First three cross the line together in Rombald's Stride

This heralded the start of a tough 25mile race over Baildon and Ilkley Moors followed by otley Chevin.

Starting and finishing at St Oswald's Junior School in Guiseley, the route takes in some of Yorkshire's finest scenery up the Airedale Valley, over Rombald's Moor to Ilkley and across Otley Chevin.

The Rombald's Stride has always been more about enjoyment than racing and this spirit was captured last Saturday when the first three runners chose to cross the line together with Mark Bendall, Richard Pattinson and Lee Athersmith all recording the same time of 2.48.04.

After a chat amongst themselves the win was credited to Horsforth's Bendall in a time of 2hrs 48 mins 04 seconds with second place going to Richard Pattinson and third to Skipton's Lee Athersmith who were also credited with 2:48:04.

Pattinson set a course record winning in 2006 with 02:39:07 while Athersmith was the 2007 winner in 3:36:07.

First lady was once again Ilkley Harrier Sally Malir in 3:13:07 who was a splendid 18th overall. Second lady was Catherine Farrow in 33rd place overall in 3:27:19. Sally was second last year after being first lady in 2005.

The event is organised by the 15th Airedale Scouts and the first Scout home was Philip Catchpole in 6:24:07 followed by William Girt, Callum Gill and Joseph Dunning all crossing the finishing line in 6:37:10.

Skyrac's Malcolm Coles was first male veteran in 3:29:10 with Hilary Wharam first female veteran in 5:31:02. The oldest finisher was Catherine Armstrong who finished in 6:47:45.

Yeadon veteran Les Wood, 65, has run in 26 of the 27 Rombald's Stride events and he finished 287th in 5:55:39.

As well as serious runners this event also attracts walkers hence the huge difference in finishing times.

This time instead of running over gallons of mud - a freeze overnight had made the open moor sections easier to manage. The only downside occurred for runners lower down the order through the compacting of the snow. Conditions were tricky from the Cow and Calf down to Burley Woodhead.

The ice combined with a snow blizzard at about 11.45 am this was after seeing the opposite side of the Ilkley valley being lit by brilliant sunshine.

The weathermen had suggested that the air would be still on the day but instead there was a biting wind all the way around the course. Thanks must be given to all the helpers at checkpoints on the route who provided refreshments to the participants both runners and walkers.

It's good to see that the Rombald's Stride is still well supported by both runners and walkers who travel from all parts of the UK to compete.

Guiseley's Brian Gill has been involved in organising the race over all of its 26 years but in the last couple of years has been drawn back into taking part along with his grandchildren.

Brian walked the course with granddaughter Martha Phillips, aged ten, and her brother Jacob, aged 12.

Jacob took part in the previous year but this was Martha's first time out and the trio completed the walk as a family in 8 hours 4 mins 37 secs - quite an achievement for young Martha.

Brian said: "We did a few trial walks beforehand to make sure Martha could cope with it. It was quite hellish in the snow on top of Ilkley Moor but Martha coped really well and in fact on the return up Otley Chevin she was doing a lot better than me!"

Brian added: "Quite a few youngsters and ladies took part, that is the beauty of this event, anyone can do it, walkers as well as runners."

Of the entry of 500 Brian said: "We had a full entry and we had to turn around 50 people away which is a shame as we do it to raise funds for the Scouts. Of the 500 entries 470 set off and 456 finished."

Explaining why there has been 27 Rombald's Strides in 26 years Brian said: "One year we decided to make the switch from summer to February and so we had two events that year."

Veteran runner Graham Breeze of Yeadon-based Skyrac Athletic Club said: "The allegedly 25 but probably nearer to 22 mile Rombald's Stride Winter Challenge has always been more about enjoyment than racing and this spirit was captured last Saturday when the first three runners chose to cross the line together with Mark Bendall, Richard Pattinson and Lee Athersmith all recording the same time of 2.48.04.

