Running log

Mark Hall is ranked first in Britain after clocking 56min 23sec in the Snake Lane ten-miler at Pocklington near York.

The Ilkley Harrier was ranked sixth and fourth nationally in the over-50s age group the previous two years.

Sunday’s performance surpassed the 90 per cent age-grading barrier, with this grade calculation measuring against the world’s best per age category and gender.

Richard Pattinson of Pudsey & Bramley ran 55:11 in finishing ninth and he has now taken first place in the national rankings for over-45s.

Overall winner from 752 finishers was Doncaster’s Carl Ryde in 51:59, while March AC’s Melissa Neal was first lady in 62:23. The usual horde of Bradford club runners were absent, mostly at Wembley.

The Huddersfield RR 10K attracted 515 runners and Mohamed Aburezeq of Altrincham won in an impressive time of 32:28 on this undulating course.

Spen’s Kevin Ogden was second in 35:34 and Bingley’s Stephen Bailey fourth in 37:10. Keighley & Craven’s Amy Green showed a return to form after injury in winning the ladies’ race in 39:57.

The penultimate race in the Peco Cross-Country League took place at Barnbow Fields, east of Leeds, on Sunday.

The men’s premier league has three clubs vying for victory in the final race on March 3.

The fourth race had surprise winners in promoted Hyde Park Harriers. Saltaire Striders finished a good second, gaining a point on rivals Abbey, with home team St Theresa’s fourth.

The seventh-placed finish of Valley has completely opened up the league.

Simon Pass (second), Will Kerr (sixth), Andy Bedford (15th), Martin Fillingham (24th), Mike Chambers (47th), Nick Trinder (69th), Alistair Nash (71st) and Ian Jones (89th) were the scorers for Saltaire.

What is even more creditable is that all but captain Kerr and Chambers are new recruits in the last few years to inter-club competition.

Abbey Runners now have ten points overall, with north Leeds rivals Valley Striders and Saltaire on 11 each.

The technicalities of count-back (the total points of all scoring runners in all five races) could yet prove decisive.

In the men’s first division, Ilkley look assured of promotion.