SEVERAL top local athletes took part in the London Marathon and it was Otley AC's Tom Midgley who secured the best time among them.

He stormed home on the day in a time of three hours six minutes and 52 seconds, while his club-mate Andrew Rayner defied the sweltering conditions and time constraints to finish in 4.32.57.

Ilkley Harriers runner Derek Oliver finished in an impressive time of 3.13.18, while the club's top female runner Lucy Williamson crossed the line in 3.44.42.

Rob Cunningham, Dave Reynier and Tom Worboys all completed the course in under four hours too.

Helen Staff was the top performer for the Airecentre Pacers in Sunday's searing heat, coming home in a time of 3.50.52, and Debbie Bland and Simon Nutbrown also crossed the line before the five-hour mark.

Jenny Mynett and Jody Hill also completed the course for the Pacers.

A special mention should go to the unfortunate Airecentre athlete Margaret Britton. She was on track to finish in her four-hour target before suffering a back injury halfway through the race.

She shrugged off that disappointment and gamely completed the rest of the course at walking pace, thus securing herself a finisher's medal.

The Blackpool Marathon was run in much cooler temperatures and the conditions were certainly to the liking of Ilkley runner Colin Williams.

In a field of 574 finishers, he achieved a personal best time, coming 57th in a time of 3.21.55.

Harriers' Jim Ryder completed the Anniversary Waltz Fell Race in 2.01.30. It was a hot day for the 11.5-mile race with 1,100 metres of climb, but there were some great Lakeland views.

The York 5k Parkrun saw an extraordinary result for the Harriers, with their athletes taking three of the top four spots in a field of 651 runners.

The prolific Jack Wood, who has won several races already this year, came first in a blisteringly quick time of 15 minutes and 38 seconds.

Matt Newell followed him home in second in 16.21 and Ruaridh Mon-Williams was fourth overall, crossing the line in 16.52.

Steven Gott also performed spectacularly. He ran at Bramley and came second out of 229 competitors at the Parkrun there in 18.14.

Neil Pomfret excelled for the Harriers in Skipton, coming 32nd after recording a time of 23.35, while Geoff Howard acquitted himself well at Highbury Fields as he came 63rd out of 350 runners, crossing the line in 22.18.