Appletreewick farmer Ted Mason is the new BOFRA champion after clinching the title in his home race.

The man who was runner up last year after being pipped by seven-times champion Alastair Dunn in the final sprint of the last race, claimed the crown with victory at Burnsall.

It came just four days after he had finished second at Muker Show.

There the top spot went to local runner Joe Forrest, who had won the previous week at Reeth.

Forrest won in 11:55 with Mason second and Ian Nixon third.

This meant that Dunn had to win the three remaining races in order to draw the championship.

But he didn’t compete at Burnsall and that left the way clear for Mason.

It was up to Mason to claim victory and bring the championship trophy back down to Yorkshire.

And he did not disappoint.

At his local race, Mason set out with a purpose and led from start to finish, completing the course in 14:21.

Muker winner Forrest was second and Todd Oates from Ambleside; gained three places with the fastest descent of the day to finish third.

Fourth place went to Sam Watson from Wharfedale Harriers, ahead of Ian Nixon.

Wharfedale club-mates, Jonny Bradshaw and Jimmy Craig resumed their battle for the under-23 title with Bradshaw finishing one place ahead in 15:31. Bradshaw had been sixth with Craig seventh at Muker.

The ladies title is also building up to an exciting climax. The ladies race saw an outstanding performance from Holly Page of Calder Valley who took first place in 13:58, almost two minutes ahead of her nearest rival.

The championship has been a close-fought battle between Wharfedale Harrier, Kirsty Hall and the two Ilkley Harriers, Rebecca Mon – William and Jann Smith.

The ladies finished at Muker in this order, leaving Hall and Smith with an equal number of wins with three races to go.

All three were competing at Burnsall, but it was Wharfedaler, Hall who took the early lead which she maintained with a fast descent to take first place. Third was Smith ahead of Mon-Williams in fourth. The result closed down the gap between the two in the veteran 40 championship.

Wharfedale Harrier, Jean Powell was fifth, two seconds ahead of Val Done who was first veteran 45, winning the championship category.

With the veteran 40 title already sealed by Mark Taylor, Ilkley’s Ian Gibbons was fighting to remain in second place. He finished ninth to secure maximum points in the category.

In the veteran 45 category, Mark Mon Williams went into the race with five victories under his belt, but with the fifth fastest descent of the day, Wharfedale Harrier Paul Lambert was able to gain five places to pass the Ilkley runner and finish one place ahead of him in 14th to claim full points,That leaves the two level in the championship.

Bradley ’s John Wootton was first veteran 50 to secure the title for that category. Keighley & Craven runners finished in the first three places.

in the under-nine race Alexander Thompson took first place ahead of Finlay Whitehead, with first girl, Lucy Fryers in third.

Club-mate, Hamish Wills was sixth just ahead of Alice Jones from Wharfedale Harriers and Poppy Anderson from Ilkley Harriers who were second and third girls.

The under-12 race involved 48 runners, but there was just one second between first and second places.

On this occasion it was Elliot Brett from Keighley & Craven finishing ahead of Logan Hargreaves-Madhas from Wharfedale Harriers. Club-mate Jack Muir was a short distance behind in third. First girl, Imogen Burrow from Helm Hill was fourth overall. The best-placed local runner was Beth Morley from Ilkley Harriers who finished third girl.

Chris Richards from Helm Hill won the under-14 race with a five-second cushion from Thomas Nelson and James Lund.

The next three places were separated by just three seconds, with Keighley & Craven’s Robert Thomp-son and Wharfedaler, Josh Newbold in fourth and sixth respectively.

Local runners took all top three places in the girls’ race, with Victoria Merrick of Bingley Harriers finishing first in 08:52.

Elli Lambert from Wharfedale Harriers was second with Eleanor Robinson from Keighley & Craven in third.

Annabel Mason strode to victory in the under-17 race in 11:24.Sh e was 36 seconds ahead of the next runner.

Second was Ilkley’s Ruiridh Mon-Williams who had an excellent descent to move ahead of Wharfedale Harrier Declan Bulmer and finish as first boy. Third place went to Jack Muir.

The second-placed girl was Zara Knappy from Keighley in 15:09, with Wharfedaler, Nicole Narey in third.

The next race is at Embsay on Sunday and everyone is welcome to take part.