FULL RESULTS: 1, Mark Bendall 2-48-04; 2, Richard Pattinson 2-48-04; 3, Lee Athersmith 2-48-04; 4, Graham Pearce 2-51-05; 5, Edward Davies 2-56-28; 6, Andrew Cottier 2-56-44; 7, Jon Holah 2-57-03; 8, Brian Stevenson 2-58-28; 9, Brian Goodison 2-58-28; 10, Gary Bailey 2-59-35; 11, Steve Turland 2-59-35; 12, Graham Stephens 3-00-25; 13, Chris Stubbs 3-06-42; 14, Ian Rowbotham 3-07-07; 15, Dave Wilby 3-07-26; 16, Andy Riddoch 3-07-26; 17, Martin Farrar 3-12-55; 18, Sally Malir 3-13-07; 19, David Chippett 3-13-43; 20, Roy Ruddle 3-13-43; 21, Martyn Finn 3-14-49; 22, Des Fretwell 3-15-56; 23, Nick Hart 3-17-37; 24, Charlie Johnson 3-17-50; 25, Kerry Jenkin 3-18-14; 26, Robert Pritchard 3-20-32; 27, John Fortescue 3-20-57; 28, C Sallabank 3-20-57; 29, Jim Wheldon 3-22-48; 30, Andy Sutton 3-23-04; 31, Steve Hall 3-24-35; 32, Peter McDermott 3-27-07; 33, Catherine Farrow 3-27-19; 34, Mick Loftus 3-27-19; 35, Ben Grant 3-27-19; 36, Marcellus Springer 3-28-10; 37, Steve Large 3-28-10; 38, Dan Goodey 3-28-38; 39, Andrew Teanby 3-29-00; 40, Malcolm Coles 3-29-10;, 41, Tony Wimbush 3-29-10; 42, Gareth John Hey 3-29-10; 43, Roy Gibson 3-29-52; 44, Andrew Green 3-29-52; 45, Stuart Thompson 3-30-55; 46, Chris Brown 3-30-55; 47, Robert Bumstead 3-31-41; 48, Derek Oliver 3-33-00; 49, Will Stiegeler 3-34-43; 50, Dick Ballentine 3-36-37.

51, Russell Fairhurst 3-37-00; 52, Charlie Marshall 3-37-45; 53, Kevin Gooch 3-38-02; 54, Alison Weston 3-40-43; 55, David Swinton 3-42-39; 56, Rupert Kempley 3-43-15; 57, Craig Worley 3-43-15; 58, Martyn Hewitt 3-43-15; 59, Dave Burdon 3-43-57; 60, Christopher Ainsley 3-43-57; 61, Phil Hodgson 3-43-57; 62, John Laurie 3-45-15; 63, Russell Thomas 3-45-34; 64, Treena Johnson 3-45-34; 65, Paul Stephens 3-45-34; 66, John Turner 3-46-07; 67, Adrian Grainger 3-46-35; 68, Stephen Todd 3-47-28; 69, Anthony Bain 3-47-54; 70, Mike Vinegrad 3-48-45; 71, Serena Blackburn 3-48-58; 72, Alison Eagle 3-49-30; 73, Andy Roberts 3-50-00; 74, Morgan Williams 3-50-01; 75, Damian Burras 3-50-32; 76, Geoff Holburt 3-52-56; 77, David Smith 3-52-56; 78, Tony Minikin 3-53-24; 79, Bob Wightman 3-53-24; 80, Dave Beston 3-53-24; 81, Pete Fieldson 3-53-24; 82, Rachael Sharples 3-54-00; 83, Steve Carter 3-54-23; 84, Kevin A Jackson 3-55-19; 85, Martyn Thorpe 3-55-19; 86, Nick Ham 3-55-19; 87, Peter Shields 3-55-19; 88, Neil Chapman 3-55-19; 89, Michael McKenzie 3-57-22; 90, Simon Maskill 3-57-22; 91, Colin Brooke 3-57-22; 92, David Cusack 3-57-22; 93, Steve Wood 3-57-22; 94, Phil Berry 3-59-11; 95, James Sneath 3-59-11; 96, Lloyd Best 3-59-11; 97, Elizabeth McCann 3-59-11; 98, Andrew Blackwood 4-01-28; 99, Simon Large 4-01-28; 100, Philip Lincoln Jones 4-01-28.

