IN other contexts this would be a giant-killing, but Wharfedale Harriers’ men’s success in Sunday’s PECO CROSS-COUNTRY LEAGUE opener testifies to their previous under-performance.

Languishing in the bottom of the three divisions, Wharfedale turned in the best team score of all 22 league teams at Temple Newsam.

Set up in 1998, the Silsden-based club first concentrated on fell-running, but recent recruits have made them one of the strongest cross-country outfits in Yorkshire.

They won the last of the WEST YORKSHIRE CROSS-COUNTRY LEAGUE races at Cliffe Castle, Keighley, on Saturday, November 14.

Many of the same athletes ran the 4.6 mile one-lapper through the grounds of Temple Newsam.

Ilkley’s Tom Adams again prevailed (25min 12sec), with Wharfedale’s Jack Smith this time runner-up, just 25 seconds behind.

At Keighley, Emile Cairess of Leeds City had been runner-up, the former Bingley youngster being another major talent scooped up by the region’s dominant club.

Sam Watson and Christian Holmes made the top eight for Wharfedale, with Nick Charlesworth, Harry Holmes and Lee Athersmith in the top 20 and David Kirkham and Harry Muir being the final two scorers.

With one point to the winner, two to second etc., Wharfedale’s combined 117 points was half that of the Premier Division’s top team, Valley Striders. And Adams’ performance led Ilkley Harriers – also in Division Two – to a score (695 points) that would have placed them seventh in the top division.

Will Kerr led Saltaire Striders to third in the men’s Premier Division as over 797 seniors and 137 juniors took part in a real festival.

Eccleshill youngsters James Kilkenny and Sam Robinson made their first appearance in the school year 10-12 two-miler in a race won by Bingley’s Reuben Mantle.

The women’s race is not as regionally competitive at the front as the men’s, with Rachel Pilling (Pudsey & Bramley) finishing seventh, while she was 17th at Keighley.

Bingley’s Lesley Watson, 22nd at Keighley, was 17th on Sunday, second-claiming for a Saltaire team that opened in fifth in the top division. Kirkstall have knocked Valley off the top perch, with a further four races to come either side of Christmas.