New recruit Pickles stars in Nidderdale

12:37pm Tuesday 4th November 2008

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New signing Karen Pickles set off like a rocket at Ripley Castle to finish second in the ever-popular Guy Fawkes’ 10-miler.

Karen recently transferred to Pudsey Pacers from Spenborough AC.

Her 63min 52sec over a scenic, but hilly, tour of Nidderdale was second only to Olympian Tracey Morris (Valley Striders), who won in 60min 12sec.

Bingley’s Jo Buckley was third woman finisher (66min 18sec) and other impressive local performances were by Ilkley trio Sally Malir, Amanda Oddie and Alison Bennett (sixh to eighth home, with Sally outsprinting Amanda in 69min 16sec, and Alison finishing in 71min 17sec).

Skyrac’s Rebecca Cesar De Sa was 14th in 74min 3sec, ahead of fast-improving Claire Elener (Eccleshill Road Runners), who clocked 75min 1sec.

Elener’s training companions Mick Hogan (Eccleshill) and Will Kerr (St Bede’s) were back to form.

Mick’s 66min 59sec followed a few months of plateaued performances, while Will’s 62min 19sec was worth the sub-hour that he was looking for.

The men’s race was comprehensively won by Leeds City’s Darren Bilton in 52min 59sec, over a mile ahead of a pursuing foursome.

Tim Midgley (Bingley) ended fifth of the 814 finishers in 58min 55sec.

The Cop Hill fell race, organised by Meltham AC, is a seven-mile trek involving 900 feet of ascent.

It doubled this year as the Yorkshire Veterans' Fell-Running Championship and brought a bumper 133 souls to the Pennines.

Specialists Karl Gray (Calder Valley), Owen Beilby (Wharfedale) and Andrew Wrench (Todmorden) were first home.

Gray clocked 47min 47sec, which is testimony to the tough conditions: times were generally five minutes down on last year.

There were impressive performances by Skipton’s Richard Barrett (3rd in the M40 category), while Pudsey Pacers due Nigel Armitage and Jim Wheldon were both second in their categories (M35 and M55 respectively).