Local runners 'ran out the old century and ran in the new' at the weekend.

Prolific race promoter Dave Woodhead, of Keighley, organised his traditional Auld Lang Syne event from Penistone Hill, Haworth, and even he must have been overwhelmed by the turn out as well over 500 runners arrived to say their farewell to 1999.

First back in the six mile bog-trot over Stairs Lane and Oxenhope Stoop hill was Bingley international Ian Holmes, with a new record time as the course was altered this time out, to take in the moors in a clockwise loop.

Among the names in his wake were fellow internationals Paul Sheard (Pudsey and Bramley), Bingley's Rob Jebb and Andy Peace, Andy Schofield of Borrowdale and Bradford veteran Steve Oldfield.

Each finisher went home with a bottle of specially brewed Happy New Beer from Bricoe's Brewery of Otley.

Fell runners also turned out on New Year's day for a three mile race around Ogden reservoir near Denholme.

Bradford Airedale veteran Richard Crossland took an early lead with Pudsey and Bramley's Steve Bottomley for company in the Giant's Tooth race, a special commemorative race to mark the new millennium which visited the Giant's Tooth standing stone high up on Ovenden Moor.

However, both men were beaten by Paul Targett of the Accrington-based Clayton-le-Moors club, who clocked 18min 21sec, Bottomley taking runner-up spot 18 seconds adrift with Cleckheaton-based Crossland picking up the veteran's prize in third.

Peter Hughes of Queensbury Runners was fourth, with Graham Breeze of Guiseley's Skyrac AC the second super-veteran.

In the women's race, Jennifer Burbridge of Halifax Harriers took second place in 22min 11sec, only a minute adrift of Lucy Whittaker (Saddleworth Runners) while Jackie Graham of Greetland, Halifax was fourth and Linda Hayles (Halifax Harriers) was first veteran.

Results: Giant's Tooth New Year's Day Fell Race at Ogden Reservoir near Denholme - Men: 1 P Targett (Clayton-le-Moors) 18min 21sec; 2 S Bottomley (Pudsey and Bramley) 19-39; 3 R Crossland (Bradford Airedale) 18-42; 4 P Hughes (Queensbury) 18-48; 5 D Overend (Holmfirth) 19-14; 6 D Tate (Dark Peak) 19-24; 7 H Sawyer (Skyrac AC) 19-43; 8 N Pearce (Ilkley Harriers) 19-59; 9 G Breeze (Skyrac AC) 20-08; 10 D Hird (Ilkley Harriers) 20-12.

Women: 1 L Whittaker (Saddleworth) 21-14; 2 J Burbridge (Halifax) 22-11; 3 J Mellor (Pennine) 23-03; 4 J Graham (unattached) 24-11; 5 L Hayles (Halifax) 24-21; 6 S Watson (Valley Striders) 25-01.

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