As if merely putting a day in, our old friend Sharon Gayter warmed up for world athletics' 24-hour championships with 26 miles across the North Yorkshire moors on Saturday.

She did it in four hours 36 minutes. "Just a gentle jog," said Sharon, nursing a finger broken the night previously when Bill, her husband, inadvertently dropped a plank on it.

This was the Osmotherley Phoenix event, which runs alongside that delightful village's traditional Summer Games, 41-year-old Sharon little more out of puff after her marathon than if she'd crossed the cobbles for an ice cream.

A week on Saturday, the former Middlesbrough bus driver represents England in the 24-hour event in Austria, hoping to beat her personal best of 217k, around 136 miles.

"The hotter it is, the better I'll like it," insists Sharon, a chronic asthmatic. "I'm hoping to be the first Briton and will be disappointed not to be in the top five overall."

Until recently a physiotherapist, Sharon - from Guisborough - was obliged to give it up after suffering other unlucky breaks to fingers and thumbs and is now studying for a Teesside University masters degree in sport and exercise.

"It was just no longer practical with all the fractures I was getting," she said. A case, as the good book almost observes, of physiotherapist heal thyself.

Now in its seventh year, the Phoenix event was reckoned a big success despite last minute changes to the route necessitated when recent floods washed away paths and created huge craters.

"I've seen bigger holes than that, but only when running in India," said Carolyn Hunter-Rowe, former world 100 mile champion and first woman home over the 30 mile route. "More like 33 today," said Carolyn.

Dave Chippett of York-based Knavesmire Harriers, clocked a record two hours 16 minutes in the men's 17 miles, Margaret Metcalfe and Lisa Stafford home simultaneously in the women's section to take the first lady and lady vet titles. Ian McPherson was first veteran.

Lyn Hodgson had been first man back in the 26 miles, three hours 47 minutes, Jim Rogers just breaking five hours for the 30. They'd left together at 9am. "I came around the corner, heard the church clock striking two and thought 'Blow it'," said Jim.

They reminded him of New Year's Eve, when it's not over until the clock falls silent. Jim first footed euphorically.

Osmotherley Summer Games, more fun and games, embraces little else of a particularly strenuous nature, though Ingleby Arncliffe won the relay between local primary schools.

There was also crockery smashing, one of those "Test your strength" hammers so beloved of Desperate Dan and some kids throwing chips about, though that may not have been an official part of the proceedings.

It's a lovely occasion, roads through the village bucolically blocked off by a few straw bales and no one the least bit bothered.

Still out on the moors, a group of 50 or so undertakers was lugubriously essaying the 42-mile Lyke Wake route from Osmotherley to Ravenscar in order to mark the centenary of the National Association of Funeral Directors.

Gathered around the village cross, Ossie Silver Band played Abide With Me, as if solemnly to celebrate the occasion.

Up since 4am to help ensure that the Phoenix rose similarly, race director Gerry Orchard then headed for Ravenscar - by car, which in the circumstances seemed permissible - and was taken aback to find a hot dog van at the finish.

"It was like a mirage. The funeral directors had hired it from Birmingham," he said.

They'd also carried a coffin of sorts for the last couple of miles. "By the look of some of them," said Gerry - a veteran of around 140 Lyke Wake crossings - "they were just about ready to be put in it."

Ever vigilant, Martin Birtle in Billingham reports that Oxford's opening bowler in last week's Varsity match with Cambridge wasn't just Morse, but E Morse. (The great Oxonian detective, it may be recalled, was finally revealed to have the first name Endeavour.) Martin also recalls when university games were closely contested. On this occasion Oxford hit 610-5 declared before Morse and Co - there wasn't a Lewis - dismissed their fellow students for 129 and 230. Murdered 'em.

Michael Dawson, transferred from Nottingham Forest to Spurs as part of an £8m package in January - Forest team mate Andy Reid moved south, too - has been proving his prowess at the summer game.

The former England Under 21 captain is a Leyburn lad and proud of it, not only hitting 73 for the village side but helping them to their first win of the season, against neighbours Spennithorne.

His brother Kevin, who plays football for Chesterfield, scored 34. Andrew, a third brother, is with Hull City.

"Though he's a footballer worth millions of pounds, he's still just one of the lads when he comes back home," says a friend.

Unfortunately for Leyburn, they've probably seen the last of their big hitter. Pre-season training began at White Hart Lane yesterday.

Evidence of how swiftly time passes, Ron Taylor again sends details of Coxhoe Cricket Club's annual reunion, to which all who've been connected with the club in any way are invited. It's on Saturday September 4, he says - by which he means Saturday September 3 - at the Cricketers, formerly the Victoria, in the village. Ron's on 01740 620708.

A reminder, too, that Ushaw Moor CC - who hold their reunions rather less frequently - are getting together in the clubhouse on the evening of Saturday July 16.

And finally...

The player with the North-East connection who was leading scorer in the 1996-97 Champions League (Backtrack, July 1) was Ally McCoist, who hit rather more goals for Rangers than in his still fondly remembered time at Sunderland - eight in 38 starts - 15 years earlier.

One for the long summer evenings, Michael Rudd in Bishop Auckland today seeks the identity of 15 players who've scored both in a Champions League or European Cup final and in the Premiership.

The score, once again, on Friday.

Published: 05/07/2005