101, Howard Sawyer 4-02-22; 102, Rhys Watkins 4-02-36; 103, David Wolsey 4-03-03; 104, Simon Throup 4-03-03; 105, Paul Tranter 4-03-27; 106, Emma Hinkles 4-03-48; 107, Jenny Wyles 4-03-58; 108, Anne Wade 4-05-24; 109, Vaughan Wade 4-05-24; 110, Philip Musson 4-06-24; 111, Sharon Gayter 4-07-35; 112, Dave Taylor 4-07-35; 113, David Hood 4-08-00; 114, Mike Baldwin 4-08-00; 115, Simon Bowens 4-08-35; 116, Matt Tupling 4-09-09; 117, Peter Wade 4-10-11; 118, Steven Curtis 4-10-11; 119, David Nicholls 4-10-11; 120, John S Wallace 4-12-35; 121, James Corden 4-14-37; 122, Philip Jones 4-14-37; 123, Paul Sessford 4-15-10; 124, Edmund Bryant 4-15-10; 125, Lucy Dog 4-15-11; 126, John Blyth 4-16-06; 127, Richard Adcock 4-16-50; 128, Alwyn Clough 4-16-50; 129, Michael Coates 4-17-29; 130, Nick Waggett 4-17-35; 131, Sue Bickerdike 4-18-03; 132, Nigel Tapper 4-18-03; 133, Simon Peck 4-18-03; 134, Peter Bramhan 4-18-03; 135, Brett Weeden 4-18-03; 136, David Jamer 4-18-03; 137, Ian Smith 4-18-53; 138, Paul Wilson 4-18-48; 139, Peter Sibley 4-19-48; 140, Steve Girt 4-20-29; 141, Tony Pummell 4-22-05; 142, Christopher Dove 4-22-05; 143, Annette Clarke 4-22-05; 144, Robin Towns 4-22-05; 145, Keith Anthony Wood 4-22-05; 146, Daniel Aldus 4-22-05; 147, Martin Kaye 4-22-59; 148, Andrew Meskimmon 4-22-59; 149, Dave Thompson 4-24-37; 150, Julia Day 4-24-37.

151, Angela Pattinson 4-24-37; 152, Tina Dick-inson 4-24-37; 153, Charles Bogg 4-24-37; 154, Rick Nottidge 4-25-07; 155, Ken Wyles 4-25-21; 156, Bob Shimmin 4-25-21; 157, Gerry Parsons 4-26-49; 158, Peter Hanks 4-28-52; 159, Andrew Hainsworth 4-28-52; 160, Stuart Locking 4-28-52; 161, Ashley Hardwell 4-28-52; 162, Anna Liuba 4-28-52; 163, Barry Dunn 4-30-16; 164, Joe Williams 4-34-05; 165, Gary Burns 4-35-20; 166, Shirley Colquhoun 4-35-20; 167, Martin Thompson 4-35-20; 168, Peter Jones 4-35-20; 169, Michael Askey 4-38-53; 170, Paul Cryan 4-38-53; 171, Madeleine Watson 4-38-53; 172, Graham Breeze 4-38-53; 173, Victoria Wadsworth 4-40-05; 174, Simon Green 4-40-18; 175, Mark Keane 4-40-27; 176, Peter Bedwell 4-40-57; 177, Julie Hostwit 4-40-57; 178, Paul Sanderson 4-42-04; 179, Harry Johnson 4-42-04; 180, Sara Blyth 4-42-04; 181, Sarah Gregory 4-42-04; 182, M Swale 4-45-13;183, Jonathan Riley 4-45-13; 184, Jeremy Shaw 4-45-13; 185, Stephen J Pickard 4-45-13; 186, Peter Gallagher 4-45-13; 187, Wendy Nicholson 4-45-13; 188, David Holdsworth 4-45-13; 189, Peter Stevenson 4-45-13; 190, Frank Glass 4-45-13; 191, Jackie Glass 4-45-13; 192, Zoey Houldsworth 4-45-13; 193, Richard Stuart Thompson 4-45-13; 194, Gareth Williams 4-45-13; 195, Ian Morley 4-48-07; 196, Peter Hey 4-49-17; 197, Eric Cusack 4-50-09; 198, Martin Convery 4-51-02; 199, John Gunning 4-51-02; 200, David Cardani 4-51-02.

