SENIOR race winner at Gargrave show fell races was 25-year old Nathan Lawson a member of Dark Peak Fell runners, writes Caroline Thompson.

Formerly Sheffield based Nathan now lives in Shipley which he says gives him easier access to some of the Dales races. He described the multi-terrain course as ‘ace’ and said he thoroughly enjoyed his first visit to the show.

Amazingly he went on to win the fell race at Burnsall too. He took up fell running around six years ago but has always been a keen competitor in orienteering races and has been a member of the British team for some years. He won the under 23 English fell running championship title in 2019. Judging by his strong performance on Saturday there will be lots more championship titles to come. He led the race strongly from the front but was followed closely by Gargrave runner 21 year old Tom Barrett, currently on a summer break from his studies at Oxford.

Louis Hudson, the brother of Joe who was the winner of the last Senior show race was in third position.

The races have a real family ethos and the Hood family from Skipton all members of Skipton AC were all amongst the prize winners, eight year old Victoria won the under nines girls race, 12- year old Daniel won the under 14s race, father Julian was a fourth in the senior event and Mum Karen was second lady home in the senior category. Skipton AC featured well in all age category races with Jayne Butterworth of Gargrave winning the Weatherill shield for the highest placed local female runner in any category and also the lady veteran prize.

Fellow member Seth Box won the under 12s race, his sister Rita won the girls under fourteens race and brother Rowan was second in the 17s event.

Former Settle College pupil 26- year old Hannah Baines ran well to take first place in the ladies senior race, third was her friend Kerry Holgate also formerly from North Craven.

The impressive Donald McKell trophy was this year won jointly by Tom Barrett and Oliver Frew.

The trophy is presented to the highest placed local male competitor from any of the age categories. Tom was second in the senior event and Ermysted’s Grammar School pupil 13 year old Oliver was second in the under-14s race. Oliver enjoys representing his school at running and also plays football for Embsay juniors and cricket for Wharfedale.

Donald McKell had a newspaper agency business on the High street in Gargrave and as a youngster he attended Ermysted’s where he showed his enthusiasm for running and often winning the cross country races.

He later served on the board of governors and was a member of the old boys society. He was a stalwart of Gargrave Show for many years, and hence the gift of the splendid trophy which this year will be fittingly shared between a former and a current Ermysted’s pupil. The family of Donald who died in 1978 were in attendance at the show and were delighted to see the trophy.

The course this year had been changed slightly with a little more road running involved and slight alterations through the woodland. The race was well marked out and thanks are extended to all those who helped. Special thanks to the landowners for allowing the race to go through their property and to the marshals, timekeepers and race commentator Roger Ingham.

Prize winners: Under 9s Boys : 1. Callum McGoldrick Settle Harriers 5.45; 2. Archie Hotham U/A 6.19; 3. Tommy Mutton U/A 6.24. Under 9s Girls: 1. Victoria Hood Skipton AC 6.29; 2. Sophie Wright Settle Harriers 6.37; 3. Meghan Wright Settle Harriers 6.3 Under 12 Boys: 1. Seth Box Skipton AC 7.00; 2. Isaac Reeday Wharfedale 7.05; 3. Robert Shuttleworth U/A ( First local ) 7.35.

Under 12s Girls: 1. Mia McGoldrick Settle Harrier 7.12; 2. Scarlett Smith Keighley & Craven 10.03; 3. Imogen Bean Skipton AC 11.3

Under 14s Boys: Daniel Hood Skipton AC 10.42; 2. Oliver Frew U/A ( First local ) 11.13; 3. George Adams Wharfedale 11.5

Under-14s Girls: 1. Rita Box Skipton AC 11.5. Under 17s Boys: 1. Ewan Wilkinson Keighley & Craven 13.17; 2. Rowan Box Skipton AC 16.3 Under 17s Girls: 1. Talisha Faulkner U/A 21.24 Senior Male: 1. Nathan Lawson Dark Peak Fell runners 22.02; 2. Tom Barrett Keighley & Craven ( First local )

23.46; 3. Louis Hudson Keighley & Craven 24.18. First Veteran Over 50 : Neil Armitage U/A 27.33 Senior Female: 1. Hannah Baines U/A 33.09 2. Karen Hood Skipton AC 34.34 3. Kerry Holgate U/A 34.47 First Veteran Over 50: Jayne Butterworth Skipton AC 35.31 ( first local ).