This season’s BOFRA championship is still up for grabs after last year’s runner up Ted Mason revived his challenge with a fine victory at Cracoe on Sunday.

The 2011 title battle went right to the last race and it could do again after Wharfe- dale Harrier Mason beat champion Alistair Dunn of Helm Hill in a thrilling race.

They are now level on wins in the current championship after Mason put his disappointing showing at Alva the previous weekend behind him.

The Appletreewick farmer clearly enjoyed the Cracoe event which can only be described as a cross country race with attitude.

You need a good turn of foot to run up several fields to the moor edge and then it’s a tough trudge over the boggy tussacky ground before a steep climb round the obelisk that towers above the village. Then the runners head back the same way as quick as their tired legs will carry them. Mason and Dunn battled their way to the top with little between them.

Dunn turned in front but Mason’s fearsome descending saw him cope with the rough descent best.

That did not deter Dunn who must have thought he had done enough when he opened up a lead in the fields leading to the finish.

He had a good advantage but Mason produced a stunning finish to overtake him and win by five seconds.

Skipton ’s Billy Pinder was the first under-23 finisher in fourth place ahead of Keighley & Craven’s Chris Loftus who was also the first veteran home.

Jimmy Craig was Wharfe- dale’s only other top ten finisher coming back in eighth place.

The ladies race was a one-two for Ilkley Harriers with under-23 runner Jenny Dybeck winning from Jann Smith who was the first lady veteran runner, finishing just ahead of Wharfedale ’s Kirsty Hall. Ilkley’s Diane Haggar had her own private battle coming back just in front of Threshfield’s Jean Powell in fourth place.

The under-17s race was won in stunning style by Wakefield’s Annabel Mason.

She was only four seconds slower than her dad John who ran in sixth in the seniors. The boys were led home by Wharfedale’s Declan Bul- mer with his clubmate Harry Muir in second place. They were well ahead of Hyndburn’s Jacob Boyle. Keighley’s Zara Knappy took took second girls prize coming back five seconds in front of Ilkley’s Lucy Williamson.

The under-14 boys race was again dominated by Wharfedale Harriers. A split second parted Ingleton ’s Josh Newbold and Thomas Nelson. Keighley’s Robert Thompson was third.

The highest-placed local counters in the girls race were Keighley runners Hannah Thom and Hannah Morris in third and fourth places respectively.

The under-12s race saw Joshua Boyle of Hyndburn hold off Wharfedale’s Robbie Johnstone to win with Keighley’s Elliot Brett in third place. Wharfedale’s Logan Har- greaves Madhas and Jack Muir came back fourth and fifth. Helm Hill runners took the top three places in the under-12 girls race.

Wharfedale's Shona Hast- ings in fourth was the top local counter ahead of Settle 's Kitty Morrison.

The under-nine boys were led home by Keighley & Craven’s Alexander Thomp- son and Jath Lee.

Mollie Bratt continued her good form by winning the under-nine girls race.

Charlotte Barrett, was second and Keighley’s Emma Lloyd.