201, Emma Kicks 4-51-02; 202, Carol Morgan 4-51-02; 203, Mark David 4-51-02; 204, Kenneth Wilby 4-51-02; 205, Helen Gibson 4-52-10; 206, Gavin Jones 4-52-56; 207, Dean Williams 4-52-56; 208, Richard Handford 4-53-39; 209, Brian Campbell 4-53-39; 210, Gary Burdin 4-54-24; 211, John Hardiman 4-57-57; 212, Ian Waites 4-58-24; 213, Garry Cochrane 4-58-24; 214, Martin Walsh 5-00-51; 215, Andy Richards 5-01-27; 216, Pam Baird 5-02-31; 217, John Houtby 5-02-59; 218, Alan Hewett 5-02-59; 219, David Earley 5-04-40; 220, Sophie Brown 5-08-19; 221, Mick Dowling 5-08-49; 222, Paul Havis 5-10-00; 223, Angela Crawford 5-10-00; 224, Andrew West 5-11-07; 225, Matthew Newsome 5-11-32; 226, David Cat-tanach 5-11-32; 227, Ian H Hill 5-13-48; 228, Gill Colbert 5-17-02; 229, Claire Louise Wilson 5-18-31; 230, Peter Marshall 5-18-41; 231, Tony Roberts 5-21-32; 232, Liz Moyes 5-24-42; 233, Adela Reperecki 5-24-42; 234, Kaye Barney 5-24-42; 235, Sean McEvoy 5-25-06; 236, Susan Weeden 5-25-06; 237, Karen Sutcliffe 5-25-06; 238, Patrick Nesden 5-25-06; 239, P Margaret Marsden 5-25-55; 240, Sue Wilson 5-25-55; 241, Craig Savage 5-26-16; 242, Carmel Keary 5-27-00; 243, Steve White 5-27-00; 244, Jonathan Chappell 5-27-00; 245, Gill Ayling 5-28-33; 246, Lisa Beckwith 5-28-33; 247, Hilary Wharam 5-31-02; 248, David Tobin 5-32-46; 249, Andrew Ward 5-33-14; 250, Peter Beddows 5-33-14; 251, Paul Levine 5-33-45; 252, Martin Pearson 5-34-03; 253, Arthur Wood 5-36-00; 254, Bob Payne 5-36-12; 255, John Forsyth 5-38-16; 256, Richard Rushton 5-38-16; 257, Ian Scott 5-39-07; 258, Danny Murphy 5-39-07; 259, Malcolm James Walmsley 5-39-53; 260, Sally Biggins 5-39-53; 261, Stephen Riley 5-40-42; 262, Lyn Eden 5-41-12; 263, Jim Towers 5-41-12; 264, Lesley Wolsey 5-41-12; 265, Andrea Frances Willbond 5-41-12; 266, Celia Knight 5-41-12; 267, Peter Cusack 5-42-46; 268, Amanda Parnaby 5-43-10; 269, Giselle Dudley 5-44-20; 270, Anthony Jenner 5-44-20; 271, Robert Tetley 5-45-23; 272, Gillian Nottidge 5-46-28; 273, Kate Walter 5-46-28; 274, Sam Hallas 5-47-48; 275, Karen Potter 5-47-48; 276, Beverley Bryant 5-48-19; 277, Richard Sykes 5-48-19; 278, Angela Pegg 5-49-27; 279, Jan Hill 5-49-27; 280, Gordon Teal 5-50-36; 281, Malcolm Reid 5-51-50; 282, Victor Lokie 5-51-50; 283, James Parratt 5-25-35; 284, Colette Zai 5-52-35; 285, Brian Winn 5-55-02; 286, Ann Winn 5-55-02; 287, Leslie Wood 5-55-39; 288, Rebecca Chesmore 5-55-57; 289, John Jennison 5-57-46; 290, Phil McLear 5-57-46; 291, David Hainsworth 5-58-26; 292, Ian Forbes 5-59-15; 293, Shaun Fores 6-00-36; 294, Sean Flynn 6-03-19; 295, Mike Foley 6-11-38; 296, Anne Foley 6-11-46; 297, Mick Buckley 6-14-50; 298, Rodney Quayle 6-14-50; 299, Keith Riddiough 6-17-58; 300, Moira Conlon 6-17-58.

