Athletics scene

The Skyrac Annual Presentation Evening saw a good turnout of the 2005 prizewinners who were: Cross-Country, U-14 Harriet Middleborough and James Common; O-14 Stephanie Houghton and Nick Howard; Technical Events, female - Rebecca Brennan; Round Table Shield - Lisa Petts (nee Dent); Jack Crook Award - Peter Rawnsley; Points Winners, female - Amy Haley, male - Adam Brook; Golden Girl/Boy - Laura Griggs and William Harrison; Best Newcomer, U-11 Girl - Alicia Jeavons, U/11 Boy - Andrew Cockroft; Junior Best Newcomers Award - Jake Hanson.

Everyone at Skyrac was particularly delighted that Jill Emsley was able to attend the Presentation Evening where the awards for the Derek Emsley Memorial Trophy were given to Martin Farrar and Graham Breeze (joint winners) with Rob Weston in third place. The 'Snail' award, commissioned from Bentham Pottery, was awarded to Duncan Asquith.

Last weekend saw an astonishing absence of races in the English Fell Calendar and so what could a dedicated fellrunner do? Well he could slum and do a 10K trail race near Wigan if really desperate: so off Graham Breeze went to the Standish Hall Trail Race to run on bridle paths and woodlands trails.

The winner was Junior Fell International Adam Peers (Liverpool Harriers) in 35.43. Graham was 50th out of 211 in 44.07 which only made him second Vet 60 but he was happy to pick up a spot prize.

Others at Skyrac were not tempted by Wigan and instead just trained in preparation for the Ilkley Moor race on 26th February, organised by Ilkley Harriers, which will be the first counter towards the 2006 Derek Emsley Trophy,

The Ilkley Moor race just grows and grows in stature. It had a whole article dedicated to it, 'A Moor, A Race, A Song' in The Fellrunner Magazine in 2004.

It attracts well over 200 runners and, let's face it, is run over the finest moor in England.

Skyrac AC is based at Nunroyd Park on the Guiseley/Yeadon boundary and enjoys the facilities of the magnificent ANSA clubhouse. Skyrac can be contacted via www.skyrac.org.uk or 01943 874046.

Otley Athletic Club

Last Sunday 16 members took part in the second event in the Eric Smith Handicap Competition 2006. This competition comprises 12 events (one per month) in places such as North Rigton, Harewood, Eccup, Darley and Esholt.

The 4.3 mile race around Harewood estate took place in unseasonably good conditions and the winner, Colin Best, produced his fastest run since 2003 with a net time of 32:51.

Kath Robertshaw finished 16 seconds behind in second place. Her net time of 36:07 was also her fastest since 2003. Phil Robinson was in third place, some 36 seconds behind Kath but his net time of 30:43 was his fastest ever on that course by well over a minute.

Trailing Phil the whole way round the course, but just losing out on a sprint finish, was David Fox. Phil and David were given the same time (and the same handicap).

The other finishers were: Ray Hawksby (net time 29:59), Tom Hannah (31:10), David Cattanach (38:15), John Armitstead (29:35), Paul Clifford (30:11), Chris Carver (29:24), Ursula McGouran (39:32), Antonio Cardinale (36:39), Carol Armitstead (37:27), Mark Clifford (35:28), Nick Hodgkinson (approx. 55 minutes - he ran around slowly collecting the tape used to mark the course).

After the first two events the leaders are: Phil Robinson and David Fox 28 points, David Cattanach 21 points, Tom Hannah 20 points, Carol Armitstead 17 points.

The next event in this competition will take place at Eccup on Saturday, March 4.

This year's Otley Ten Mile Road race will take place on Wednesday, June 14 (avoiding any England games in the football World Cup). The event will be sponsored by McKay Law (solicitors and advocates); The Divan Centre (of Eastgate, Leeds) and JR Sports of Otley.

Entry forms are now available from JR Sports and Otley AC. For further details please contact the secretary Chris Carver on 01943 468109 or see the website www.otleyac.co.uk.

Ilkley Harriers

On Sunday Ilkley Harriers were racing at the third event in the Sport Direct Cross-Country League, over a five mile course down in Ackworth. Lawrence Basham, Richard Joel, Graham Stead, and Bob Payne were racing for the men.

