IT was a case of downhill domination for Ilkley Harriers' Jack Cummings on Saturday as he came first at the Addingham Gala fell race in a closely-fought Harriers League encounter.

On a scorching day, Cummings was in third place at the summit, but he overtook the front two, including teammate Nathan Edmondson, to win in 40 minutes and 36 seconds. Edmondson came third in 42:01.

Michael Lomas completed a trio of Ilkley runners in the top ten, finishing ninth with a time of 48:08. 22 Harriers took part with Jim Ryder (49:19) taking the first V50, Alison Weston (58:29) the FV40 and 50 and Hilda Coulsey (70:51) the FV60 prizes.

Saturday also brought out the Harriers for the Baildon Canter Carnival fell race. Bernadette Raven continued her great form by taking the first Under-18 prize in time of 22:49.

Steven Gott was sixth home and first MV40 in a time of 20:52, with Robin Nicholson came 10th and second M40 after a run of 21:49. Catherine Westhead was 29th in 25:31.

The weekend had started with the Washburn Relays on Friday evening and Ilkley were able to put four teams of three runners out for these annual team races around Fewston and Swinsty reservoirs.

Lucy Williamson, Martin Archer and Dave Foyston starred for the Harriers and they finished as the second-placed mixed team in one hour, three minutes and 30 seconds, putting them eighth overall.

Mike AC, Jonathan Turner and Steve Murray were not far behind in 13th, recording a time of 1:05:52. Jayne Norman, Rachel Carter and Hilda Coulsey were the seventh ladies team and 49th overall in 1:21:20.

Ilkley's Robin Nicholson and Paul Castle teamed up with Andy McCue (Skyrac) to have a go at the relay version of the Ilkley Skyline Fell Challenge on Saturday, June 30.

Harriers ladies Jane McCarthy, Kate Archer and Jann Smith set a fine time of three hours and four minutes last year in the event but Nicholson, Castle and McCue managed to knock 20 minutes off that effort.

The route, which starts and finishes at the door of the Hermit pub in Burley Woodhead, covers 22 miles and involves various touch points and summits along Burley Moor, Beamsley Beacon and Ellercarr Pike among others.

McCue finished the third and final leg in just 40:49 to give the team a total time of 2:44:50. Castle had covered the opening leg in 49:06, while Nicholson completed leg two in 1:14:55 after encountering cow trouble.

Adam Rhodes ran magnificently to claim fifth place out of 455 competitors at the Bradford Parkrun in 19:20, while the Cunningham combination of Rob and Chris came third and 40th respectively at Skipton in 19:14 and 24:58.

Geoff Howard finished 18th at Wetherby with his time of 21:26, while Paul and Dave Reynier came 167th and 168th in St Albans, after runs of 26:10 and 26:11. Finally, Jacqui Weston (27:44) finished 213th in Harrogate.