Jonathan Brownlee, fresh from his Boxing Day triumph in the Chevin Chase, had to settle for second place in the popular Old Lang Syne Fell race at Penistone Hill near Haworth on Friday.

The world-under 23 triathlon champion from Bramhope put up a brave fight but was pipped by the experienced Salford runner Andi Jones who won the race for the third time.

Despite having to shrug off a bout of sickness, Jones managed to hold off his younger rival. He clocked 39:39 to beat Brownlee by ten seconds.

Ian Holmes, the 12 times winner of the race, finished third.

Holmes, the four times British and five times English individual fells champion finished eight seconds ahead of Steele.

Holmes and Brownlee combined with Lee Athersmith, ninth, to win the men’s team title again for Bingley Harriers.

Athersmith did his bit for the team by tugging Brownlee back on to his feet, after he nearly went full length just after the start.

Ilkley Harrier Tom Adams continued his good form in the nine-mile race, finishing 14th in 44.39 Lee Morley also had a good race and came home 26th in 46.30.

Sally Morley was Ilkley’s top lady finisher in 84th position in 51.46 and helped the Harriers Ladies team to take the team honours She was supported well by Sally Malir who was 173rd in 58.55 and Sharon Williams who was 222nd in 61.59.

Morley was the fifth lady finisher while Malir was 18th and Williams 23rd.

The top honours went to Skipton’s Mary Wilkinson who continued her impressive return after injury by setting a new ladies record.

Wilkinson, who celebrated her 30th birthday on Boxing Day, covered the six mile course in 46min 33sec to shave an impressive 32 seconds off the previous best time set by Olivia Jackson in 2007.

The victory followed her triumph in the recent Stoop Race – her first comeback event.

Wilkinson had targeted the Stoop and Auld Lang Syne races when recovering from injury and now all the hard cross training with great friend Ann Buckley has paid off.

Buckley finished second with Helen Glover third– just as it was at the Stoop race.

Otley had five runners in the event. Chris Stacey finished 141st in 55.52, Pange Srivastava was 216th (61.37); Colin Best 297th (68.04), Graham Stead 312th (69.13) and Don Buffham 347th (74.12).

Ilkley’s full list of finishers were: 84 Nick Pearce 51.46, 100 Steve Turland 52.59, 102 Richard Reeve 53.10, 104 Neil Smith 53.30, 162 Andy Wiggans 57.51, 167 Sally Malir 58.24, 173 Richard Morris 58.55, 200 Sharon Williams 60.31, 222 Alison Weston 61.59, 254 Jim Towers 63.40, 269 Claire Smith 65.00, 315 Alison Stretton 69.25, 320 Sophie Brown 70.05, 322 Sue Morley 70.14; 324 Ann Stead 70.24, 335 Amanda Newham 72.01, 351 Paul Sugden 75:04, 352 Emma O’Looney 75.34, 358 Mary Gibbons 77.13, 359 Bernie Gibbons 77.15, 372 Eric Morley 80.44,; 375 Emily Wood 81.13, 383 Lyn Eden 86.50.

Some Harriers headed for warmer climes – in the Barcelona 10K Julian Carter was 475th in 38.59 and Rachel Carter 42nd lady 1205th in 42.35, among7,631 finishers.

On New Year’s Day Ralph Tench enjoyed the Clwydian Hangover Hobble on the Welsh fells, coming fifth out of field of 80, picking up the MV40 first prize, in 41:32 And at the Giants Tooth fell race at Ogden Water, Tony Melechi was 26th in 20.30 and Peter Lewis was 83rd in 27.20.

This Sunday it is the Yorkshire & Humberside Cross Country Championships, near Doncaster, with a strong field expected to turn out in Otley’s colours.

This Saturday afternoon members will be joining in with the first part of a two-day fell running navigation course on the Chevin.

The second section is the following Saturday when night-time navigation will be on the itinerary.