Helen Sedgwick was the first lady in 33:23 and Ilkley also had third lady Alison Bennett in 34:18; then 11th Dianne Haggar; 14th Jemma Basham; and Emma Payne, Anne Stead and Amanda Parnaby.

Dave Wilby and Kelly Harrison travelled down to Herefordshire to fly the flag for Ilkley in the 10th Anniversary Muddy Woody Race. The race is based in woodland and after a few recent heavy downpours conditions underfoot were suitably atrocious. It didn't stop people turning out though and a field of almost 350 set off. The winner's time was 45:22, Dave was third in 46:59 and Kelly was ninth lady in 1:02:10.

Ilkley Harriers are reminded that Sunday, February 26, is the club's premier event, the Ilkley Moor Fell Race. The junior races start at 10.30am, with the senior race at 11.30am. If you are not racing, the club would appreciate your help, contact Paul Wood on 01943 831765.

Ilkley Harriers train every Tuesday at 7pm from Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club. See www.ilkleyharriers.org.uk for more information

Orienteering

Airienteers travelled to Guisecliff, near Pateley Bridge, last Sunday to compete in a District event run by CLARO, the Harrogate-based club which attracted 250 runners from all over the north.

Guisecliff provides challenging orienteering on a rock-strewn and heavily wooded, steep valley side together with open moorland for the longer courses. The event was 'colour-coded' which provides opportunities for runners from different age-groups to compete against one another. The most technically-demanding and longest courses are Blue and Brown.

The Brown course was won by ever-green veteran international Harry Dowdell (M45) from CLARO, with Airienteers' Peter Haines (M50) and Alistair Wood (M50) in third and fourth places respectively in 71.20 and 71.26.

There were also good runs by Ben Stevens (M18), eighth in 74.57, and Ian Marshall (M40), tenth in 76.11.

The first Lady home for Airienteers was Ruth Ker (W35), 16th in 84.09.

There was an Airienteers winner on the Blue course where Tim Patterson (M21) was victorious in 61.07 in a field of 70 runners, whilst the fast-improving Bruce Woodley (M40) had a storming run for runner-up position in 64.56.

Other high finishers for Airienteers were Tom Gomersall (M21) in 70.56 and Tony Thornley (M55) in 73.47, his first event since November.

On the Green course, Ruth Jones (W45) celebrated her international selection with fifth place and first Lady home, whilst Robert Kelly (M14) and Sophie Brown also achieved top-ten finishes out of 41 competitors.

At Light Green, Lee Beavers (M21) was 2nd and Cerys Jones (W14) and Rosemary Beavers (W21) were also in the top-ten home.

The White, Yellow, and Orange courses are mainly reserved for junior competitors, and the strong Airienteer junior section was evident in wins for James Avis (M12) on Yellow, and for Florence Haines (W12) on Orange.

There were other good runs by Scott Marshall (M10), Laura King (W10), Lucy Haines (W10), Beth Woodley (W12), Gemma King (W10), Joe Woodley (M10), and Daniel Calvert (M10) all of whom were in the leading positions on their respective courses.

A few local orienteers travelled to Birch Hagg in the North York Moors the previous week-end to compete in a District Event run by Ebor, the York-based club.

Alistair Wood achieved a creditable sixth position on the 6.9km Brown course in 77.58 with other good runs by Alistair Everett (M18) and Howard Sawyer (M50) in 13th and 15th positions respectively.

Meanwhile, Tom Gomersall (M21) was second on the 6.3km Blue course with an excellent run by Ken Patterson (M55), third in 79.44.

Chris Hardy (M50) was 15th in 93.19. Rosemary Beavers flew the Airienteers flag on the 3.0km Light Green course coming fifth in 53.53.

Next week provides a choice of Regional events at Torver in the Lake District or Houghton Moor in the Yorkshire Wolds. Details of this and other training events are to be found at www.aire.org.uk.

Thake wins

ANDREW Thake of Hallamshire was an easy winner of the Wombwell Five Mile Road Race on Sunday.

He got away from his teammate Martin Broadhead and stretched his winning margin to 300 yards clocking 25.43. Julie Briscoe (Wakefield) won the women's race.