Defending champion Tom Adams lost a thrilling battle to Helm Hill’s Tom Addison by just a second in the Soreen Stanbury Splash on Haworth Moor.

The six-mile Woodentops fell race, featuring 900 feet of climb, was a changed route due to Ponden Kirk being too exposed to snow and ice.

Adams, who has has just won his fifth successive Ilkley Harrier of the year award, was one of 28 hardy members of his club to brave the elements.

He was just pipped for first place by Addison who completed what was the 2003 Auld Lang Syne course in 39min 01sec.

But Adams did have the consolation of helping Ilkley to win the men’s team title.

Jack Wood (fifth) and Whinberry Naze winner Lee Morley (12th) also achieved strong finishes.

Dave Wilby and Martin Archer also made the top 20 and under-23 runner of the year Bradley Chapman was 47th.

There were strong perform- ances from Ilkley’s ladies with female runner of the year Jann Smith, cross country runner Kelly Harrison and fell captain Alison Weston all completing the course in under one hour.

The winner’s cousin Mark Addison was pleased with third just over a minute and a half behind the leading pair, while orienteer Chris Smithard finished fourth. The changed route meant under-18 athletes were allowed to compete, with Calder’s Max Wharton relishing the conditions to finish seventh and Wharfedale Harriers teenager James Hall in 11th.

Wharfedale’s Christian Hol mes once again got his hands on the first locals trophy, finishing eighth.

The ladies race was won by two-time Stoop race winner Helen Fines (Calder).

She stayed ahead of three-time Soreen winner Helen Glover, of Keighley & Craven AC, who was second and the first local lady.

Wetherby Harrier Pauline Munro returned to her old stomping ground, finishing third and first FV40. She won the Soreen race back in 2001 and 2002.

The FV50 was won by Gill Myers, who helped Wharfe- dale to the ladies’ team prizes, with Gill seventh, Louise Pickles eighth and 23-year-old Sarah Tipler leading them home in fourth.

Under-14 Yorkshire champion James Lund, of Keighley & Craven, won yet another Quarry race, this time ahead of Yorkshire under-12 champion Thomas Nelson.

The local club also supplied the first under-12 in Elliot Brett, first under-ten in Will Atkinson and first girl under-ten Lucy Fryers.

Holmfirth’s Lewis Byram won the under-16 race in 10min 57sec and the first girl was Keighley & Craven’s Eleanor Robinson in fourth overall.