DAVID Hyde and Peter Mellor brought the golf course at Skipton to its knees as they romped home by three shots in Bradford Union's penultimate Winter Alliance event.

The two past captains of Skipton - and Hyde has the honour this year of being Bradford's Captain of Past Captains - were back in a mere 29 shots.

On a day when sun and soaring temperatures made a mockery of the title Winter Alliance, 18-handicapper Hyde was the dominant partner as he had one of those days when everything goes right.

Local knowledge counted for much as winner of the professional's prize was Skipton assistant Ben Mallinson with 67, despite going out of bounds on the last hole albeit over the back of the 18th green with his tee shot.

It may have been forward winter tees but there was some astounding hitting from Mallinson. Wielding a new driver, he landed on the fourth green from the tee and was nestling by the bunker on the 10th.

There was a further Skipton connection among the professionals as Paul Humpherson, an ex-junior at the club and now assistant at Bingley St Ives, carded 68.

A shot behind Hyde and Mellor were Riddlesden's Brian Hudson and Chris Woodhouse, while Skipton members vied for third place.

Paul Pethybridge played well to steer Colin Chapman to 63 and Jack Ryder and John Hartley were also six under, but both pairs gave way on a card countback to D Hirst and J Marshall from Branshaw.

Skipton advanced to the third round of the Mail on Sunday competition with a 6-2 derby win over Settle.

Jeremy Harding beat Dennis Holt 4 and 3; Richard Addyman beat John Read 2 and 1, Adrian Robertson beat David Pickup 3 and 2, while Settle's Les Beck prevented a whitewash with a 2-up win over Skipton anchor man Paul Pethybridge.

The Easter Bunny Run, which last year went ahead in May due to the saturated course, fared much better with the weather this year and resulted in a four way tie on 42 points.

The first three places were decided on the final three homes which gave first place to Trevor Towers and junior member Fraser Picken, who just edged out captain Ian Lockwood and rabbits captain Alan Robinson and Chris Hunt and Richard Stevens.

All three pairings scored 21 on the last nine holes, two more than David Hyde and Neil Bamber, whose best work was on the front nine holes.

Fifth place, on 41 points, went to Kirk Humphreys, who also scored one of only two twos with Ron Maloney, and Alan Speak.