ILKLEY Harrier Tom Adams retained his title with a record-breaking run in the Withins Skyline fell race on Haworth moor as Wharfedale Harriers’ Christian Holmes finished top veteran for the fourth time.

Adams claimed his third triumph in the event with a time of 38min 32sec in the seven-mile course featuring 1,000 feet of climb.

He finished just over four minutes clear of runner-up Jack Wood, also from Ilkley Harriers, who won the team event, with York’s Harry Holmes in third place.

Christian Holmes retained the V40 trophy with a time of 44:21 in eighth overall, two places above V50 winner Nick Charlesworth, who is also a member of Silsden-based Wharfedale Harriers.

Preston’s Nichola Jackson, aged 23, won the ladies race, leading all the way in finishing 18th overall, which was an outstanding performance considering she had finished second at the Langdale Horseshoe English championship race the day before.

Haworth doctor Jo Buckley was third lady in leading Calder Valley to the team prize.

Wharfedale’s under-12 girls English champion Alice Jones was the star of the junior races, setting a new under-14 and under-12 girls record as an astonishing 220 juniors took part in the various Quarry Rat Runs.

Ewen Wilkinson and Katie Buckley, both of Keighley and Craven Athletics Club, won the under-eight races. Katie only just won on a sprint finish with team-mate Milly Timbers in the 69-strong field. In the older combined junior Quarry Rat Races, Bingley Harriers Matthew and Victoria Merrick, from Oxenhope, won the under-18 boys and girls age groups respectively.

Other winners were Euan Brennan BU16, Alexander Thompson (Wharfedale) BU14, Toby Middleton BU12, Patrick Casey BU10, Eliza Findlay GU16, Emily Jones (Wharfedale) GU14 and Hannah Robinson (Keighley & Craven) GU10.

Organisers Woodentops gave special mention to Mike Ayers Precision Pest Management – dressed as ‘King Rat’ – who judged the fancy dress competition and is a big supporter of junior fell running.