SNOWY conditions underfoot but blue skies overhead provided some spectacular running conditions last weekend, and plenty of Ilkley Harriers made the most of it.

Jack Wood notched his latest victory in the testing Wadsworth Trog fell race on Saturday, a 19-mile (31km) epic, with over 3,600 feet of climbing.

He was involved in a neck-and-neck battle for virtually the whole race with Alisdair McLeod of Leeds City AC, just a second or two separating them at most of the checkpoints.

But Jack put the hammer down when it mattered, drawing clear in the last mile to win by just over a minute in a time of 2:35:46.

Joe Baxter of Pudsey and Bramley was third to complete a top-notch 1-2-3, around seven minutes adrift of the front two.

Another long distance examination took place the same day, with a strong field assembled for the 35km Rombalds Stride, which sets off from Guiseley and takes in the moors all the way to Ilkley and back.

And Kate Archer continued her superb start to 2019 by being the first lady home in a time of three hours and eight minutes.

Michael Lomas was the first male Harrier across the line, in eighth position in almost exactly three hours - five minutes better than his previous best.

There were several other excellent Ilkley performances, including an age category win for Adela Reperecki.

And a little further afield, Dan McKeown put down a Harriers marker at the Mickleden Straddle fell race organised by Denby Dale AC.

He was ninth (out of 194 finishers) in the 23km event, which featured around 2,000 feet of climbing, in a time just under two hours.

Again the runners were above the snow line for much of the race, which takes place on tricky high-level moorland terrain.

There was a very different test on Sunday, with the Dewsbury 10k all about speed.

Conditions were perfect - no ice, no breeze and some much-appreciated sunshine, with six Harriers taking part on an 'out and back' course with a gentle incline all the way out, followed by a lovely downhill 5k to finish.

It suggested personal bests but the hard work is making that happen, and both Steve Murray and Sally Armitage did just that.

Steve not only went under 40 minutes for the first time but nearly dipped below 39, while Sally also knocked more than a minute off her personal best to stop the clock in 42:14.

With so many other races going on (and a few weather casualties), it was quiet on the Parkrun front for the Harriers.

However, there was a notable performance from Alex Hirst at Cardiff, who was ninth in a superb time of 17 minutes and 31 seconds.

JONATHAN TURNER