THE Easter sunshine - and the prospect of a bottle of Guiseley Gallop beer brewed by Otley's Briscoe Brewery - increased the number of competitors for the 1999 Guiseley Gallop to 352.

The Gallop was organised by Skyrac Athletic Club, with generous support from Adidas and The Complete Runner, Ilkley.

The runners were a column of colour as they set off from Springs Wood in bright sunshine for the 10 kilometers through Esholt Works and along the canal, returning via Esholt to the finish at the West Side Retail Park, Guiseley.

The bluebells in the woods behind Esholt had even made an early appearance for the race.

International track and fell runner Mick Hawkins, from Grassington, who was running for Bingley, won comfortably in 34.42, knocking four seconds of the previous record time.

Second, over for the holiday from Brussels, was David Cowlishaw in 35.46.

Jerry Greeves, another visitor from Woodstock, near Oxford, was third in 36.07.

First local was Paul Stevenson, of Pudsey and Bramley, sixth in 37.38, followed by Tim Ashfield, of Ilkley, seventh in 37.50.

Nick Pearce, of Ilkley, in 27th place was the second veteran over 45 in 40.52.

In the ladies' race age and experience were to the fore, with Kath Drake, an over-35 veteran, was first for the second year running with a time of 43.57.

Third was Horsforth-based Fellandale's Sally Malir in 45.48.

Ilkley ladies ran well with Joanne Kerr sixth in 47.14, Julie Harvey seventh in 47.22 and vet 40 Diane Kitchen ninth in 47.57.

The popularity of the event was evident with 50 finishers from local clubs.

In addition to the runners in the placings, Ilkley Harriers finishers were Robert Hamilton 26th in 40.49, Peter Shields 64th in 44.14, Eugene Doherty 108th in 47.00, Richard Gray 208th in 51.30 and S Fletcher 326 in 62.22.

Otley finishers were 37th Ray Hawksby in 42.00, Mick Jefferey 49th in 43.28, John Hawryszczuk 76th in 44.49, and Philip Dean 160th in 49.37.

Horsforth Harriers runners were John Douglas 71st in 44.34, Paul French 139th in 48.39, Alistair Davey 176th in 50.32, Graham Dawson 332nd in 64.04 and Janet Sharp 333rd in 64.06.

Neighbours Fellandale finishers were 126th David Hainsworth in 47.37 and Guy Collinson 145th in 48.57.

Aire Centre Pacers had a large number of finishers with Paul Heigold 77th in 44.50, Arthur Edwards 130th in 47.54, Alison Forkins 162nd in 49.39, Will Morris 193rd in 51.25, Russell Olliver 219th in 51.59, Nancy Donoghue 266th in 56.28, Kwai Wray 309th in 59.59, Lynne Morris 310th in 60.00, Trevor Smith 317th in 61.07. Lorice Cavagin 322nd in 61.33, Sarah Coupland-Smith 323rd in 61.34 and Carmen Dajahn-Wood 343rd in 68.28.

The Yeadon-based fitness centre teams were also well represented with Dragons Steven Large 51st in 43.30, Steven Garth 188th in 51.04, Deborah Ferry 236th in 54.33, Julie Copsey 248th in 55.12, Susan Bone 259th in 56.09, Julie Braham 291th in 58.11 and Jane Large 293rd in 54.59, Stuart Meays 306th in 59.26, Neal Jefferys 307th in 59.27 and Gail Stringwell 351th in 77.33.

With some of Skyrac's members marshalling and officiating its number of runners were limited to Tim Agar 107th in 46.59, Paul Lewis 129th in 47.50 and Keith Marshall 283rd in 57.43.

Next year's Guiseley Gallop will take place again on Easter Sunday, April 23.

The race is for all levels of runner who like a race over a variety of terrain with a scenic course.

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