There were a lot of Huddersfield runners when Stainland Lions hosted their Blubell trail race with a capacity field.

The race, from the grounds of Clay House, West Vale, has gone from strength to strength over the years and for the first time all 500 places were taken up to tackle the 10.3-mile course, which covers 600ft of climbing from the bottom of Trooper lane to the top of Beacon Hill (including a run through the River Calder!).

The atmosphere was brilliant and the event was run smoothly with the help of over 100 volunteers.

There was a return for Stockport Harriers’ Great Britain international Andi Jones, just weeks after setting a new course record at the Manchester Marathon.

Jones was slightly down on his record time but still finished in 1hr 9sec, over seven minutes ahead of second-placed Matthew Hallam from Abbey Runners.

Stainland’s own runners were led home by the ever-improving Richard Hand in fifth.

Fresh from the distinction of qualifying for Great Britain in the forthcoming Duathlon World Championships, Hand underlined his present form by knocking two minutes off last year’s time to finish in 1-09-54.

Dave Webb was the next Lion home to augment his excellent Three Peaks race, again breaking his own record for the course in 1-19-52, with Craig

Miller following in 1-20-49.

The team were pipped to the mens’ title by Dewsbury Road Runners, but the Stainland women made sure that their own ladies’ trophy stayed locked in their clubhouse.

Rachel Cullen was the first woman back for Stainland and third F35 in 1-28-32, joined in the winning team by Liz Taylor, whose first appearance in a Stainland vest ended with her second F40 in 1-29-52 and the ever-present Aileen Baldwin (taking her customary F60 title in 1-32-18).

There were also age category wins for Stainland’s M60 John Bassinder (1-23-42) and F65 Judith Greenwood (2-00-55).

A large contingent of Stadium Runners were led home by Andrew Ferguson, having a superb run to cross the line in 1-12-11, Holmfirth’s David Roberts was first

back for them in 1-17-44, Meltham’s Penny Ditchfield leading the team back and finishing as first F35 in 1-20-14 and a trio of Huddersfield Road Runners being led by Michael Goodwin in 1-39-15.

Other Stainland Lions: Paula Statham 1-35-18, Tracy Mott 1-35-39, Martin Carr 1-40-49, Graham Dyson 1-41-55, Roy Lunt 1-54-06, James Davey (2nd M70)

1-55-30, Laraine Penson 1-56-29, Dawn Medlock 1-57-20, Angela Goulden 1-59-27, Thomas Singleton 2-01-07, Alex King 2-05-31, David Rushworth 2-05-50, Viki Crowther 2-09-04, Rachael Hawkins 2-09-17, Helen Futrell 2-10-35, Anne-Marie Kileen 2-16-32, Stephanie Hull 2-26-45 and Sharon Stott 2-28-57.

Stadium Runners: Andrew Ferguson 1-12-11, Robert Buchanan 1-20-02, Stuart McCormick 1-22-24, David Miller 1-22-33, Andy Petrie 1-22-52, Darren Mcavinue 1-23-11, Andrew Pigg 1-33-40, Gary Mclaughlin 1-34-48, Laurel Gilbert 1-35-58, Simon Brass 1-37-20, Richard Hamer 1-37-45, John Cottam 1-45-51, Matthew Carter 1-45-57, Christina Sunderland 1-49-28, Linda Spencer

2-00-11, Kim Faulkner 2-02-01, Alison Cottam 2-06-39.

Holmfirth Harriers: David Roberts 1-17-44, Marwan Khoueirey 1-21-44, Tim Parkin 1-25-04, Rich McLeod 1-26-49, Jane Sterling 2-01-25.

Meltham: Penny Ditchfield (1st F35) 1-20-14, Jeff Miller 1-29-15, Steve Perren 1-29-30, Adele Tayles 1-43-33, Gilly Markham 1-48-24, Amanda Crozier 1-50-34, Sharon Whitworth 1-56-20.

Hudersfield Road Runners: Michael Goodwin 1-39-15, Kerry Daley 1-56-27, Sharon Jones 2-00-20.

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