What must it feel like to win an event for ten consecutive years?

Perhaps only those who run for Borrowdale Fell Runners know because last Sunday they won the Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay for the tenth consecutive time.

The Hodgson family first organised the event in memory of Ian, who was killed in a road accident, in 1986. After 20 years of organising this challenging and highly esteemed event the family have decided that 2005 would be the last race they would organise, although there is the possibility that Lakeland based organisers will take over in future years.

Borrowdale won in 3.39.36, five minutes ahead of Dark Peak who were also second in 2004.

One of Skyrac's first leg runners turned an ankle but the consequently relatively slow time did provide an opportunity for subsequent team members to gain places and Skyrac eventually finished 56th in 5.28.44.

The full team was Duncan Asquith/Robert Weston; Stephen Batley/Michael Swales; Martin Farrar/Graham Breeze; Robert Pritchard/Malcolm Coles.

Martin Farrar was Team Captain and was thanked appropriately for co-ordinating an enjoyable day in Lakeland, when it did not rain.

Skyrac can be contacted via 01943874046 or www.skyrac.org.uk

Otley Athletic Club

OTLEY runners had a busy weekend with a variety of events on offer. The A Team completed the Ian Hodgson Relay event, held over challenging fells surrounding Brotherswater in the Lake District. They finished 40th team out of 70 entries.

John Armitstead and Andy Hunt led off on the tough first leg handing over in 50th place to Liam Dunne and Ray Hawksby with an elapsed time of 91 minutes.

These two picked up nine places completing leg two in 45 minutes and handing over to Otley's strongest pairing of Andy Robertshaw and Jamie Noon.

They flew round leg three in 72 minutes to hand over to Carl and Helen Walsh in 29th place.

Carl became navigationally challenged in last year's event but having learned from that experience and with wife Helen along to keep him on the right path they completed the leg without mishap in 82 minutes.

Conditions on the day were very clear but with the fells very wet from recent heavy rain the team was pleased to improve on last year's time by almost 30 minutes.

This year's Horsforth 10K also offered mostly off road running over slightly less hilly countryside and attracted an entry of over 400.

Phil Robinson was first Otley runner home in 77th place with a time of 43.25. Terry Flynn was 144th in 46.46 and Sam Gardner 195th in 48.56.

Antonio Cardinale was 229th in 50.47 closely followed by Billy Raynor in 50.54. Hannah Peacock wads slightly disappointed with her 52.49 for 271st place.

The Selby Half Marathon is definitely on the road and is also one of the flatest races around. Despite only training lightly for a while Julian Mawson finished in an excellent third place in 74.08.

Mick Jeffrey found conditions to his liking and ran a handy 84.08. Hugh Pearson was going well but developed a muscle strain in the later stages and limped in with 93.30.

Tom Hannah had his best run over the distance for around five years passing Hugh and breaking the magic 90 minutes with 89.21. David Haisnworth ran an even paced but steady race in 100.41.

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).

Details at www.aire.org.uk