ILKLEY Harriers' Ritchie Williamson produced a stellar performance last week in arguably the UK's most dramatic ultra-running event.

He was the second male to finish the Cape Wrath Ultra, an epic 400km, eight-day challenge which journeys to the furthest northwesterly point of the British Isles.

Based on the Cape Wrath Trail, considered the toughest long-distance backpacking trail in the UK, it is dubbed the UK's answer to the Marathon des Sables.

Starting in Fort William, it showcases some of Scotland's most dramatic landscapes and features remote tracks around lochs and glens - with the ocean on the left and the Scottish Highlands to the right.

And Williamson was in the mix at the sharp end right from the start and throughout the eight days, which contained a staggering 11,200 metres of climbing.

Aviemore-based Ian Stewart won the men's race in a time of 50 hours and 39 minutes.

Dark Peak Fell Runners Sally Fawcett and Lisa Watson were second and third respectively, then came Williamson in fourth in 55:51:02.

That saw him finish just over two hours and six places in front of record-breaking ultra-running legend Sabrina Verjee, who in June made national headlines when she set a new fastest known time - by male or female - for a non-stop traverse of Cumbria's 214 Wainwright peaks.

Williamson said afterwards: "I was so glad to finish. I'd set my target as top 10, so anything above that is brilliant.

"I am so happy. It was the hardest thing I have done but so amazing. I know I will be day-dreaming about this for years. It has been phenomenal."

Much closer to home, the Round Hill Fell Race on Sunday saw a third-place finish for Ilkley's Matt Cox - and the first MV40 prize.

Salford's Gary Priestley was the clear winner in 57:21, ahead of Wharfedale's Sam Green, who pipped Cox for the runner-up spot by 16 seconds.

Heavy overnight rain had led to very wet underfoot conditions, but that didn't prevent in-form Wharfedale Harrier Ailish Graham from setting a new women's course record as she took eighth overall.

And there was a great run from Ilkley's Fay Walsh, who was fifth lady home.

On the parkrun front there were two third places for Ilkley runners.

Cam Reilly filled that spot at Woodhouse Moor with his time of 17:06 for the 5km, while there was also a personal best there of 20:59 for clubmate Tom Lambe.

And Mike Abrams-Cohen was the other Harrier to make the 'parkrun podium' thanks to his 19:29 at the testing Cliffe Castle event in Keighley.