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Emma Barclay of Ilkley Harriers on the Three Peaks course (PICTURE: Tony Fickes)

LOCAL runners were among those who took on the gruelling challenge of the annual Three Peaks Race which this year was run as the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge.

The Three Peaks Race, which traverses the famous Yorkshire Dales mountains of Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside, is one of the oldest, most famous and best organised fell races in Britain.

First run in 1954, the race covers 24 miles of the most rugged and spectacular countryside in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, taking competitors to a height of 2,500 feet above sea level.

With an influx of overseas challengers due to the race's new status course record holder Andy Peace could only finish in tenth place while fellow Bingley Harrier Rob Jebb, winner for the past three years, could only manage fourth.

Pearce's record of 2 hours 46 min. 03 sec remained intact as Scotland's Jethro Lennox won the 2008 race in a time of 2.53.39.

The women's record of 3hours 16min 17sec held by English international Sarah Rowell was however smashed by mountain running superstar Anna Pichrtova of the Czech Republic who set a new women's course record of 3.14.43 and along with Lennox collected a prize of £1,000.

Up to one hundred overseas competitors from 21 countries were expected for the race and they came from Australia, New Zealand, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Spain and Norway, including selected international elite long distance mountain runners, Former Ilkley Harrier Graham Pearce in the vest of Pudsey and Bramley finished 34th in 3.15.20 while fellow Pudsey and Bramley runner Gary Devine, formerly of Ilkley, was 36th in 3.16.09.

Otley AC member Matt Cox was 91st in 3.32.26 with club colleagues Edward Davies 144th in 3.44.33, John Armitstead 177th in 3.51.12 and Dale Foster 191st in 3.54.13. Hugh Pearson tired towards the end and finished 312th in a time of 4.13.03 while Liam Dunne, more accustomed to road running, finished 404th in 4.26.47.

Wharfedale Harrier Jason Hemsley was 159th.

The race was a counter for Skyrac AC's Derek Emsley Trophy with six Skyrac runners finishing with Martin Farrar 207th in 3.56.23; Bob Pritchard 401st in 4.26.08, 446; Graham Breeze 446th in 4.33.10; Peter Wade 657th in 5.18.54; 661 Duncan Asquith 661st in 5.21.05 and Stephen Batley 685th in 5.41.56.

Stephen achieved minor fame by being the last runner to finish which is more than the 60 runners who dropped out could achieve.

Ilkley Harriers who completed the race were:Dave Wilby 3:54.00; Emma Barclay 3:55:15; Brian Melia 4:02:36; Roy Ruddle 4:02:58; James Ryder 4:07:23; Alison Beagle 4:09:21; Heather Dawe 4:16:04; Dan Goodey 4:17:17; Graham Arthur 4:17:50; Bob Hamilton 4:18:21; Morgan Williams 4:22:42; Alison Weston 4:24:21; Geoffrey Howard 4:24:28; Mike Baldwin 4:31:16; Peter Shields 4:32:20; Phil Atkinson 4:40:12; Bryan Websdale 4:41:14; Peter Sibley 4:42:55; Jo Foster 4:55:08; Ken Jaquiery 5:02:01; Helena Deeney 5:24:35; Rachel Hagan 5:25:40.

Skyrac AC Skyrac Athletic Club this Saturday make their long awaited return in the Northern League Track and Field competition for athletes in the U-17 age group upwards.

A team of around 20 athletes will be making the short journey across the Pennines to Oldham, Lancashire.

Athletes who require transportation should contact club officials or other team members. The athletics track is situated at the Radcliffe Sports Centre in Chadderton.

After this meeting the next Track and Field competition where Skyrac athletes will be competing will be on Wednesday, May 7, at Thornes Park, Wakefield, in the second West Yorkshire Track and Field League competition.

Then on Saturday, May 10, the Yorkshire County Athletics Championships takes place over two days at the Don Valley International Stadium in Sheffield.

Over 30 athletes from the Skyrac club have entered the Championships. Athletes are reminded that club colours must be worn.

Skyrac Athletic Club hold track and field training sessions for all disciplines to include javelin, shot, discus, long jump, hurdles, sprints and middle distance at Leeds Carnegie Athletic Track on Mondays meeting at the Track Pavilion from 6.30pm.

Skyrac's main training nights are Tuesdays and Thursdays meeting at the clubhouse at Nunroyd Park, Yeadon, at 7.20pm.

For further information contact 01943 466320 or visit www.skyrac.org.uk.

Otley Athletic Club Over 4500 runners took part in the Sheffield half marathon on Sunday and Otley's Julian Mawson finished 268th in a time of 1.29.14. Tom Hannah was 600th in 1.35.41.

Club training nights are as usual this week on Tuesday and Thursday meeting at 7.15pm at Otley Rugby Club, Cross Green. New members are always welcome. Junior training for 8-13 year-olds is held on Wednesdays at 6.30pm at the Otley RUFC pitches behind Stephen Smith's on Pool Road, Otley.

Full details of the all the club activities can be found by visiting the website www.otleyac.co.uk and following the links.

Orienteering Airienteers travelled to Bigland near Ulverston in the Lake District, last weekend to compete in Regional Event organised by the Lakeland club. Bigland is classic Lakeland terrain - an intricate slope covered by mature deciduous trees with some fast open-fell running.

The results of regional events count towards a runner's national ranking and Shirley Wood of Addingham did her cause no harm by winning the W50 race in fine style in 65.17.

Other notable results included Sarah Haines of Ilkley who, although a W45, entered the 7km W21 race and came second in 82.02 behind York-based Heather Gardner who won in 80.09.

Husband, Peter Haines was also runner-up in the M50 class, whilst Martyn Gill from Skipton continued his recent good form with fifth place in the 6.2m M55 race which was won by Deeside's Mike Smithard in 65.24.

Meanwhile Natasha Conway of Leeds was third in the 6.2km W35 race as was Hilary Allen at W60.

Other top-ten positions achieved by local runners were: Peter Jones, Andrew Kelly (M50); Tony Thornley, Ian Hill (M60); Robert Ker (M65); Joyce Marshall (W40); Chloe Haines (W21); Ian Marshal (M45).

For the junior runners Sam Wood, Robert Kelly, Ben Gill and Becky Bailey all finished in the top ten of their age group races.

The first of Airienteers Wednesday evening informal events is staged this week at 6.30pm in Meanwood Valley, Leeds. Many more will be held throughout the summer and these are ideal taster events for those new to orienteering and for training purposes.

Next week Airienteers are at a Bank Holiday two-day event including a national race at Cawthorne, near Pickering, in the North Yorks Moors. Details are via the club's website at www.aire.org.uk.

Ilkley Harriers IN the Blackpool Marathon on Sunday Sally Malir set a new Ilkley Harriers ladies' record of 2:58:15 as she finished second lady in the race. This performance ranks Sally seventh in UK in her age group at the moment for 2008.

In the Sheffield Half Marathon on Sunday three Ilkley Harriers were amongst 4,500 runners at this race. Philip Judd finished in 1:30; Stephen Coy in 1:30.23and Nick Errington in 1:40.38. Stephen's time was a personal best by over 20 minutes.

12:03pm Thursday 1st May 2008

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