Ian Fisher stormed to victory for the second year running in the Brass Monkey half-marathon on a record-breaking day in York.

It was second best for Otley AC athlete Fisher who broke his own course record, set last year, by just one second.

He crossed the line in 66-35, well over a minute ahead of his nearest rival, Morpeth Harrier Robert Holladay (67-59). D Bilton (City of Hull AC) took third spot with a time of 68-43.

And it was a cracking day for Knavesmire Harriers with fifth-placed Jonathan Pavis picking up a bronze medal in the Yorkshire AAA Championships (69-56), while teammates Dave Chippett (14th), Neil Strange (16th), and Andy Booth (25th) led the host club's men's team to county success.

Determined not to be outdone by the men, Alison Raw went one better than her second place last year, breaking the course record for the ladies.

Raw (Darlington Harriers & AC) knocked over half a minute off the 1999 time, set by Angela Tooby-Smith (Knavesmire). Tooby-Smith, along with former York stalwart Carolyn Hunter-Rowe (Horwich AC), both pulled out of yesterday's race, each suffering from a tooth abscess.

Jane Shelmerdine, who was fifth last year, led the way for Knavesmire to collect the ladies team prize by taking runner-up slot in 84-31. Third-placed Sue Garrod (Goole Viking Striders) was tracked home by M Hollinshead (unattached) and Knavesmire's Lauren Jefferson (88-07). Annette Wrigglesworth (88-12) secured team honours for the York club with an excellent performance in sixth place.

Shelmerdine also blazed a trail for Knavesmire to make a clean sweep of the medals in the Yorkshire championships. She took the gold with Wrigglesworth (6th, first lady Vet+35) picking up the silver while a strong-finishing Fiona Strange (7th) collected the bronze.

Meanwhile veteran C Wadworth (Hull Springhead Harriers) took the Brass Monkey Vet45+ prize with P Fenelon (Goole Viking Striders) in runner-up position.

Men's veteran prizes went to eighth-placed E Irving (Vet40+), of Ilkley Harriers, in 61-30; P Bussey (Vet50+), of Stainforth and Doncaster AC, in 66-35; M Mahoney (Vet60+), of St Bede's AC, in 89-02; and J Johnson (Vet70+), of St Theresa's AC, in 95-13.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.