RACHEL Robinson of Richmond and Zetland Harriers continued her winning ways at Starbeck in race three of the Harrogate and District Summer Road Race League.

She finished the 5 mile off-road course from the Railway Sports and Social Club more than a minute ahead of her nearest rival, Cathy Wright of Harrogate. With Erica Nutter on holiday, Rachel now has a commanding lead in the league.

But the club's senior men could not emulate her success. Starting the race just 51 points out of second place, they were without two of their elite three from Thirsk and, despite a top ten performance from Karl Povey, they suffered a 200-point mauling from both Otley and Harrogate.

Ian Fisher won again and his Otley team-mates filled six of the first eight places. Harrogate's strength was in their numbers, with 26 runners competing on the night and ten coming home in the first 34 places. Richmond and Zetland had to rely on Paul Zissler in 96th place to round-out their scoring ten.

Similarly, the elite team were fourth on the night, appreciating solid runs from ever-present juniors Dan Brooks and Robin Carter, while the male veterans had an agonising, but thankful, wait for Neil Piper. He was the fifth counter in 126th place as the team tumbled to fifth.

Individual results: 10 Karl Povey 32.40; 19 Dan Brooks 34.0; 26 Robin Carter 34.37; 38 (& 4th V45) Tony Colmer 35.34; 41 Scott Wardman 35.52; 42 Paul O'Mahoney 35.57; 48 (& 1st lady) Rachel Robinson 36.38; 49 (& 2nd V50) Mike Brooks 36.39; 54 (& 1st V55) Jim Robinson 36.58; 96 Paul Zissler 40.21; 107 (& 10th lady) Helen Driver 40.53; 108 Shane Boulton 41.12; 126 Neil Piper 42.31; 130 Wally Kinchin 43.07; 184 Karon Storey 56.05.

Team standings: Third open, fifth elite, seventh ladies, fifth male vets, ninth lady vets=29 points and sixth club overall.

The second race in the Harrogate and District League was on Thursday, May 10 at Thirsk, where a new two-lap course due to foot-and-mouth restrictions started from the market place.

Ian Fisher of Otley AC was the man to beat, but he was untroubled on the night, either by the wonderfully warm weather or by his rivals from the league record 189 finishers.

Dan Brooks was again first home for the Harriers in ninth place, but only two places ahead of new man John Orange and another two ahead of club captain Shaun Purkiss-McEndoo.

The club finished third in the open race behind rivals Harrogate and Otley, but three in 13 packing rewarded them with second spot in the elite race.

Rachel Robinson went one better, finishing top lady, almost a minute ahead of Erica Nutter of Ripon and "finishing the job properly" after her hiccup in the opening race at Harrogate.

Individual results: 9 D Brooks 29.16, 11 J Orange 29.21, 13 S Purkiss-McEndoo 29.51, 29 R Carter 31.11, 33 (& 5th V45) T Colmer 31.30, 35 P O'Mahoney 31.33, 38 S Wardman 31.44, 44 D Howarth 32.18, 49 I Scott 32.39, 51 (& 1st lady) R Robinson 32.47, 52 (& 1st V55) J Robinson 32.49, 54 (& 4th V50) M Brooks 33.02, 82 P Zissler 34.46, 104 I Hepworth 36.16, 126 W Kinchin 38.06, 135 N Piper 38.54, 151 A Whiteley 41.18, 152 D Fothergill 41.19, 182 K Storey 46.40.

For more information on Richmond and Zetland Harriers, telephone Mike Brooks on 01748 824040