THIRSK and Sowerby Harriers’ 2013 got off to a good start with the first club championship race of the new series – the Clay Bank East Fell Race.

A large field of 170-plus runners completed the course on a fine morning, but weeks of heavy rain had left the course muddy over large parts.

Merv Burn was the first club finisher coming home in 34th place in a time of 44 minutes and 30 seconds.

Rob Burn was 40th and first in the M55 age class in 45-30, closely followed by Walter Busuttil, 41st in 45-37.

The first Thirsk & Sowerby club woman to finish was Lorraine Hiles who took 86th place and second in the F45 class in 51-10.

Other placings were: Graham Robinson 99th in 52-32, Nicola Booth 105th in 53-40, Hywel Smith 116th, and 2nd M60, in 55-10, Hilary Coventry 118th in 55-25, Geoff Bullock 131st in 56-57, David Read 134th in 58-44, Nicola Fearn 141st in 59-53, Carol Morrison 142nd in 59-59, Pat Kirby 143rd, and 2nd F60, in 60-23, Alan Wikeley 152nd in 64-56, Bryan Miller, in his first fell race, 166th in 72-14, Claire Gillan, another first timer, 168th in 72-40 and Ian Codling 171st in 76-35.

Club member Alan Harman was 153rd in 51-26 in the Old Monks’ Race at Hart.

The next club championship race is a North Yorkshire/South Durham cross country fixture at Acklam on January 20.