LUCY Williamson was the first lady to finish at the Apperley Bridge Canter (known colloquially as the ‘ABC’), in a great time of 42:16.

This annual 10 km multi-terrain race, organised by Horsforth Harriers, goes along woodland tracks in a rural part of the Aire Valley. Well done also to Lucy’s mum, Sue Williamson who completed this race.

There were some superb Harriers performances in the mud at Guiseley this week after the West Yorkshire Cross County series' second race passed an early-morning inspection. The heavy rainfall had given way to blue skies by the time the two senior races started.

Jemima Elgood shone brightest in the ladies event as she crossed the line in first place while Rachel Carter (LV45) and Sally Malir (LV55) both made the top three in their respective age categories.

Another strong display from the men saw them finish second in the team standings again, with Nathan Edmondson leading the way in fourth in a stacked line-up. Cam Reilly, Jack Wood, Dan McKeown, Steve Gott and Steve Coy were the other counters. And there were some great runs in the junior races too.

Race number six in the Leeds Evensplits series took place this week. This 5 km race involves circuits of the cycle track at the Brownlee Centre in Leeds. Well done to Matt Cox who completed the course in 17.12, placing him in fourth position overall and first MV45. He was closely followed by David Foyston in 17.57 and second MV45.

On the fells, Alison Weston continued to run two more of the fifty original FRA fell races. Alison ran the Hutton Roof fell race, which has been running in its current form since 1985, in 1:16.

This 11.2 km race involves 400 m of ascent and takes in the beautiful hills of Hutton Roof Crags and Farleton Knott near Kirkby Lonsdale. Alison also completed the Black Lane Ends fell race between Skipton and Colne, which involved running three laps of a muddy hilly course. Alison ran this in a time of 44:51.

Over in Wales Petra Bijsterveld completed the Bangor Half Marathon in a great time of 2:05:52. This race, which is part of the 2021 Four Castles Medal Series, starts in the city centre, goes along the Victorian listed Garth Pier over the Menai Straits taking in views of Anglesey, Snowdonia and the North Wales coastline, then on to the Penrhyn castle estate before finishing back in Bangor.

Great results at this weeks parkruns too. A very well done to Mike Abrams-Cohen who was first finisher at Bowling Park parkrun, finishing in a great time of 18.50. Catherine Gibbons was third lady home at the Richmond parkrun. Tom Worboys and Rob Cunningham both finished in the top ten at the Bradford and Skipton parkruns respectively.

Overseas in Portugal Harrier Rhys Jones took part in the 2021 World Triathlon Para Cup in Alhandra, in the Lisbon District of Portugal. This involved a 780m point to point swim, a bike ride of just under 20km and a 5km run. Rhys finished in an amazing third place in the PTVI men’s section.      REPORT BY: JEAN SULLIVAN