ROB BURN continues with his enthusiasm and ingenuity in organising virtual club championship races for Thirsk and Sowerby Harrier, and his latest effort was a team mountain race, which attracted 15 teams of six, each named after a country.

The aim was to test the hardiest and most versatile of runners, but lesser mortals also took part, some walking the very tough course. The run ventured into Kilburn Woods, and runners soon met the first significant climb towards the top of Hood Hill.

Those who chose a good day to go were rewarded with magnificent views, if they had time to look, but some others merely got wet.

There were steep ups and downs throughout, with very uneven tracks in places, and the sight of the car park at the end was very welcome. The idea was to roll into one the World Mountain Championships, the James Herriot Trail Race and the London Marathon – though there was, of course, no road running. All those taking part were rewarded with a specially-commissioned t-shirt designed by Clare Jones and Sarah Goacher.

The winning team on paper was the winning team on the ground, Italy, by 16 minutes, with the second and third teams, Canada and USA just a couple of minutes apart.

Italy’s team of Rob Burn, captain, Andy Butcher, Rosie Gatenby, Faith Coy and Evie Almack had a total time of 331.26, with Canada’s team Fran Jeffery, captain, Joe Lofthouse, David Tervit, Louise Mayfield, Marianne Morrice and Maureen Worley taking 347.31. The third team, USA, led by Duncan Fothergill, with Will Osbourne, Jody Sygrove, Clare Tempest, Rachel Easton and Ian Crane, took 349.47.

The fastest individual over the five-mile course was Josh Cooper in 40.17, with Matt Jones second in 41.25 and Paul Peacock third in 42.18. The lady with the fastest time was again Esther Harrison in 46.36, just ahead of Trudy Morrice, second in 46.55 with Lorraine Hiles third in 48.17.

In all, 103 members and guests took part, including several youngsters, among them the whole Coy family and four of the Morrice family, not forgetting 11-year-old Evie Almack, who was part of the winning team.