301, Richard Gough 6-17-58; 302, Bryan Websdale 6-17-58; 303, D Spencer 6-19-45; 304, Paul O'Brien 6-22-03; 305, Dawn O'Hara 6-22-50; 306, Amanda Canning 6-22-50; 307, Philip Catchpole 6-24-07; 308, Ian Catchpole 6-24-07; 309, Martyn Smith 6-24-07; 310, Paul Tipper 6-26-40; 311, Barry Everett 6-26-40; 312, Michael Jackson 6-26-40; 313, John Horton 6-30-00; 314, Nigel Meler 6-33-02; 315, Carol Gaunt 6-33-16; 316, Ken Stocking 6-33-16; 317, Kevin Dean 6-36-03; 318, Clive Dean 6-36-03; 319, Norman Moore 6-36-37; 320, Adrian Gosling 6-37-10; 321, William Girt 6-37-10; 322, Callum Gill 6-37-10; 323, Joseph Dunning 6-37-10; 324, Steven Girt 6-37-42; 325, Melvyn Walker 6-38-38; 326, Peter Bartle 6-39-50; 327, John Illingworth 6-43-12; 328, Fiona Burnett 6-46-12; 329, David Burnett 6-46-12; 330, Ian Smallwood 6-46-31; 331, Mark Woodall 6-46-31; 332, Jack Armstrong 6-47-00; 333, Catherine Armstrong 6-47-45; 334, Tony Constantine 6-47-45; 335, John Woolley 6-48-49; 336, Barry Allen 6-48-49; 337, Tom Large 6-50-34; 338, Ross Sample 6-50-34; 339, Ian Parker 6-51-26; 340, R Kennedy 6-52-13; 341, Mike Grindrod 6-52-13; 342, Mike Hardaker 6-54-36; 343, John Cottam 6-55-46; 344, Ian Bayliff 6-55-46; 345, Michael Tattersall 6-57-21; 346, Norman Harris 6-57-21; 347, Peter Sharpe 6-57-21; 348, Alan Waller 6-58-05; 34,9 David Cullim 6-58-05; 350, John Hughes 6-58-41.

