Ian Fisher netted victory in the Knavesmire Harriers' Brass Monkey half-marathon on a gloomy Sunday in York.

Brass tracks: Brass Monkey runners in the early stages of the race are, 23 R Gay (Beverley), 31 P Lycett (Ackworth), 4 M Wrench (Valley Striders). Picture: Paul Baker

The Otley AC man, last year's runner-up, emerged from the mist in 1hr 06m 36s. He was followed home by Michael Pearson (Longwood AC) who was just 19 seconds behind.

The pair set a cracking pace to split from the pack in the first few miles of the event which set off from York Racecourse. They finished five minutes clear of third placed I Malone (unattached) who, despite his intriguing name, had another 700-plus runners behind him on the route which took in Bishopthorpe, Acaster Malbis, Acaster Selby and Appleton Roebuck.

Bob Duncan (Nestle Rowntree), collected the Vet+40 prize when he finished in fourth place, the position he took in 1998. Seventh-placed Alan Beavers (Vet+40, 2nd) and 17th-placed Dave Lancaster (Vet+40, 4th) backed up Duncan to take the men's team prize for Rowntrees, who were also first team home in the Yorkshire Championships.

Thirsk & Sowerby runner, Peter Wragg, took sixth place in a very respectable 1-11-36, just two seconds behind M Jones (South Shields Harriers) and only one second ahead of Beavers. The men's Vet+50 honours were taken by Mike Walker (Gosforth Harriers) in 1-16-51. Runner-up was Terry Lonergan (Bingley Harriers) who was tracked home by J Plumridge (Holmfirth Harriers). In the men's Vet+60 M Mahoney (St Bede's) returned in 1-27-00. The 62-year-old was two minutes ahead of R Bainbridge (Mandale) with 70-year-old M Jones (Birchfield) taking third place in 1-36-54.

First lady home was former international Angela Tooby-Smith (Knavesmire Harriers) in 1-22-05. She led the host club's ladies to victory in the team event. Tooby-Smith and her teammates Jane Shelmerdine (5th lady) and Chris Shouksmith, also took the ladies team prize in the Yorkshire Championships.

Second lady to finish was A Raw (Darlington Harriers & AC) who was followed in by Bridget Coomber (Denby Dale Travellers). Sue Carriss (Bingley Harriers), who finished fourth, was first Vet+45 across the line.

It was the first Brass Monkey for global adventurer Rosie Swale. Swale's York race debut forms part of her build-up for the London Marathon when she will be teaming up with Daley Thompson and actress Jaye Griffiths to raise money for Barnardos.

Swale, who took up running in 1995 and competes for Trots/Tenby Turkeys, said: "It was an extremely friendly event and I was almost tempted to stop to talk to those people offering encouragement. I thoroughly enjoyed the Brass Monkey and it was a privilege to take part in this great race."

The enthusiastic Swale, whose runs include a 700-mile trek across Romania and the 245km Sahara Marathon, is planning another long-haul feat in June. Her next epic trek will be a 1,000km-plus run from the edge of the Arctic Circle across Iceland.

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