Skyrac Athletics Club had two winners in the Yorkshire Track & Field Championships held last weekend at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield.

Jordan Bransberg won the under-17 men’s 800 metres and Sam Birch triumphed in the under-17 men’s 400m hurdles. Bransberg, 15, was also placed second in the 400m.

New member Jacob Brown senior was third in the men’s 100m and second in the long jump, while Derick Smale, making his club debut, ran in the 200m and 400m men’s.

Nick Howard was fourth in the men’s 1500m and Adam Brooks was fifth in the under-20 men’s 400m hurdles. Meanwhile, Mathew Johnson (under-13 boys’ 100m), Rebecca Harrison (senior ladies’ 3,000m) and Kate Walsh (under-17 ladies’ 800m) all had good runs in their respective heats.

The previous weekend, Skyrac were competing in the Northern League at Blackburn, where sun, rain and hailstones were the order of the day, none of which prevented the Skyrac athletes and their officials from doing a tremendous job.

With young and old coming together to compete, Skyrac finished as the third team with 290 points. Multi-eventers Darren Thomas (hammer, discys, javelin, shot put, 110m hurdles, 4x100m relay) and Elliot Dawson (triple jump, high jump, long jump, javelin, 110m hurdles, 4x100m relay) both scored good points.

Billy Wheeler, competing for the first time in five years, did the shot put, discus and hammer, while Fiona Thomas competed in the 100m, hammer, discus, shot put and javelin, both again scoring well.

Other all-rounders were Laura Griggs (200m, discus, 800m, 4x100m relay), Daisy Agar (100m, long jump, shot put and 4x100m), Rebecca Harrison (1500m, 200m and 4x100m) and Ellie English (800m, long jump and 4x100m).

Michael Hinchcliffe set a personal best in the 800m, and also took part in the 1500m, high jump and 4x400m relay, while Adam Brooks’ personal best came in the 400m hurdles but he also competed in the 200m, 100m and 4x400m relay.

Nick Howard took part in the 400m, 200m, triple jump, 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay, while Joe Bennett had a successful Skyrac debut by setting a personal best in the 5000m, as well as taking part in the long jump and 4x100m. Chris Thornton set a personal best in ther 400m but also competed in the 5000m and 4x400m relay.

Officals, supporters and athletes were thanked for turning out, and the next Northern League date is Saturday, June 5.

The following day it was back to Blackburn for a Northern Young Athletes’ League meeting, and again there was a great turnout of enthusiastic athletes, parents and officals.

Skyrac had been moved up a division to Northern Division One North West because of their performances last year, and they scored 310 points to start the season off well.

In the under-13 girls, Chloe Glass competed in the 70m hurdles, 75m and 150m, while Harriet Shaw took part in the 800m, long jump and shot put, Alex Oglesby doing the 800m, long jump and 150m.

Among the under-13 boys, George Sutcliffe took part in the 75m hurdles, shot put and 4x100m relay, while Henry Wood was competing in the 1500m, 100m, shot put and 4x100m.

Mathew Johnson’s events were the 100m, 200m, long jump and 4x100m, while Charlie Knowles’ were the 800m, 200m, long jump and 4x100m.

In the under-15 girls, Beth Cotton competed in the 100m, 200m, long jump and 4x100m relay, while Sophie Robinson took part in the 100m, 200m, long jump and 4x100m relay.

Beth Thomas did the shot put, discus, pole vault and 4x100m relay, while Kiera Colman took part in the 75m hurdles and high jump. Emily Sutcliffe’s events were the 800m and high jump, while Morag Hockey competed in the 75m hurdles, 1500m and javelin, and Lizzie Ritchings competed in the 1500m, discus and shot put. Lizzie Garnett’s events were the 800m, javelin and 4x100m relay.

Among Skyrac’s under-17 men, Samuel Gatewood took part in the 100m, 200m, long jump and 4x100m relay, while Dan Harrison competed in the javelin, hammer, 200m and 4x100mrelay.

Sam Birch’s events were the 400m hurdles, shot put, discus and 4x100m relay, while Jarade Simpson took part in the high Jump, long jump, 100m and 4x100m relay and Ewen Hockey competed in the 1500m, 400m and triple jump.

Among the under-17 ladies, Kate Walsh took part in the 800m, 1500m javelin and 4x300m relay, Daisy Agar competed in the 800m, 300m, shot put and 4x300m relay. Hanna Brown’s events were the 3000m, 300m, long jump and 4x300m relay. Daniel Suggu took part in the long jump, shot put, javelin and 4x300m relay.

Skyrac’s team manager said well done to his charges for doing events they were not familiar with to gain points for the club. The next Young Athletes’ League meeting is on Sunday.

On the road, Alison and Neil Bloor ventured out to run the hilly Kirkbymoorside 10k together two Sundays ago.

Despite a chilly headwind and a tough three-mile uphill start, they completed the run in 56min 34sec, which was a new personal best for Alison, knocking seven minutes off her previous run on this course.

In the Skyrac Fell Handicap, run after the Crowden Horseshoe 8.2 mile race with 1700ft of climbing, Martin Farrar was 48th in 1hr 21min 15sec, Steve Batley 98th in 1:35:01 and Dave Hill 108th in 1:37:06.

In the John Carr 5k road races, run mainly on private roads at Yorkshire Water’s estate at Esholt, Frank Glass clocked 19min 14sec, and Neil Bloor 21.39.

The first winner of what are fast and furious races was Tim Midgeley of Bingley Harriers in 16min 3sec, just four seconds clear of clubmate Chris Edwin, with Adrian Jones of Keighley and Craven close behind in third.

An indication of the quality of the field may be deduced from the fact that the first 21 runners finished within 17 minutes.

Otley AC had five runners competing, and Mick Jeffrey and Michael Pickard almost dead-heated for 80th place, both being timed at 19.19. They were followed by Bob Baker (164th), Billy Rayner (184th) and Don Buffham (201st). Skyrac had runners out in the Leeds Half Marathon, with Rebecca Cesar de Sar finishing as sixth lady in a personal best 1hr 32min. Also running were Ian Cotton and Jayne Storry.