351, Tom Hughes 6-58-41; 352, Tim Glenn 6-58-41; 353, Gary Proctor 6-58-41; 354, Mick Hill 6-58-41; 355, Jean Lyon 6-58-41; 356, Alf Short 6-58-41; 357, June Reeder 6-58-41; 358, Peter Barker 7-12-27; 359, Ben Haslam 7-13-51; 360, Emily Holdsworth 7-13-51; 361, Chris Marshall 7-21-13; 362, Patricia Marshall 7-21-13; 363, Arthur Marshall 7-21-13; 364, Tim Arnold 7-33-11; 365, Daniel Kennedy 7-33-11; 366, Pete Bashforth 7-35-03; 367, Terry Mettrick 7-35-03; 368, Joe Bashforth 7-35-03; 369, Tim M Nicholls 7-35-03; 370, Thomas Wood 7-35-58; 371, Beverley A Horsfall 7-41-05; 372, Kathryn H Sterlacchini 7-41-05; 373, Samantha Armitage 7-41-05; 374, David Orbaum 7-46-17; 375, Bernard Nelson 7-46-17; 376, Peter Hunt 7-46-17; 377, Molly Dog 7-46-18; 378, Simon Redshaw 7-49-07; 379, Rob Rushworth 7-49-07; 380, Elaine Axford 7-49-07; 381, Colin Shields 7-51-24; 382, Rajesh Chander 7-51-24; 383, Alex Main 7-52-21; 384, Gregory Main 7-52-21; 385, Tim Rollett 7-52-54; 386, Elizabeth Morris 7-52-54; 387, Frances Peace 7-52-54; 388, Richard Hook 7-52-54; 389, Michael Brookes 7-52-54; 390, Vicky Ward 7-59-48; 391, Matt Ward 7-59-48; 392, Jacob Phillips 8-03-45; 393, Brian Gill 8-04-37; 394, Martha Phillips 8-04-37; 395, Cath Fraser 8-05-27; 396, Clive Fraser 8-05-27; 397, Michele Reynolds 8-05-27; 398, Liz Madden 8-05-27; 399, Mary Coates 8-07-27, 400, Colin Harding 8-12-47.

401, Judith Harding 8-12-47; 402, Gillian Barker 8-13-13; 403, Neil Barker 8-14-46; 404, Simon Ellner 8-29-09; 405, Lesley Andrew 8-29-09; 406, Tony Bland 8-31-10; 407, Cliff Howland 8-31-31; 408, Michael F Armitage 8-31-31; 409, Kenny Reid 8-31-31; 410, Robin Crampton 8-31-31; 411, Michael Best 8-32-56; 412, Anne Gowing 8-37-44; 413, Graham Brown 8-37-44; 414, Catherine Henderson 8-37-44; 415, John Dobson 8-44-09; 416, Sarah Booth 8-44-09; 417, Brenda Doyle 8-45-39; 418, Joanna Redman 8-45-39; 419, Jennie Allen 8-45-39; 420, Sharon Smith 8-46-09; 421, Hilary Shaw 8-46-35; 422, Verna Baker 8-46-35; 423, David Baker 8-46-35; 424, Emma Shaw 8-46-35; 425, Lyndsey Wade 8-46-35; 426, J A Pratchett 8-46-35; 427, Anne Peterson 8-48-17; 428, Julie Tulip 8-48-29; 429, Maggie Davies 8-48-58; 430, Joanne Hume 8-48-58; 431, Emma Craven 8-48-58; 432, Carole Raistrick 8-48-58; 433, Julie Wright 8-48-58; 434, Alison Bull 8-48-58; 435, Dawn Rennie 8-48-58; 436, Jude Breen 8-51-54; 437, Alex Mutch 8-53-09; 438, Baldish Sandhu 8-58-50; 439, Trish Convey 8-58-50; 440, Carol Moran 8-58-50; 441, James Stewart 9-02-46; 442, Michael Stewart 9-02-46; 443, John Turner 9-03-45; 444, Patrick Stewart 9-03-45; 445, Kamaldeep Ghataurhae 9-03-45; 446, Joseph Linney 9-15-12; 447, James Haigh 9-15-12; 448, Belinda Manners 9-36-04; 449, Paula Richardson 9-36-04; 450, Michael Goodwin 9-48-24.

451, Stephen Lock 9-48-24; 452, Matthew Haslam 9-48-24; 453, Peter Harding 9-49-03; 454, Ben Langli 9-49-40; 455, Elliot Brigg 9-49-40; 456, Pauline Butterfield 9-49-40.