Skyrac Athletics Club's’s 22-strong Northern League team travelled to Halifax last Sunday.

With a number of athletes withdrawing at the last minute, Skyrac’s team looked to be in trouble after winning the last meeting.

However, with a bit of team rejigging, trying to put athletes in events that they would be comfortable with, Skyrac came away with a highly creditable second place, scoring 378 points to finish behind the host club.

Darren Thomas, showing good form throughout the day, competed in the hammer, discus, shot put, javelin, pole vault, and 110 metre hurdles, while Laura Griggs took part in the 100m, 200m, 400m, high jump, shot put, 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay.

Fiona Thomas was in action in the discus, shot put, javelin and 4x100m relay, while Emma Inglis competed in the 3,000m, hammer and 4x400m relay. Rachel Bamford made her Skyrac debut on the track in the 3,000m, while Samuel Cole was busier on his debut, taking part in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

Among the youngsters who shone as brightly as their Skyrac vest were Daisy Agar in the 200m, 400m, long jump and 4x100m, and Jarade Sibson in the long jump, triple jump, high jump and 4x100m relay.

Rebecca Harrison took part in the 800m, 1500m, discus and 4x400m relay, while Adam Brooks competed in the 400m hurdles 400m, high jump and 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

Dan Harrison was involved in the 800m, hammer and discus, while Sam Birch took part in the 400m hurdles, 1,500m, javelin and 4x400m relay.

Hannah Brown competed in the 1,500m, triple jump and 4x400m relays, while Danielle Suggu was involved in the 100m, 100m hurdles, javelin and 4x100m hurdles.

Junior Gatewood strove for points in the 100m, 200m, long jump and 4x100m relay, Kate Oglesby competed in the 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles and triple jump, while Ellie English took part in the 800m and long jump, Joe Bennett in the 5,000m, 800m and 4x400m relay and Chris Whitely in the 400m, 5,000m and triple jump.

Skyrac’s team manager would like to thank Nicola and Patrick Francis, Maria Harrison and Gordon Agar for officiating for the club, and also the parents for the encouragement shown to their sons, daughters and team-mates. The next league meeting is on Saturday, July 31.

If you would like to join Skyrac, just come along on a Tuesday or Thursday at Nunroyd Park, Yeadon from 7.15pm. Contact Tim or Lynda on 01943-461383 for further information.

The Danefield Relay, held on Wednesday, June 30, was won by the Leeds City B team in 54min 53sec, rather curiously beating Leeds City A, who were second in 55.56.

The first ladies’ team home were Bingley (19th overall in 66.58) but the Otley Athletics Club ladies' team (Laura Martin, Pange Srivastava and Karen Best) made a good race of it, finishing 23rd overall (and second ladies).

Last Thursday, 207 runners from 12 local clubs took part in the last counting race for this year’s Harrogate League Series.

The event was organised by Swaledale Road Runners and the course covered a little less than five miles of quiet country roads around Hudswell.

The race was won by Douglas Roberts of Richmond and Zetland in a time of 27min 48sec, just five seconds ahead of Harrogate’s Matthew Hallam. Michael Appleton of Ripon was third.

Otley’s Rachael Bamford was first lady (and 38th overall), finishing in 31.34.

First home for the Otley men’s team was Bob Addey (fifth), followed by Tom Midgley (sixth), Dale Foster (12th), Andrew Robertshaw (15th), Huw Illingworth (26th), Chris Carver (38th), Lloyd Best (42nd), Ben Cousens (45th), Mick Jeffrey (56th), and Tom Paget (61st).

This gave Otley third place in the ‘Main 10’ team event, which was won by Richmond, with Harrogate second.

Otley’s ladies team was completed by Laura Martin (51st), Karen Best (59th), Sharron Smith (106th) and Carol Armitstead (162nd), giving the team second place behind Ilkley.

Team results for the season show Harrogate first in the ‘Main 10’ category, with Otley second and Ilkley third. The ‘Ladies' 5’ was won by Otley, with Harro-gate second and Ilkley third.

The Skiddaw Fell Race was held last Sunday, when poor weather caused a course adjustment but the event was well supported.

The winner was Steven Coles (Shrewsbury AC), who finished well in 59min 58sec. Otley’s Ben Cousen came 65th in 1.20.26 and Martin Smillie finished 97th in 1.27.32.