THOSE who are fortunate enough to have Fountains Abbey as a local park Run are also fortunate to have Ripon Runner, Richard Hall, as the Race Director.

instructions and information are always witty and amusing as well as being topical, and this week's presentation had a "Trumpish" flavour, even though the Trump inaugural speech had only happened a few hours previously. The 380 runners listened with rapt attention and laughter, with not too many dogs barking to interrupt the ability to hear! After such an entertaining beginning, entrants could not but go well even though the course had to be changed temporarily because of ongoing work in the Abbey grounds, and was actually somewhat longer than the regular 5k. Andy Butcher, 101st in 24.53, was the first club finisher, with ever improving Ian Crane 122nd in 25.29, Nicola

B|ooth 137th in 26.07, Martin Cummins 144th in 26.24, closely followed

by Craig Ivey in his first ever Park Run, 145th in 26.25, Steve Booth 155th in 27.07, Alison Butcher 209th in 29.24, Duncan Fothergill 210th in 29.29, Paul Adams 237th in 30.54, junior Emma Adams 244th in 32.26, Linda Bamforth 284th in 33.51, Ian Codling 301st in 34.48, Jane Cummins 323rd in 36.55, marian Codling 348th in 39.45 and Judith van den Berg, in only her second Park Run, and finding the course hilly compared with her native Holland, 349th in 39.51.

Ken Wood was once again in fine form at Northallerton, finishing 2nd out of 108 in 20.32 with James Stephenson 54th in PB 30.57.

Charlotte Wilton was 1st lady at Albert Park, coming 45th overall out of 300 in 21.01. A superb result.

At Redcar, Peter Richardson was 38th out of 172 in 23.49 with Joanne Richardson 146th in PB 34.02.

Nigel Morgan was among the 302 runners at Woking, coming 98th in 25.18.

Club support for the NYSD Cross Country event at Acklam was very disappointing, with only 6 members turning up. The lovely course, over 2 laps for ladies and more for senior men and was very hard work! In the Ladies' event, Gillian Crane was 94th in 36.37, Liz Stephenson 106th in 43.42 and Marian Codling 107th in 46.35.

V65 men run with the ladies and Ian Crane took 28.57, Ian Codling 40.29.

Graham Robinson, though not at full fitness, was the sole representative in the senior race and did well to complete the course in 55.26.

Don't forget to get your entries in for the forthcoming Thirsk 10 on March 19. Full details of that and all the club's activities are on the club website.