RUNNERS were out in force from across Yorkshire at the weekend for the first major event of the year.

Competitors in the 26th Knavesmire Harriers’ Brass Monkey half-marathon were blessed with good weather for Sunday’s race, which set off from the racecourse at 10am.

About 1,300 competitors took part in the oversubscribed 13.1 mile run, which takes in the countryside around Bishopthorpe, Copmanthorpe, Acaster Selby and Appleton Roebuck.

Race director Richard Smith said the event had been a terrific success.

“We had about 2,300 entries this year, which is quite a typical number,” he said. “It’s gone extremely well today.

“It’s the first big half-marathon in the north of England, which is one of the reasons it’s so popular, and it’s very much a country run rather than an urban run.”

Matthew Pierson, of Holmefirth Harriers, came first with a time of 66mins 34secs – only 25 seconds off the course record.

The first York runner home was Mark Dowson, of York Acorn, coming in in 80mins 22secs.

John Cooper, of Huby, who is a member of the North Yorkshire Police Triathlon Club but works for Aviva in York, set a personal best of 86min.

“I’ve done this pretty much every year for the past ten years,” said 34-year-old John, who is in training for the London Marathon and an Ironman event in New Zealand.

“It’s a good start to the year. It gives you something to focus on over the Christmas months – and all my friends do it. It gets better every year, and it’s a good race – if you’ve done plenty of training!”