Recent downpours failed to slow the field of over 200 runners in an exciting 26th annual Jack Bloor Race on Ilkley Moor.

In a dramatic finish the leading pair in the men's race pressed the 5.2 mile course record hard – only to see it stay out of reach by five seconds!

Graham Pearce of Pudsey & Bramley won in a time of 38 minutes 9 seconds with Ilkley Harrier Tom Adams hot on his heals and just two seconds behind.

Next came the two Leeds City AC runners of Chris Birchall and Greg Hull. Greg won the veteran over-40 trophy and remains the current course record holder. I llkley Harriers’ Ian Rowbotham retained his first place in the veteran over-50 class.

Not to be outdone by these seasoned fell runners two youngsters featured in the top ten places. In a time of 40 minutes 35 seconds Fred Slemeck of Leeds University just squeezed ahead of Ilkley’s Alex Sinclair to take sixth place overall and win the Arthur Dolphin Under-23 trophy.

Laura Martin of Otley AC improved on her 2010 time by almost 2 minutes to come 47th overall to win the women’s race in 48:31.

Club mate Renee Saxton took second place whilst third position went to Ilkley Harriers’ Emma Barclay.

In her first senior race, Florence Haines of Ilkley Harriers came 79th overall and won the women’s Under-23 category in an impressive time of 53 minutes 22 seconds.

The ladies veteran trophies for over-40 and over-50 went to Carol Evans of Settle Harriers and Ilkley Harriers' Val Kerr.

The team competition was won by Pudsey & Bramley with Bingley Harriers and Ilkley Harriers vying for second and third positions. The winning women’s team was Ilkley Harriers.

The Jack Bloor Race not only provides for challenging competition by hardened fell runners but also attracts a large number of local runners some taking on the course for the first time.

Thanks to generous sponsorship by the Ilkley Brewery Company every runner in the senior race was presented with a well-deserved bottle of Jack Bloor Ale.

Now in their 10th year the junior Jack Bloor Races attracted a record entry of 121 runners.

They tackled courses of half a mile, one mile or 1.5 miles in one of five age-based classes (under-16, under-14, under-12, under-10 and under-eight).

Some extremely close finishes saw Amelia Gibbons just pip Evie Graves over the line to win the U8 girls race whilst Freddie Ziegler took first place in the U8 boys race just ahead of Ilkley Harrier Ben Morley.

Running the same half mile course the first under-10 girl was Bethan Morley of Ilkley Harriers whilst Logan Hargraves-Madhas of Wharfedale Harriers retained his U10 boys’ title.

In a field of 35 runners tackling the under-12s one mile course Ilkley Harrier Sarah Pickering was first girl, only four places and 42 seconds behind the winning boy, James Lund of Keighley & Craven.

Wharfedale Harrier Ellie Lambert came fourth overall and took the girls’ under-14 title with Emile Cairess of Bingley Harriers winning the under-14 boys’ race.

Despite a smaller number of runners the 1.5 mile under-16s race was no less hotly contested.

James Hall came home in the lead and Helen Wood took the girl’s title for orienteering club Airienteers.