JACK Cummings got the week off to a great start by finishing in first place at the first race of the Bunny Run series, a trio of spring races organized by Wharfedale Harriers on Tuesday evenings in April.

Both juniors and seniors race together on a 2.7-mile circuit on Penistone Hill, with all finishers receiving a Cadbury’s cream egg. Cummings was the first across the line in a winning time of 15:52, followed by Junior Harrier Archie Budding in 17:10 and first BU17.

Third Harrier home was another Junior, Oscar Shinn, in 19:03, with Harriers Christos Tzelis and Nick Ward also finishing with high placings.

Another win for the Ilkley Harriers this week with Tom Adams taking first place finish at the Llangollen Fell Race in Denbighshire in Wales. This challenging 17-mile fell race, involving 3,000 feet of ascent, includes running along parts of the Offa’s Dyke footpath. Tom completed the course in a superb time of 1:49:42. Harriers Alison Weston and her daughter Nea also took part, finishing in great times in this tough event.

In Hartlepool, Helen Waddington took part in the Hartlepool Marina 5-Miler, a fast, flat out and back course, which starts at the historic quayside marina before heading out along the sea front. Helen finished in a great time of 35:17, placing her third in her age category.

This weekend saw the staging of the Lakeland Trails Hawkshead 16km race. Starting and finishing in Hawkshead, this trail race follows circuits along footpaths and bridleways, taking in panoramic views of Windermere and many Lakeland fells. The route includes the infamous, mile long climb of the ‘Coffin Trail’ and the route involves 471m of ascent in total.

Harrier Helen Thurston had a great race, completing the course in 1:23:39, finishing in 20th place overall, with Helen first FV40 to finish. Marie Watson also completed this race, running the course in a great time of 1:50:04.

Ilkley Harriers also had two first place finishes at the weekly timed 5km parkrun events this weekend. Mike Abrams-Cohen completed the Wetherby parkrun in a great time of 18:18 and was the first to finish. Fellow Harrier, Nathan Edmondson, was also the first finisher at the Chevin Forest parkrun, Nathan running this in a very fast 16:17. Lots more top ten parkrun placings for the Ilkley Harriers this weekend; Tom Adams was the second to finish at the Robert’s Park parkrun, with Dave Foyston fourth finisher, Junior Harrier Jake Norris sixth finisher and Steven Gott seventh finisher at the same parkrun.

Harrier Tom Lambe also had a great parkrun, Tom finishing in third place at the Myrtle parkrun in 20:54. Adam Gerrish was the fifth finisher at the Doddington Park parkrun, with Adam running this in a great time of 18:34.   BY JEAN SULLIVAN