THERE was huge success for the Ilkley Harriers at this year’s Senior British Inter-Counties Mountain Race, held in Llanberis North Wales at the weekend.

The five-man Yorkshire men’s team featured no fewer than four Harriers runners, all of whom came in the top 10 to seal first place and with it the championship prize.

Nathan Edmondson led them home as fifth counter, closely followed by Jack Cummings (sixth) and relatively new members Ben Rothery (eighth) and Kieran Savage (ninth), a simply outstanding display.

The first three combined for a total of 19 points, putting them ahead of second-placed Cumbria on 21, with a huge gap back to third-placed Wales on 51.

Ilkley Harriers also dominated the Dick Hudson’s fell race this week, taking first, second and third place finishes at this race. Tom Adams stormed home to finish in first place, with clubmates Oli Murphy and Lawrence McCourt finishing in second and third places respectively. Fay Walsh led the Ilkley ladies’ home with Fay being the fifth lady to finish.

This seven mile fell race, with 1,100 ft of climbing, starts from ‘The Barrier’ at the bottom of the track to White Wells in Ilkley, the aim being to touch the gate by Dick Hudson’s Pub on the opposite side of the moor and then return to where the race starts.

This race is made more interesting by runners being able to choose any route they like to get to the gate at Dick Hudson’s and then back to the finish line.

Also on the fells Harriers Steve Turland and Simon Richardson took part in the Silva Great Lakeland 3Day ultra marathon.

All participants enter and decide on the day which course they would like to do. The appeal of this ultra running event is that participants don’t have to carry their tent with them to their overnight camp, a dry bag with overnight kit is taken from the start to the overnight camp, allowing the runners to focus on their running and the beauty of the Lake District. Steve completed the ‘Long Wainwrights’ course which covered 62 miles with 22,000 ft of ascent over the 3 days, Steve finishing in an incredible third place overall in this category Simon Richardson undertook the longer ‘Expert’ option (75 miles and 25,000ft of ascent over three days) with Simon finishing in a superb seventh place overall in this race option.

On the road, the popular Leeds half marathon took place this weekend. This race takes runners on a great route around Leeds city centre and beyond; key sights including Kirkstall Abbey and Weetwood Hall.

Ilkley Harriers had some great results at this event. Tom Razazan was the first Harrier home in 1:31:42.

He was closely followed by Mike Williams in 1:37:58, with Mike taking fifth place in his age category. Marc Westerman was the third Harrier home in 1:41:34.

Bess Sturman led the Ilkley ladies’ home in 1:49:15, followed by Charlotte Smithson in 1:58:34.

Overall, another extremely successful for the Harriers, and they'll be hoping to continue their fantastic form in the lead up to summer.