The Yorkshire weather gods smiled graciously upon Embsay this weekend for the annual fell race over Embsay Crag, providing sunshine and a light breeze.

What starts as an apparent cross country race over lush fields is soon followed by some boggy sections that runners can either squelch straight through or skirt round as their desire takes them.

However, runners cross this section, all paths lead to the gnarly and rocky terrain of the crag itself.

Muddied or not, all runners must now clamber, hand over hand, to the summit of the crag before the “treat” of a skyline run over heather coated moorland to reach the route down.

The race finishes as it started, over lush fields towards the very welcome finish line. The bright and breezy weather drew the crowds as 80 seasoned senior runners and 158 eager juniors lined up to tackle this varied and challenging race.

The senior race was marked by the absence of some of this season’s top runners. However, the presence of fine runners not familiar to the BOFRA series ensured an interesting race from start to finish. Ilkley Harriers’ duo of Jack Cummings and Jack Wood tussled with each other and Calder Valley’s Gavin Mulholland for supremacy.

However, by the time these three3 had reached the summit Wood was in the lead trailing Mulholland and Cummings in his wake.

This order was maintained to the finish as Wood increased his lead to win (19.04) over a minute in front of Mulholland (20.25) and Cummings (20.43).

The ladies race was also marked by the presence of some unfamiliar but excellent runners making this race as interesting as the men’s.

However, a navigation error shuffled the order of the leading ladies on the descent so that Pudsey and Bramley’s Rachel Pilling won (24.47) from Barlick’s Sarah Bell (26.19) and Wharfedale Harriers’ Jean Powell (26.22).

The under-17 race is separate but follows the same course as the seniors allowing some interesting comparisons to be made.

The boys’ race was won for a second year running by Wharfedale’s Logan Hargreaves-Madhas in 21.17 mins – a time that would have again placed him seventh in the senior race.

The second and third boys were Settle Harriers’ Sebastian Segger-Staveley (22.01) and Bingley Harriers’ Joe Carnelley (22.25).

The girls’ race was won by Rossendale Harriers’ Lauryn Greg in 26.04 – a time that would have placed her second in the ladies race. Bingley’s Eliza Findlay (26.19) and Trawden’s Isabelle Hartley (34.09) were second and third respectively.

Wharfedale’s Sam Smith won the under-14 race (12.59) from Kendal’s Fraser Sproul (13.08) and Wharfedale’s Alex Thompson (13.11).

Ilkley’s Bernadette Raven repeated her win of 2016 (15.37) from Keighley and Craven’s Beth Roberts (15.51) and Trawden’s Holly Crook (16.07).

Calder Valley’s William Hall won the under-12 race (8.58) from clubmate James Duffy (9.23) and Ambleside’s Rowan Ashworth (9.25).

Leven Valley’s Olesia Winder completed her hat-trick of wins at Embsay (9.30) from Helm Hill’s Sarah Smith (10.00) and Otley’s Charlotte Rawstron (10.20).

The under-nine race was fierce from start to finish and was won by Ambleside’s Tom Ashworth (4.26) from Settle’s Jack Sanderson (4.33) and Keighley’s Ewen Wilkinson (4.36).

In the girls’ race, Keighley sisters Katie and Bethan Buckley made it a family affair as they were first and second respectively in (4.37) and (4.43). Settle’s Lucy Bagot (4.49) was third.