley Pike near Todmorden in a regional competition.

Details of this and other orienteering events at this friendly club can be found at www.aire.org.uk