WITH a lull following the end of the season for the major championship fell races; and the cross country season not quite underway, Ilkley Harriers took the opportunity to do a spread of different races this week whilst others opted for the familiar and less local 5k Parkruns.

In the eighth race of the Brownlee Centre 5k Series, the ever improving Nathan Edmondson entered the A race and finished second in a time of 15:55, only a second behind the winner John Hobbs of Valley Striders, and beating Joe Sagar, Spenborough, into third by three seconds. Harry Stead (19.21) finished in under 20 minutes for the first time.

Adrian Hall took part in the Endurancelife Coastal Trail Series North York Moors Marathon.

This race began and ended in Ravenscar and took in sections of the Cleveland Way and Robin Hood's Bay.

Despite a cold start the blue skies, sun and predominantly dry course made for an enjoyable marathon race.

David Boulton won the race in 3.29.40, Adrian finished fifth with a time of 3:56:54 and 66 runners completed the course.

At the weekend, Steve Turland completed the long score ROC mountain marathon held in the Northern Fells of the Lake District.

This two-day navigational event covered some very challenging mountain terrain.

After seven hours on the first day he was in sixth position overnight, but managed to pick up three places on day two, finishing third overall and first vet.

A number of Ilkley Harriers took part in 10k races around the region at the weekend. Peter Shields at the Littleborough 10k had a good tussle with a fellow V70, who eventually got the better of him in the last kilometre.

Interestingly, Peter, whose time was time was 49.20, has been running against this same runner for over 50 years across various distances and never got within two minutes of him.

In the Preston 10k Sally Armitage was 121st in 44:36, and in the Kelda 10k at Swinsty Reservoir, Caroline Howe was third lady in 47:43.

Jack Wood was in spectacular form at the Groovy Kinder Love fell race in the Peak District.

Jack won this new 25 kilometre event, with almost a five-minute lead over the second place runner and becomes the course record holder. His time was 2:22:24.

In the popular 5k Parkruns around the country, Kate Archer was the first female finisher and Will Buckden (19.23) and Colin Williams (20.00) were in the top ten places at Skipton; whilst Steve Murray was seventh at Bradford and Sally Malir (21.25) was fifth female (with daughter Georgia first female) in Krakow, Poland.

Andrew Humphries, of Airecentre Pacers, won at Bradford in 17.44, while Steve's time was 20.00.

Andrew Cairns, of Skipton AC, won the Skipton Parkrun with a time of 17.15, while Will, Colin and Kate's time were 19:23, 20:00 and 20.38, respectively.