HARRY Coates (Wallsend Harriers) came within a whisker of beating the long-standing senior record at the Gargrave Show Fell Race.

The 28-year-old, from Pot Haw Farm, Coniston Cold, who won the senior trophy in 2006 and 2011,was fractions away from bettering the 21min 21sec set by Rob Hope in 1999.

It was still a day for family celebration for the former under-23 cross triathlon champion, however, as it was his father David's birthday and the first show trip for his baby nieces, while Harry also won the Donald McKell Trophy as the best placed local male in any age group – silverware he had won in 2000, 2004 and 2006.

Runner-up was Bingley-based Wharfedale Harrier James Hall, who was race favourite and is on a summer break from St Mary's University in Twickenham, while third was 23-year old Settle Harrier Matthew Cardus, who is taking a break from football.

First lady was former junior champion Pippa Barrett, from Keighley.

It was pleasing to see more Gargrave-based competitors taking part among the 41 entries, the best of which was Skipton AC's Gavin Smith in sixth, while Flasby's Richard Pawson took part, despite having an arm in a sling.

Torrential rain was the backdrop to the four junior races, with Settle Harrier Jack Sanderson winning the under-nines' race ahead of fellow eight-year-old Logan McCredie (Barlick).

Clubmate Lucille Pickles won the girls' race, while the top locals were Gargrave's Neive Roberts and Harry Dean.

Calder Valley's James Duffy and Ilkley Harriers' Joseph Howson battled it out in the under-12s race, which went to ten-year-old James, with Wharfedale Harrier George Milner third.

Keighley & Craven's Beth Roberts, from Gargrave's Airedale Avenue, won the girls' race, the 11-year-old finishing an impressive fourth overall and also taking the Weatherill Shield as the highest-placed local female in any age category. First local boy was Joey Driscoll.

Sebastian Seggar Staveley (Settle Harriers) won the under-14s' race ahead of Sam Smith (Wharfedale Harriers) and Gargrave's Will Atkinson, who was best local boy.

Top performance of the day, however, came from 12-year-old Wharfedale Harrier Alice Jones, who was not only first girl but was third overall in the age group. First local girl was Charlotte Barrett.

A small field of under-17s competed, and leading them home was 14-year-old Settle Harrier Thomas Marshall of Burton in Lonsdale, the grandson of fell racing legend Tommy Sedgewick, who won the Gargrave senior trophy in 1976 and 1978.

Second was Bingley Harrier Josh Spencer, while clubmate Eliza Findley was first girl and second was unattached runner Emily Field, of Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Fell race steward John Thompson thanked everyone for their support, particularly the race recorders, marshals and landowners, without whom the staging of the race would be impossible.

Results – Under-nines, boys: 1 Jack Sanderson (Settle Harriers) 6 min 11.2sec, 2 Logan McCredie (Barlick Fell Runners) 6.26, 3 Lucca Powell (Wharfedale Harriers) 6.42. First local boy: Harry Dean (unattached) 7.42. Girls: 1 Lucille Pickles (Barlick Fell Runners) 7.06, 2 Chloe Boothman (Barlick Fell Runners) 7.22, 3 Neive Roberts (Keighley & Craven) and first local girl 7.30.

Under-12s, boys: 1 James Duffy (Calder Valley Fell Runners) 6.47, 2 Joseph Howson (Ilkley Harriers) 6.55, 3 George Milner (Wharfedale Harriers) 7.01. First local boy: Joey Driscoll (Keighley & Craven) 8.57. Girls: 1 Beth Roberts (Keighley & Craven) and first local girl 7.06, 2 Emma Peel (Keighley & Craven) 7.38, 3 Isabella Welch (Stowmarket Striders) 8.23.

Under-14s, boys: 1 Sebastian Segger Staveley (Settle Harriers) 9.00, 2 Sam Smith (Wharfedale Harriers) 9.14, 3 Will Atkinson (Keighley & Craven) and first local boy 10.12. Girls: 1 Alice Jones (Wharfedale Harriers) 9.57, 2 Freya Mitchell (Wharfedale Harriers) 11.16, 3 Charlotte Barrett (Wharfedale Harriers) and first local girl 12.17.

Under-17s, boys: 1 Thomas Marshall (Settle Harriers) 13.42, 2 Josh Spencer (Bingley Harriers) 16.47. Girls: 1 Eliza Findley (Bingley Harriers) 16.41, 2 Emily Field (unattached) 16.46.

Seniors – Men: 1 Harry Coates (Wallsend Harriers) 21.59, 2 James Hall (Wharfedale Harriers) 23.08, 3 Matthew Cardus (Settle Harriers) 26.01. First veteran over-45: Graham Bird (Wharfedale Harriers) 29.01. Women: 1 Pippa Barrett (unattached) 30.41, 2 Judith Marshall (Settle Harriers) 35.57, 3 Laura Woodhead (Horsforth Fellandale) 37.28. First veteran over-45: Sarah Demaine (Pudsey Pacers) 38.32.