Fitness fanatics and fundraisers from around the North gathered in Ilkley on Sunday to take part in the 18th annual Fun Run and Road Race.

The event, organised by the Ilkley and District Round Table, attracted over 750 people and is expected to raise more than £4,000 for local charities, including Ardenlea cancer centre and Ben Rhydding Scouts.

Tim Usherwood, Chairman of the Fun Run 2000 committee, said: "The day was an unqualified success with a record number of people applying to take part."

The event was almost cancelled when West Yorkshire Police couldn't find enough officers to man the event. North Yorkshire Police saved the day when they offered to step in. "The police were grand and we really appreciated their help," said Mr Usherwood.

"We now intend to build on our success and make next year's event even bigger and better," he added.

The 10km road race was completed by 218 people with Andy Morgan-Lee, of Salford, coming first in 31 minutes and six seconds. Bingley Harrier Mick Hawkins came second in 32.6 min and Mike Burrett came third in 34.8. The first woman to finish the race was Lucy Wright, of Yeadon, in 35.56. Ilkley man Andrew Wade finished fourth in 34.54.

A group of Ilkley pensioners proved that age was no barrier when they sped through the finish line. The team, which has an average age of 63, ran alongside other members of Bodies Health Club and Spa, and helped to raise cash for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Disaster struck for Ilkley Computer Club members when the race results they had been posting throughout the day on the Ilkley Pages website were lost in cyberspace. Members worked late into Sunday night re-entering the information and full results of the race can now be found at www.ilkley.com.

l See page 30 for full results of the 10k race.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.