FOR the second time in a couple of weeks, Ilkley's Oli Murphy was involved in a thrilling finish at the sharp end of a local fell race.

He'd pushed Harriers teammate Nathan Edmondson all the way at Beamsley Beacon a fortnight ago, and it was a similar story at the Dick Hudsons event last Thursday.

Just three seconds separated him from winner Harry Holmes of Matlock AC after a sprint finish to the line on the out-and-back course from White Wells.

The race, instigated by then Wharfedale Harrier and now Ilkley Harrier Bob Hamilton, sees runners start from the barrier at the bottom of the track to White Wells.

They then plot their own route to the gate opposite the Dick Hudsons pub before the dash back to Ilkley.

It's usually held in April, but the faster conditions at the end of July contributed to both the men's and women's records being broken this year by Holmes (44:57) and Ailish Graham of Wharfedale Harriers (49:15).

And in a nice coincidence, the MV60 prize went to the aforementioned Hamilton with his time of 1:04:12.

Beamsley winner Edmondson was one of six Harriers involved in the Kentmere Horseshoe on Sunday.

As a counter in the FRA English Championships it attracted a top-class field - and this year was dedicated to Pete Bland in honour of his services to fell running and specifically to being the organiser of this race for many years.

The contenders were faced with 12.3 miles and 3,300 feet of climbing on a warm, dry day. And the in-form Dan Dry led the Ilkley contingent home in 20th of the near 500 finishers in 1:32:59, just ahead of Edmondson in 26th.

Rachel Carter was the first Ilkley lady across the line and again right up there in her FV45 age category in fourth place.

The men's and women's course records were also broken here by Keswick pair Jacob Adkin and Hannah Horsburgh - the latter by an astonishing 11 minutes in 1:29:30.

Dropping down markedly in distance and elevation, last week saw the latest Leeds EvenSplits event at the Brownlee Centre.

Ilkley's Jemima Elgood was the fastest female on the night over the 5km, clocking a rapid 16:52.

And fellow Harrier Mike Abrams-Cohen registered 17:48, his fastest time so far for the series and quick enough to put him in the top 20.

Abrams-Cohen then headed to the somewhat hillier Skipton parkrun at the weekend, where his 18:57 saw him claim the fourth-place token.

Elsewhere on the parkrun front, Fay Walsh was the first female at Woodhouse, where Harry Stead came sixth.

Beth Massey was first lady at Fountains Abbey and Steve Gott again flew the Ilkley flag at Bradford's Lister Park in fifth.