CLUB members were taking part in several events last weekend.

The Vale of York 10 mile race is always a sell out with mainly club runners, finalising preparations for spring marathons.

Four Bar members joined the 1400 entrants to cover the very flat course starting at Rufforth airfield just to the west of York.

This event was also a designated club championship race, and Becky Smith advanced her chances with a fantastic run, to finish in 1 hour 18 minutes and 37 seconds for a massive personal best (PB) and 316th position overall. This was after running the Northallerton Parkrun the day before. Raymond Lightle, having also run at the Parkrun at Catterick the day before, finished in 404th in 1-21.46, and 4th in the M65 age group. Paul Bainbridge was tackling this distance for the first time in over a year and was very pleased with his time of 1-22.27, for 428th overall, and 1st place in the M70 category. John Hunter was aiming for a 1 hour 40 time, and was pleased to have judged it perfectly, to record 1-39.39, for 929th.

The Wensleydale Wander is a well established event, finishing in Leyburn at the Wensleydale School, with a very civilised two course hot meal. This event was originally designed as a walk of 12 or 23.2 miles, but now many runners take part. BAR had six club members at the start. New club chairman, Paul Ellis, who is a regular at this event, was the only one to tackle the longer distance, completing the course in 2nd position in a time of 3 hours 1 minute and 51 seconds, which was a remarkable 15 minutes faster than last year.

The shorter 12 mile route was taken on by the remaining five. Paul and Nicola Simpson ran the majority together, with Nicola using it as a training run before the London marathon, and Paul using it as a recovery run from last week's Manchester marathon. Paul finished in 3rd place in a time of 1-33.46, with Nicola close behind in 6th overall, and 1st female finisher in 1-34.56.

Tracy Snowdon running her first event in the Bedale colours, had a good run to finish in 16th overall, and 4th female, in a time of 1-50.57. Another regular at this event is Sue Allen who had an excellent run and finished in a time of 2-17.25 and 46th. Marian Hunter was planning to run the picturesque route in under 2.5 hours. She had a strong performance and was pleased to record a time of 2-25.37 for 50th place.

The pick of the Parkrun performances last Saturday included Kat McCann at Catterick recording an all time personal best of 24.49, Jess Mallinson at Penrhyn also in an all time PB of 30.04, and Rachel Burr at Bakewell completing the hat-trick of all time PBs with 25.45.