TOM Adams was in top form for Ilkley Harriers at the final West Yorkshire Cross Country League meeting of the year at Nunroyd Park.

The conditions were testing in a race that was run over four laps of a course that had cut up from some of the earlier races.

The mud was strength-sapping but Adams, as he has done so often, rose to the challenge as he led the field of 151 runners home.

He returned a winning time of 33min 50sec, which was a good effort given the underfoot conditions.

Mark Iley was the next Ilkley finisher in 79th place with a time of 41:39. Steve Coy came 91st in 42:10 and Arthur Reilly was 102nd in 43:41.

The women’s race was won by Pudsey & Bramley’s Alex Bell in 22;17 but the Ilkley contingent performed well and came 11th in the team event.

Sally Malir led the Ilkley challenge, coming 25th in 26:37, and was comfortably ahead of the next Harrier, Chloe Haines in 32:08.

Gaenor Coy battled her way to 80th place in 34:04, followed closely by Petra Bijsterveld in 85th with a time of 34:24 and Julie Elmes, who was 95th in 36:04.

Skyrac were second, sandwiched between Holmfirth and Wakefield. Nicola Squires (third), Rebecca Cesar de Sa (ninth), Molly Keeffe (21st) and Kyla McCosh (30th) were their scorers.

Ilkley were strong in the boys events, but also won the under-17 women’s league ahead of Holmfirth and Harrogate, although they are less dominant than in recent years.

Skyrac are the most improved club in the area. Amy Francis won the final race on home soil to lift the under-15s title, while Eve Jones had a clean sweep in the under-11s. Alex Padgin was runner-up to Holmfirth’s Lewis Byram in the under-17s.

In the senior and veterans’ age groups, the competition remains fierce. Leeds City beat Valley Striders for the men’s title, Spenborough bettered Holmfirth and Bingley for third and Skyrac were a creditable sixth.

In the women’s league, Holmfirth were dominant, and only Wharfedale (third) and Spenborough (fifth) of the local clubs had full teams in all four races.

Skyrac had been second on the final day, sandwiched between Holmfirth and Wakefield. Nicola Squires (third), Rebecca Cesar de Sa (ninth), Molly Keeffe (21st) and Kyla McCosh (30th) counted.