OTLEY AC had a large contingent of runners travel to Pocklington to take part in the Snake Lane 10 mile race.

As its name suggests, the course has a winding stretch that makes its way through beautiful East Yorkshire countryside at the foot of the glorious Wolds.

The course starts in Pocklington and heads north through the villages of Meltonby, Bishop Wilton, Bolton and Yapham Mill before returning to Pockington to finish in the Market Place.

The winner was Russ Best from New Marske Harriers AC in a time of 51:15 and the first lady was Shona Fletcher from Richmond & Zetland Harriers in 1:00:28.

First home for Otley was Scott Harrington in second place with a time of 54:23. With Tom Midgley finishing 11th (57:29) and Liam Dunne crossing the line 20thin 58:22.

Otley won the team prize, their second this year.

Richard Smith (01:00:48), Mark Hall (01:02:30), Chris Tomlinson (first race in Otley colours 01:21:24), Andrew Rayner (01:24:17), Charlotte Tomlinson (01:29:16) and Gemma Harrington (01:34:06) were the club's other finishers.

Frank Beresford travelled to Blackpool to take part in the Great North West Half Marathon as part of his London Marathon training. The race was an out and back route along the sea front.

Although the course was flat the weather was horrible. Beresford finished third in a time of 01:16:43. The winner was Tom Charles from Trafford AC in 01:12:35 and the first lady was Sharon Barlow from Ripon Runners in 01:23:22.

Paul Grindley of Airecentre Pacers, competing in the race for the fifth time he finished 139th out of over 1,250 runners in a time of 1:34:00 and described it as his toughest race.

Another large contingent from Otley, which included both juniors and seniors, competed in the annual Ilkley Moor Fell Race. It is a hard fell race in winter and is billed as not suitable for beginners due to the steep, slippery, and rocky descents.

The winner was Simon Bailey (36.52) of Mercia beating local favourite Tom Adams in to second place. The first lady for the second time was Caitlin Rice of Glossopdale who was 30th overall in 46.24.

First home for Otley was Jeremy Stewart in 48:55, followed by Graham Lake (49:45), Tom Lynch (52:40), Stephen Boddy (55:52), Andrew Webster (59:45), Matt Podd (61:09), Neil Reed (63:44), Hugh Pearson (63:54), Eriks Zvaigzne (68:03), David Fox (68:18), Sara Richard (73:46) and Sean O’Halloran in (86:13).

Otley juniors also had a strong turnout. In the under-8s 1/2 mile race the first home for Otley in sixth was Aston Brogden in 4:35

In the under-10s one-mile race Alice Webster was the only representative from Otley.

In the under-12s one-mile race the first home for Otley in 12th was Jenson Brogden in 8:43. He was followed by Jake McBrinn in 09:00, Adam Powell (09:20), Jake Powell (09:44), Holly Davey (09:58) and Kieran Green (10:56).

Otley's William O’Neil was seventh with a time of 08:24 in the under-14s race. Rebecca Richard (11:33) and Imogen Webster (11:39).