ILKLEY Harriers club-mates took part in the Punk Panther Christmas Cracker, a handicap race and the final race in this year’s Punk Panther series.

This event consisted of a 32-mile and 18-mile option for competitors.

Each runner is given a handicap based on times achieved at Punk Panther events during the year, or a good estimate if they have not taken part in any Punk Panther events, with the challenge being to ‘catch the Panther’, one of the run directors who sets off on the course first.

The first to finish gets the prize. Ilkley Harrier Petra Bijsterveld took part in the 32-mile option.

This route leaves Otley, ascends to checkpoint one at Timble, continues on to Round Hill and Beamsley Beacon, to the second checkpoint at Langbar.

At Timble Ings the main east-west path is reached again, returning to Ellercar Pike and the Timble checkpoint and then on to the finish in Otley. Conditions were tough with icy fog and hard ground to contend with.

Bijsterveld completed the course in a great time of 7.37 and also won the prize for the best fancy dress, a holly fairy costume.

Meanwhile, the fourth race in the West Yorkshire Cross-Country league took place at Rothwell this weekend. The ladies race consisted of one ‘small’ and two ‘large’ laps of the course, representing a total distance of 5.4km.

Sarah Pickering continued her fine form and led the Ilkley ladies’ home in an impressive time of 22.19, with Brit Tate hot on her heels in 22.50.

Diane Kitchen also had a great run at this event and was the third Ilkley lady home. The men’s race involved running five ‘large’ laps of the course, a total distance of 9.5km.

Edward Hobbs led the Ilkley men home, with Edward finishing in a superb fourth place overall in an impressive time of 32.33.

Steve Coy was the second Harrier home in 38.43, with Tim Ashelford the third Harrier back in 39.24. Mark Iley and Rob Budding also had great runs at this event.

The overall league results were also notable with Kitchen, Hobbs, Tim Ashelford and Mark Iley all finishing the series with top three age category placings.

Junior Ilkley Harriers also had some great results at this event with Harriet Carter (Under-11s), Oscar Shinn (u15s) and Beth Rogers (u17s) all finishing in fourth place in their respective races and junior Harrier Archie Budding (u17s) finishing in sixth in his race.

Ilkley Harriers continued their commitment to the weekly parkrun events, with a total of 14 Harriers taking part in events at various UK locations, with some great results.

Michael Abrams-Cohen was the first finisher at the Pontefract parkrun, Michael completing the course in a great time of 18.35. Nick Kealey finished in an impressive second place at the Chevin Forest parkrun in a time of 19.01, with Adam Gerrish finishing in 10th place at the same parkrun. Junior Harrier, Jake Norris was the second finisher at the Robert’s Park parkrun in Saltaire, completing the run in 17.25, his fastest time to date on this course.