On Sunday morning, 17 members of Otley Athletic Club took part in the second club handicap race of 2008 over a mixed road and trail race around the Harewood Estate.

The undulating 4.25 miles course was won by Beate Schmidt-Rohfling who lead from start to finish in 40.09 - an improvement of two minutes on her time from 2007.

In second place, and almost catching Beate toward the end, was David Brocklehurst in a net time of 37.45 and he was only slightly ahead of third place finisher Dan Lambert 28.35, who had passed most of the runners along the course.

Members then finished in the following order (and net times): Chris Stacey fourth (29.43), Graham Stead fifth (33.45), Michael Pickard sixth (31.21), Paul Clifford seventh (31.25), guest runner Clare Hodgkinson-Smythe eighth (41.57), Antonio Cardinale ninth (38.12), David Cattanach tenth (39.15), Malcolm Court eleventh (31.54), Zack Whitehead 12th (26.13), Tom Hannah 13th (32.18), John Armitstead 14th (31.29), Kath Robertshaw 15th (36.29), Carol Armitstead 16th (42.07) and Phil Robinson in 17th place.

Notably, Zack Whitehead's time was just 14 seconds behind Ian Fisher's course record and after the first two races Paul Clifford and Dan Lambert share the overall lead in the 2008 Handicap table.

On Friday night, a good turnout of members and friends enjoyed a pleasant evening at Korks for the club's annual Presentation Night. Trophies and shields were presented by Club President, Carl Walsh, to the first three in the 2007 Runner of the Year Ian Fisher, Kath Robertshaw and Phil Robinson as well as the 2007 Handicap competition Mick Jeffrey, Antonio Cardinale and Michael Pickard.

The President's Trophy was deservedly awarded to Chris Carver in recognition of his significant contribution to the club in his roles as Club Secretary and Otley 10 Race Director to name but a few.

Training tonight (Thursday) and next Tuesday are as usual from Otley RUFC commencing at 7.15pm and adult runners of all abilities are welcome to join in with the various distances and paces catered for.

Skyrac AC "Why have you waited 20 years to run the Winter Hill race again, Graham?" Rob Weston asked of Skyrac's Graham Breeze as he drove Graham and Martin Farrar to Rivington, near Horwich.

The answer was obvious two hours later for, despite the gorgeous blue sky, Rivington Moor in February still has bogs that will swallow you up to your thighs and grykes than can devour a car.

This 11 mile race is unsuitable for novices' was the clear warning from Tony Varley, the race organiser, to the 200 runners and since he is the Chairman of The Fell Runners Association, he should know.

Rob Hope (Pudsey & Bramley) is the British Fell Champion, so no novice he, and he duly took two minutes off his own record to win in 1.31.27 although he was hardly tested since the second man was over nine minutes behind! That really is winning by a mile'.

If Rob Hope enjoyed his day so did the Skyrac trio. Rob Weston finished in 2.00.48 (54th), Martin Farrar in 2.02.21 (59th) and Graham Breeze reminiscing about 1988 plodded back in 2.18.07 (117th).

Another trio from Skyrac ran the 20 mile Wadsworth Trog won by Karl Gray (Calder Valley) in 2.38.15. Robert Pritchard was 44th (3.44.22), Malcolm Coles 66th in 3.59.09 and Michael Swale 122nd in 5.18.34.

During the next two months Skyrac will be finalising their track and field team for this season's team competitions. The club will be competing in the Young Athletes League and the Northern League.

The club invites any young inspiring athletes from the ages of 11 years upwards who wish to try the sport of athletics and travel around the country to train with the club on main club nights. All promising young athletes and runners/joggers are always welcome to join in with all sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.20 pm meeting at the clubhouse Nunroyd Park, Yeadon.

Skyrac invite all members and future members to view their website at www.skyrac.org.uk or telephone 01943 466320.

Skyrac's cross-country championships takes place on Sunday, March 2, at the Barton on Humber Open Cross-Country fixture. All athletes/members who wish to compete at this venue please contact the club.

Orienteering Airienteers travelled to Sherwood Forest last Sunday to compete in the Robin Hood Trophy and Midland championships. The terrain of undulating woodland and open scrubland resulted in fast times where small errors of decision or navigation proved very costly.

Airienteers had three winners on the day. Joe Woodley (M12) of Guiseley had a great run in his junior race of 3.7k to win in 31.22 beating a clutch of M16 runners representing the RAF and Army clubs.

Robert Kelly (M16) of Menston was victorious over 5.5km in 40.09, and Martyn Broadest of Leeds won the M35 Short course of 7.7km in 59.31.

Meanwhile, Peter Haines of Ilkley was runner-up on the 10km M50 course in 58.41 which was won by Paul Addison of Derwent Valley, and Martyn Gill of Skipton had one of his best runs to take third position on the 8.1km M55 course in 55.16, a race won by Nottingham's Michael Napier. Beth Woodley (W14) also had a podium finish in her 5.5km race.

Other top twenty positions were recorded by: Sam Wood (M14), Arthur Phillips (M16), Cerys Jones (W16), Ian Marshall (M40), Paul Wood (M40), Peter Jones (M50)Tony Carlyle (M55)Robert Ker (M65), Tom Crowther (M70), Chloe Haines (W21), Sarah Haines (W21), Shirley Wood (W50), Wendy Carlyle (W50), Susan Stevens (W55), Gill Ross (W60).

Next week are the Northern championships which will be held at Arncliffe Woods on the western edge of the North York Moors, north-east of Northallerton.

Ilkley Harriers FIVE members of Ilkley Harriers lined up for the Liversedge Half Marathon on Sunday, a tough course meant finish times were of secondary importance.

Using this race as a stepping stone to future achievements there were still some good performances with 30th Andy Shinn - 88.48; 68th Terry Lonergan 95.51 (2nd Vet 55); 74th Phil Judd 96.18; 327th John Coates 126.02; 358th Collette Jones 132.22.

Vic Verecondi tackled an undulating 10k course at the Blackburn Winter Warmer finishing 181st in 48.51.

Jamie Hutchinson ran the nine miles Wadsworth Half Trog fell race on Saturday, finishing with only one shoe but in a creditable ninth place in 81.15. Perfect running conditions meant race records fell in both the full and half Trog races. Ilkley Harriers second claim member Lee Athersmith won the shorter race 69.57 in a new record time.

Three Harriers went over the border to Lancashire for this year's Winter Hill Fell Race, 11 miles long and a stiff 2,750 feet of climb. Again the course record was broken in spring like conditions. Ian Rowbotham was 11th (2nd vet 45) in 1.47.53 just pipping the slightly younger Steve Turland 14th (3rd vet 40) 1.48.32. Mark Iley was 57th in 2.01.32.