The Harrogate Running League season closed with the running of the league handicap, renamed this year as the Norman Smith League Handicap in memory of the former chairman of both the league and Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers, who died suddenly last year.

This was the 25th year of the league, which has regularly attracted large fields. Handicaps are worked out from results over the season, with those who often finish at the back starting near the front.

Of the Thirsk and Sowerby runners, Victoria Barke, who has gone from strength to strength over her first season, finished in an excellent second place, with usual back runner Marian Codling coming seventh. Fiona Needham tried to catch up but came in shortly after in eighth.

A few days later, 213 runners completed the tough Burton Leonard 10k, which also had its 25th running.

This was the penultimate race in the Black Sheep Series and the multi-terrain course provided a real test.

Thirsk and Sowerby’s Gary Dunn won by a hair’s breadth in 34 minutes 08 seconds, having sat on the shoulder of the second-placed runner throughout.

Andrew Halliday was a good fourth in 36-09, and, among other club members, Paul Atkinson was 46th in 44-53, Les Sutton-Haigh 67th in 47-16 and Judith Seaton 126th in 54-34. Seaton, Nik Sutton-Haigh and Nikki Atkinson won the ladies’ team prize.