A busy weekend of racing for Ilkley Harriers started with the Yorkshire Vets AA Cross-Country Championships on Saturday at a fog-bound Graves Park, Sheffield. The Vet 60 team finished ahead of Leeds City to take bronze medals and were close to second-placed Bingley with seventh Ian Row-botham 40.03, 35th Geoff Howard (2nd v65) 44.02, 42nd Norman Bush 44.56 and 58th Graham Arthur 47.52. In the under-50s race, Paul O’Looney finished 31st in 41.24 At least three Harriers took part in the Wads-worth Trog, with Steve Turland finishing tenth in 1hr 38min, with Richard Joel close behind in 13th.

But closer to home, the 23-mile Rombalds Stride had a very large turnout of Harriers: preliminary results are Jim Ryder in a top-ten place in 3hr 9min, 12th 3hr 10min Mark Mon-Williams, 13th 3-16 Ralph Tench; 3-26 Neil Smith; 3-34 Alison Eagle, second lady; 3-40 Kay Pearce, third lady; 3-54, John Hayes; 3-57, Paul Stephens; 4-01, Jez Hellewell; 4-01, Tony Melechi; 4-07, Joyce Marshall; 4-14, Dave Taylor; 4-24, Ian Marshall; 4-35, Sharon Meadows; 4-35, Keith Wood; 5-07, Bob Payne; 5-39, Andrew Bennett.

On Sunday, the premier event was the Dewsbury 10k road race, where conditions were near perfect and some fast times were recorded. Dave Wilby, running his first ever road 10k, led home the Ilkley Harriers from 38th in 35.06. Justin Phillips did another fine run which was only a fraction slower than his recent time at Ribble Valley – 58th in 36.08.

Jane Bryant won the prize for second F40, 207th overall in 41.30, with Alison Bennett fourth F45 in 41.34, Nick Pearce third M55 97th overall in 38.13, and men’s road captain Henry Heavisides first M55 – 76th overall in 37.04 and setting a club record. The club believes the men’s team was seventh overall in a quality field. Other great results were: 126, 39.12 Richard Hinsley; 196, 41.04 Adrian Bastow; 335, 45.23 Vic Verecondi; 501, 49.44 Martin Wright; 515, 50.46 Paul Sugden; and 529, 51.07 Fiona Schneider. A total of 801 finished.

At the re-scheduled Central Lancashire New Year Half-Marathon, Dougie Scarfe was 107th in 1:44:07 and Judith Scarfe 196th in 2:02:46.

If you are looking for a friendly club to run with, visit Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club on Tuesdays at 7pm, or view ilkleyharriers.org.uk for more information.